The human society is vulnerable to recurrent disasters in all forms and occurrence of such disasters being recorded with increasing frequencies fortified by rapid ecological degradation. Disaster in any form be it natural or .other through the ages caused and is causing rapid devastation of the resources, infrastructures and human life leaving the affected people suffer in despair. The serious ever threat human society facing today is from flood, cyclone, earthquake, drought, sun-stroke, epidemics and pest attack. 

The primary concern in these situations has more or less limited to rescue operations and post disaster re-settlement and rehabilitation, but the concern for disaster preparedness is focused as part of resource management affairs. Realising the need, PECUC has provided priority focus on both preparedness and mitigation action.

             Super Cyclone 1999- The SC of 29th October of 1999 has completely devastated 13 coastal districts of Orissa state recording a dreadful event of natural disasters in the history of disasters worldwide. PECUC, since operating in this zone has initiated rapid action for rescue, relief, restoration and rehabilitation initiatives to address the causalities and restoration of livelihood

sources of the people in Balianta block of Khurda district, Nischintakoili block of Cuttack district and Remuna block of Balasore district.

• Ration/Relief  - 21, 638 persons( the rations distributed were rice, flat rice, dal ,oil, salt, bread, biscuit, Jaggery, sugar, spices etc.

• 130 days  food support to 1280 older person

• 6,700 women were supported with food relief for their families

• Daily usage.( lantern, umbrella, mosquito net , mat etc) and clothes was provided to 4,280 people

• New and old cloths were distributed to 7980 persons.

• Polythene sheets distributed to 4457  cyclone affected victims

• 2720 blankets were provided to the needy people.

• Paddy and vegetable seed was supported to 3861 affected victims. 3000 papaya saplings were also distributed to promote kitchen garden.

• 517 older persons were supported for traditional house repairing.

• Medicines to check the spreading of endemic disease were given to 13,000 people.

• Bleaching powder and halogen tablets was distributed to ensure safe drinking water.

• Cash support of Rs.40,000/- was given to 40 destitute older person for  repairing of their houses.

• 894 traumatised children counseled and provided a joyful learning environment. 196 children were streamlined to formal schooling institutions.

• School Reconstruction – 5

• Trauma Counselling – 1199 children

• Shradha Child Support Center – 30

• No. of children sent back to school – 514

• Nutrition feeding to children  -1554

• Total children enrolled in Shradha CSC –1554

• Fisherman supported with boat and net – 343

• Livestock support – 926

• Traditional house repairing – 500

• Construction of low cost houses – 55

• Mason training  given to 17 beneficiaries

• Capacity building programme for women , farmers, fisherman, elderly, staff, volunteers, PRI functionaries etc. – 7418 persons.

• 434 no. of awareness meetings were organised

• 1390 person have been supported under livelihood restoration programme.

• Farmers Development Forums named as “Krusaka Bikasha Mancha” have been formed at the village level.

• Support in terms of paddy seeds, fertilisers , pesticides, vegetable and Rabi crop seeds etc were given to 10,997 farmers for restoration  of agricultural activities.

• Plantation for eco-restoration – 4,19,750

• 6 nurseries were developed and plats were distributed for the community plantation.

• A video cassette has been prepared on CYCLONE –99

Orissa being the land of recurrent disasters witnessed severe flood   living July-August 2001 affecting normal life in 18 districts, causing damage to 1.2 crores peoples. PECUC has taken up immediate measures to make its team rush to the sites of flood coinciding with its operational areas i.e Balianta Block of Khurda District, Mahanga block of Cuttack District and Remuna Block of Balasore District. During the floods the PECUC team put

its best effort for early rescue and evacuation operations, immediate relief support including community kitchen, restoration of infrastructures and houses and timely rehabilitation measures.

Disaster Preparedness in such communities, which are prone to natural disaster. a certain amount of preparedness level is a pre requisite if they have to survive the aftermath of different catastrophes. There is a urgent need to build the capacity and capability of the local communities by empowering them with coping capacities and increasing their self – confidence through recognition and increase of their knowledge, practice 

and values so that this falls in line with the developmental activities. As disaster preparedness is of prime importance in reducing the load on disaster relief it should be considered an integral aspect of development policy and planning. There is, thus a need to promote and strengthen human and institutional capacity building for coping with natural disasters by way of disaster preparedness, as preventive measures are most effective when they have participation at all levels. Involvement of community in all facets of disaster management becomes imperative and there fore, the need for a holistic approach for community based disaster preparedness was thought of by PECUC.

PECUC, realizing the growing need among the village communities to be better prepared to face the frequent cyclone/floods, initiated community level disaster preparedness training in the cyclone ravaged villages of Balianta. The community was mobilized to prepare their own contingency plan to safe guard lives, livelihoods and property. Besides it also defined the roles and responsibilities of the entire community i.e. the individual, families, community

 leaders, village authorities etc. PECUC has facilitated and completed community contingency plan in 25 villages of Balianta block of Khurda district and complete groundwork for development of CCP in other areas of its operation. Further PECUC has a brigade named "Gopabandhu Swechha Sevi Bahani" in its operational villages to work during disasters and support development initiatives in the villages. PECUC is also organising regular training programmes of CBDP for community leaders, PRI functionaries, NGO activists, Govt.. officials and others.