'Fix Our Cities' - a six-part series on disaster preparedness of metros

As the Chennai floods showed, Indian cities are barely capable of dealing with emergencies of any scale, let alone natural disasters. This is a six-part series on disasters preparedness in large metropolises, engines of India's economic growth. This series - 'Fix Our Cities' will look at existing safety standards and policies in place but not implemented properly.

It is time to demand the safer cities we deserve.

>Part 1: Disaster response: time to stop making excuses Disasters, natural or man-made, are part of our lives in megacities. In fact, as Chennai showed, how we live is accelerating climate change. Since we are the ones accelerating it, it is only the basic common sense to give some thought to preparedness. > Read More...

>Part 2: Natural disasters almost spell death for the elderly in India’s mega cities Over the past week, The Hindu asked different experts a simple question: what is the most efficient, simplest way to keep senior citizens safe during disasters. The answer, unanimously was this: be a good neighbour. > Read More...

>Part 3: Hospitals unprepared for natural disasters The floods in Chennai bring to the fore the need for stricter implementation of hospital safety standards. > Read More...

>Part 4: Battling alcoholism, relocation problems One of the first signs of flood-hit districts limping back to normality was a protest to demand that liquor shops be closed to enable families rebuild their lives. In the affected districts, this was a horrible flashback, taking everyone back to the days soon after the 2004 tsunami. > Read More...

>Part 5: Mental health facility braces for calls There's a spike in number of mental health problems post-disasters. While TN has one of the better systems in place, there is still shortage of mental health professionals. > Read More...

>Part 6: Floods turned out to be a great deal harder for people with disabilities The floods emphasised the need to include the differently abled in strategy for disaster management. > Read More...