The Flood Relief Project
The Flood Relief Project
During the recent deluge that adversely affected Kerala, Theruvoram’s initiative provided rapid and effective relief to the regions impacted by natural calamity. Our strategy included Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Rehabilitation with an approach of ‘Building Back Safer.’ Our team ran rescue missions, set up relief centers, and started working the phone lines or organizing help. We rendered our services mainly in Kochi, Kottayam, and Alappuzha.
The water rose unexpectedly, which called for tremendous help. We drove through the blinding rain and flooded roads to rescue people stuck in the streets. Social workers, including students of BSW and MSW, were part of our team. Theruvoram Women Empowerment team took a significant role in helping women and families during these times. Counselling cells were open 24 hours to those who were in depression. We evacuated people from various places like North Paravoor, Varapuzha, Kalamassery, Chertala, Kutanadu and transported them to rescue camps. The required water bottles, biscuits, food packages, clothes, towels, sanitary napkins, diapers — the essentials for daily life were arranged with the help of clubs including Rotary club, Lion’s club and distributed to relief camps. Homeless people on the streets were rehabilitated to our centers and buildings. Our team was a great support to daily wage workers who come from different parts of India. We also initiated the medication help to the people affected by the disaster, including those who suffered from strokes and mental issues. They were transported to Trissur Mental Health Centre and Alappuzha Vandanam Government Medical College.
Being part of the District Collector’s Rescue team and the Ernakulam Disaster Management Team extensive network of volunteers went online from all over the state to keep updating the list of requirements at the camps and take calls for rescue coming in from different parts of Kerala and the globe. We also coordinated with other NGOs to receive immediate help from the local areas. Our volunteers were at the forefront in delivering the relief materials and transporting people to safer shelters. We attended calls from various parts of Kerala and also provided the immediate help required. The rescue mission also included evacuating 300 students from Sree Narayana Guru College at Paravoor to their respective homes or camps as needed. We also provided food packages to centers regularly with the help of local communities.
Apart from the rescue mission, the Theruvoram team was part of the rehabilitation activities. The homes were damaged and were completely mud-spattered. It took months for people to restore their homes to normal. We provided cleaning materials like mops, cleaning brushes, cleaning liquids, and other essential utensils as required. We also supported students striving hard to come back to normalcy and provided books and accessories to them. We continued to lend a helping hand to the flood-hit areas and other parts of the state months after the floods.