Bhubaneswar, June 19: A state-wide mock drill was conducted today on disaster preparedness after the southwest monsoon hits the state.

The state-level calamity committee, chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, took stock of the administrations' readiness to face possible calamities. "Our state is prone to natural calamities. Despite being vulnerable to natural hazards, we are well prepared to face any situation," said Naveen after the meeting.

The chief minister said Odisha would be the first state in the country to make the Early Warning Dissemination System operational. "People will be issued disaster warnings through siren alert towers in six coastal districts, and other provisions will also be made to help us save lives and properties in the face of cyclone or tsunami," he said.

Siren alert towers will be installed at 122 places under 22 blocks of six coastal districts under the World Bank-assisted National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project.

Sources in the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority said the community-based mock drill was conducted at 407 cyclone and 253 flood shelters located in 25 districts. During the exercise, members of the disaster shelter management committees and volunteers displayed their skills in search and rescue operations as well as administering fast aid. Besides, the use of various equipment kept in the cyclone and flood shelters such as tower lights, mechanised saw, mega phone, stretchers and generators were also put to test.

Personnel from the National Disaster Rapid Action Force, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and the state fire service also displayed their techniques in search and rescue operations, while the district and block-level officials, voluntary organisations, elected panchatyati raj representatives and common people took part in the drive.

Naveen said: "With the timely onset of monsoon, we have to review our preparedness to tackle any natural calamity such as flood and cyclone. Sufficient quantity of food material and cattle feed should be stored in vulnerable and inaccessible areas."

State disaster management minister Maheswar Mohanty said: "This year, the need for preparedness for possible floods has been felt as the meteorology department has predicted excess rainfall."

Pre-flood and pre-cyclone preparedness has already been reviewed at the chief secretary level, said the minister, adding that the early warning system had been strengthened.

State and district-level emergency control rooms have been opened that will run round the clock.

Keeping in view possibility of disruption in telecommunications during cyclone and floods, the district collectors and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units have been provided with satellite phones, said Mohanty.