Mapping disaster recovery in an agrarian society: The Great Cyclone of 1970

Keywords: disaster, 1970, Bangladesh, cyclone
Session Type: Virtual Lightning Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 78

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review some of the assessments and assumptions made during disaster recovery following the Great Cyclone of 1970. This cyclone represents one of the largest natural disruptions to agriculture in the 20th century. In a matter of hours wind and water impacted over one million acres of agricultural land and the lives of over three million people. This paper discusses the unique attributes of agrarian societies that shaped efforts to restore normalcy after the cyclone. It also discusses three of the factors that were considered when allocating the agricultural aid: season, manpower, and supplies and equipment. Using post-cyclone surveys and aid reports, this paper maps the distribution of agricultural aid. The Agricultural Rehabilitation Project report, compiled six months after the cyclone, detailed the amount of damage and aid each sub-district received. This aid was not distributed evenly. Each decision was guided by key assumptions of the season, manpower, and supplies and equipment within the context of the overall regional crop rotation. This paper reviews each assumption by mapping the crop damage and population impact of the cyclone. It also maps the cropped acres directly resulting from the largely free disaster relief supplies of seeds, irrigation, and animal power. The agricultural factors heavily weighted the distribution of aid within the Agricultural Rehabilitation Project. The distribution efforts enabled the cultivation of many acres of rice while not significantly impacting future crop yields.