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Natural disasters—cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and storms—strike with little warning, often wreaking havoc on communities that are already vulnerable. In India’s coastal states, the poorest are disproportionately affected, with limited means to recover and rebuild. In Andhra Pradesh, with its long eastern coastline (approximately 973 km, making it one of the states with the longest coastlines in the country), the risk from cyclones and monsoon flooding is ever present.
When Cyclone Hud-hud made landfall near Visakhapatnam on 12 October 2014, it brought winds gusting close to 205 km/h and severe destruction across coastal districts.
Over 700,000 people were evacuated across Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha, with approximately 500,000 people in Andhra Pradesh alone moved to relief camps and safe shelters before the storm struck. Such events illustrate both the scale of potential damage and the urgent need for effective relief mechanisms.
Openheart Trust stands ready to respond when disaster strikes. Our volunteer teams mobilize swiftly, coordinating with local authorities and partner NGOs to deliver critical aid in affected areas—distributing food, clean water, and temporary shelter, and clothing, medicines, and hygiene kits. Because we operate close to the communities we serve, we can assess local needs quickly and respond adaptively to each crisis.
We also bring technical capacity to bear: whether restoring water supply systems, repairing sanitation infrastructure, or deploying medical and mental health support, our relief efforts aim to meet the acute needs while laying the groundwork for recovery. In major disasters, we support large-scale relief camps and distribution networks; in local emergencies—like home fires or localized flooding—we provide immediate assistance and link affected families to further help.
Beyond immediate relief, Openheart Trust is committed to resilience building and preparedness. That includes training communities in disaster risk reduction, maintaining stocks of emergency supplies, and reinforcing vulnerable infrastructure. When our old age home was demolished due to road widening, for example, we also saw how vital it is to rebuild with resilience in mind—so that structures can better withstand future shocks.
We invite you to stand with us in this mission. Every contribution—whether in funds, supplies, technical skills, or volunteer time—helps make our emergency actions stronger, faster, and more compassionate. Together, we can ensure that when the next disaster arrives, communities in Andhra Pradesh and beyond are not left alone to face it.