The Amazing, Lifesaving, Unheralded Science of Meteorology

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But the death toll, authorities said, was lower than feared. State-government officials in the two hardest-hit areas, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, reported less than 20 deaths as of Sunday night. A 1999 cyclone, though somewhat bigger, killed an estimated 15,000 people.

More here.

The India Meteorological Service did a fine job of getting the world out. The Government of India cancelled a holiday and moved people and resources into the region to stage evacuations and get peope into shelters. International meteorological organizations and individuals posted and tweeted vital information directly into the affected areas.

The 1999-storm was hardly in the dark ages -- it was just 14-years ago. Saving thousands of lives has become so routine, it doesn't even occur to us anymore.

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