On December 26, 2004, the Indian coastline experienced the most devastating tsunami in recorded history. The tsunami was triggered by an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on the Richter scale, off the coast of Sumatra in the Indonesian Archipelago. Almost all the countries situated around the Bay of Bengal were affected. Nearly 80 percent of deaths along India’s southern coast were centered in Tamil Nadu, which also incurred approximately two-thirds of the property damage, and within Tamil Nadu, the cities of Nagapattinam and Cuddalore incurred much of the worst damage and loss of life. 

Like Tamil Nadu, Florida must continuously prepare for natural disasters. 2004 was a particularly difficult year, as it brought with is a series of unrelenting hurricanes that struck throughout the state. Local and regional government officials are on the frontlines of disaster recovery, and cities like Port Orange, Oldsmar, and Palm Bay have first-hand disaster response experience. 

As a result of the knowledge and expertise these Florida city officials have gained, they were selected to work with their colleagues in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam to help them prepare for and mitigate future disasters along the southern Indian coastline through the Post Tsunami Recovery Program.