Md. Shaharier Alam, a Master’s Student studying Geography at Florida State University, co-authored an article in the journal Natural Hazards titled, “Evacuation Dilemmas of Coastal Households During Cyclone Amphan and Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of the Southwestern Region of Bangladesh” with Torit Chakraborty; Md. Zakir Hossain, Ph.D.; and Khan Rubayet Rahaman, Ph.D. Below is a summary of the article written by doctoral student Martín Gandur (Ph.D. Political Science ’25).
In “Evacuation Dilemmas of Coastal Households During Cyclone Amphan and Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of the Southwestern Region of Bangladesh,” FSU Geography Master’s Student Md. Shaharier Alam and co-authors investigated evacuation behaviors among households in Bangladesh and explored the impacts of COVID-19 on their evacuation procedures during the landfall of cyclone “Amphan” (equivalent to a category-5 hurricane) in May 2020.
Cyclone Amphan landed in Southwestern Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting the coastal communities in a situation they had never experienced before. Households in this area faced the dilemma of whether to stay home during the destructive storm or evacuate and potentially be exposed to the COVID-19 virus in cyclone shelters.
Alam and co-authors found that 96 percent of residents in coastal areas received a cyclone evacuation order before the cyclone’s landfall, yet only 42 percent of those residents followed the evacuation order. They also found most residents who ignored the evacuation orders did so citing concerns about being exposed to COVID-19 in crowded shelters.
“This research provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by coastal communities in Bangladesh during natural disasters, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Alam said. “The findings highlight the need for disaster management plans to consider infectious diseases’ potential risks and consequences during evacuations. This information can inform policy decisions and help improve disaster preparedness and response in vulnerable communities in the Global South.”
The study was conducted in the Satkhira District of Bangladesh, which was disproportionately affected by Cyclone Amphan. The Satkhira District has previously faced poverty, high population density, and a lack of access to basic amenities.
Alam and co-authors conducted structured interviews and unstructured consultations with 378 coastal households in 14 Satkhira villages immediately after Cyclone Amphan. Due to the restrictions imposed during the nationwide lockdown, Alam and co-authors employed a “random walk” practice to select households for the interviews.
Alam believes future research could explore the long-term socio-economic impacts of natural disasters and pandemics on affected communities. Moreover, future studies should explore effective strategies to encourage people to evacuate during such crises, with considerations for the potential risks of contracting infectious diseases in evacuation shelters.