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Mozambique's existing infrastructure and communications systems were not equipped for the intensity of cyclones Idai and Kenneth. The storms highlighted the need to shift towards a more proactive approach to disaster management. To mitigate future disasters, Mozambique invested heavily in early warning systems. The United Nations Development Program was involved in installing weather monitoring stations that provided real-time data on weather patterns and helped forecast the likelihood of extreme weather events. In addition, improvements were made to phone-based alert systems, including broader and more reliable coverage and support in additional languages, such as the Chu and Nyanja languages. To make infrastructure disaster resilient, many buildings were rebuilt using concrete and steel to better withstand extreme weather events. Developers also considered the topography of the region and built new infrastructure on higher ground and implemented draining systems and wetlands to prevent flooding. To prevent future disease outbreaks, medical professionals vaccinated upwards of 700,000 children for cholera. In addition to implementing various mitigation measures, efforts were then directed towards a preparation phase aimed at enhancing the country's ability to anticipate, prepare, and train for and respond to future disasters. The Mozambique government worked with international partners to improve disaster preparedness and response in the event of future disasters. Existing emergency plans were improved, and this included things like preparing contingency stocks of essential relief in pre-positioned locations close to where the impacted communities would be. The International Organization for Migration trained communities on disaster risk reduction strategies, including evacuation and emergency response planning. Many organizations, including UNICEF and the WHO and various local non-government organizations, conducted hygiene promotion campaigns and trained community health workers and volunteers on how to promote safe water practices and conduct hygiene and sanitation activities. Community participation was critical in raising awareness and building resilience to future disasters. People were trained in disaster preparedness and risk reduction measures and encouraged to play an active role in monitoring and responding to potential hazards. Since cyclones Adai and Kenneth in 2019, Mozambique has seen three other significant cyclones in the region. Cyclone Freddie, which formed over the Indian Ocean in February of 2023, was measured to be the longest lasting and most powerful cyclone ever recorded anywhere in the world. The cyclone made landfall in Mozambique on the 2nd of March that year, with heavy rains and sustained winds of 270 kilometers per hour. Thanks to community-based early warning systems, Mozambique was able to alert residents ahead of cyclone Freddie's arrival through text messages and local radio and TV announcements in multiple languages. This gave people more time to move to shelters, resulting in a much lower death toll than previous disasters. Unfortunately, the impact on water and sanitation systems, as well as health facilities, was extensive, and the cholera outbreak was even worse than following the cyclone in 2019. But almost certainly, this cholera outbreak was less than if those 700,000 children had not been vaccinated following the events in 2019. Hopefully, this highlights why mitigation and preparation for disease outbreaks and other risks are ongoing challenges in any region that faces natural disaster events. Understanding and analyzing the impacts of disasters in these mitigation and preparation phases can help identify ways to improve emergency response systems, infrastructure, and preparedness for future events. By incorporating these learnings into future planning and actions, communities and governments can work towards reducing the impacts of future disasters and ultimately save more lives. In the next lesson, we'll take a look at applications of artificial intelligence in disaster management and how combining human and machine intelligence can lead to better outcomes for the impacted individuals.