A year after Cyclone Phailin made landfall in India’s Odisha state and took 44 lives, millions in the area are bracing for the impact of another massive threat.​

Tropical Cyclone Hudhud picked up strength as it crossed the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Wednesday, according to weather.com meteorologists.

As Hudhud continues its west-northwest course, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a cyclone alert for the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, both on the eastern coast of India.

The India Times reports that the Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to evacuate as many as 450,000 people from at least 50 coastal villages by Saturday evening local time.

(MORE: Check the Forecast for Cyclone Hudhud)

Rations have been stockpiled in shelters in preparation for evacuations as Hudhud closes in on India, according to Reuters. Thousand National and State Disaster Response Forces are being sent to coastal areas to assist with evacuations and the possibility of search and rescue efforts, NDTV reports. The Navy and Coast Guard are also on alert to provide aid. 

"We are assessing the probable habitations which are to be evacuated," said Vishakhapatnam District Head N. Yuvaraj in the Reuters report. "We have also have warned fishermen not to venture out to sea, and are sending communication to those already out there to return to the coast."

India's weather office told Reuters they expect a storm surge of six feet or more to batter the coastline, and that the storm will seriously damage thatched homes, road and rail service as well as electricity and telephones.

The U.S. military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center predicts that Hudhud will be as strong as a Category 3 hurricane by the time it reaches Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

Although last year’s Phailin claimed 44 lives, Odisha’s preparedness efforts were considered a resounding success; Over 1 million residents were evacuated before Phailin made landfall on Oct. 12. In comparison, a cyclone with similar power killed 10,000 people in 1999.

(MORE: 3 U.S. Airmen Lost in Typhoon Phanfone Identified by Robins Air Force Base Officials)

This year, the state government of Odisha has set a "zero casualty" target, according to The Indian Express.

“The Government will strive for zero casualty. District collectors must prepare immediately and keep the evacuation plan in respect to their districts ready, giving highest priority to most vulnerable villages/habitations,” a spokesman of the special relief commissioner said.

As well as keeping updated evacuation plans, the state government is making arrangements to deal with the deadly flash flooding associated with cyclones of this magnitude. Officials are monitoring dam and irrigation water levels and preparing safety boats, according to The Indian Express.

The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force will carry out search and rescue operations in the event of disastrous flooding and heavy damage.

Even with Odisha’s level of preparation, however, many still fear Hudhud’s landfall.

“The damage caused by Phailin is yet to be repaired. The Hudhud will break our economy’s backbone,” K. Rameya, a fisherman of Gopalpur town in Odisha, told the Hindustan Times.

The Times of India reports that Hudhud is named after the national bird of Israel at the suggestion of Oman.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Cyclone Phailin October 2013