A few steps that can be taken before, during and after a cyclone.
Steps to be taken before the cyclone
* Check houses, secure loose tiles by cementing wherever necessary, repair doors and windows.
* Check the area around the house: remove dead or dying trees, anchor removable objects like lumber piles, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards, loose zinc sheets, etc.
* Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded.
* Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, and also have a flashlight and enough dry cells handy.
* Promptly demolish condemned buildings.
* Those who have radio sets should ensure that the radio is fully serviceable. Extra set of batteries should be kept handy.
Steps to be taken during the cyclone
* Keep your radio on and listen to the latest weather warnings and advisories from the nearest radio station. Pass the information on to others.
* Avoid being misled by rumours. Pass only official information you have got from the radio to others.
* Get away from low lying beaches or other locations which may be swept by high tides or storm waves. Leave sufficiently early, before your way to higher ground gets flooded. Do not delay and run the risk of being marooned.
* If your house is out of danger from high tides and flooding from the river, and it is well built, it is then probably the best place during weather and storm. However, please act promptly if asked to evacuate.
* Be alert for high water in areas where streams of rivers may flood due to heavy rains.
* Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place. Use good wooden planks for this. Make-shift boarding may do more damage. Provide strong suitable support for outside doors.
* If you do not have wooden boards handy paste paper strips on glasses to prevent splinters flying into the house.
* Get extra food, especially things which can be eaten without cooking or with very little preparation. Store extra drinking water in covered vessels.
* If you are in one of the evacuation areas, move your valuable articles to upper floors to minimise flood damage.
* Check on everything that might blow away or be torn loose. Kerosene tins, cans, agricultural implements, garden tools, road signs and other objects become weapon of destruction in strong winds. Remove them and store them in a covered room.
* Ensure that a window or a door can be opened on the lee side of the house, i.e. the side opposite the one facing the wind.
* Make provisions for children and adults requiring special diets.
* If the center of' 'eye' of the storm passes directly over your place, there will be a lull in the wind and rain, lasting for half an hour or more. During this period stay in safe place. Make emergency repairs during the lull period if necessary, but remember that strong wind will return suddenly from the opposite direction, frequently with even greater violence.
* Be calm. Your ability to meet emergency will inspire and help others.
Steps to be taken after the cyclone.
* They should remain in shelters until informed by those in charge that they may return home.
* Any loose and dangling wire from the lamppost should be strictly avoided.
* People should keep away from disaster areas unless they are required to assist.
* Anti-social elements must be reported to the police.
* Cars, buses lorries and carts should be driven carefully.
* The houses and dwellings should be cleared of debris.
* Losses should be reported to the appropriate authorities.
* Relatives should be promptly informed about the safety of their kin in the disaster area.
Source: India Meteorological Department, Government of India
