When a cyclone threatens your area, your safety depends on what you do in three phases: preparation before it hits, sheltering during the storm, and cautious movement afterward. A cyclone watch means dangerous conditions are possible within 48 hours. A warning means they’re expected within 36 hours. That window is your preparation time, and every hour counts.
Know What You’re Dealing With
Cyclones (called hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the Pacific) are categorized on a five-point scale based on sustained wind speed. A Category 1 storm brings winds of 74 to 95 mph, enough to tear off roof shingles, snap large branches, and knock out power for days. Category 2 (96 to 110 mph) causes major roof and siding damage, uproots shallow trees, and can leave you without electricity for weeks.
At Category 3 and above, the damage becomes severe. Winds of 111 to 129 mph can rip roof decking off well-built homes and cut off electricity and water for weeks. Category 4 (130 to 156 mph) can strip most of a roof and tear away exterior walls. Category 5, at 157 mph or higher, destroys a high percentage of homes entirely. Areas hit by Category 4 or 5 storms are often uninhabitable for months. Understanding the category helps you decide whether to evacuate or shelter in place.
Build Your Emergency Kit
Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days. That water covers both drinking and basic sanitation. Stock several days of non-perishable food, and rotate it before expiration dates. If anyone in your household takes prescription medication, keep an extra supply ready. About half of all Americans take a daily prescription, and finding an open pharmacy after a storm can be impossible.
Your kit should also include a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio. When power grids fail and cell towers go down, a NOAA weather radio may be your only reliable source of information. If you or someone in your community holds a ham radio license, that’s another valuable backup. The FCC recommends including ham radio operators in emergency communication plans because they can operate when other systems are degraded.
Keep important documents (insurance policies, identification, medical records) in a waterproof container. A portable phone charger, flashlights with extra batteries, a basic first aid kit, cash in small bills, and a manual can opener round out the essentials.
Secure Your Home
Permanent hurricane shutters offer the best window protection. If you don’t have them, the next best option is pre-cut half-inch plywood boards, ideally marine plywood, anchored to the outside of your window frames. Install the anchors and pre-drill the holes before storm season so you can mount the boards quickly when a warning comes.
Do not waste time taping your windows. Tape does not prevent glass from breaking. All it does is hold some of the shattered pieces together, and the time spent taping is better used on measures that actually reduce damage. Sliding glass doors are just as vulnerable as windows, so cover or protect those too.
Bring in loose outdoor furniture, garbage cans, potted plants, and anything else the wind could turn into a projectile. Trim dead or weak branches from trees near your house well before storm season. If you have a garage door, reinforce it, since garage doors are one of the most common failure points during high winds.
Prepare a Safe Room
The safest place in your home during a cyclone is a small interior room on the lowest floor, as close to the center of the house as possible. A bathroom, closet, or hallway with no windows works well. The goal is to put as many walls between you and the outside as you can.
James Cook University’s Cyclone Testing Station recommends that a household strong room have at least 4 square meters of floor space and no more than 4 meters of wall length. Rooms without windows are ideal, though a room with only a small window can work. Keep the room free of clutter so you can get into it quickly. The door should open inward, so if debris piles up against the outside during the storm, you can still push the door open and get out afterward.
If You’re Told to Evacuate, Go
When officials issue an evacuation order, follow it. Know your evacuation route in advance, fill your gas tank early, and leave as soon as you’re told. Roads flood and clog fast. Your car’s engine can be damaged in as little as six inches of water, and 12 inches of water can cause a car to float. The pavement underneath floodwater may be completely washed away, even if the road looks intact on the surface.
If you have pets, they evacuate with you. Many public shelters and hotels don’t allow animals, so identify a pet-friendly destination before storm season. Have your pets microchipped with current contact information, and prepare a pet emergency kit: several days of food and water in waterproof containers, any medications, a carrier or crate for each animal, a leash and collar with ID tags, and copies of vaccination records. A photo of you with your pet helps prove ownership if you get separated. Set up a buddy system with a neighbor or friend who can take your animals if you’re unable to get home in time.
For larger animals like horses or goats, preparation is even more critical. Identify a safe location you can move them to, and have transport arranged before the storm approaches.
What to Do During the Storm
Once the cyclone arrives, stay in your safe room. Do not go near windows, skylights, or glass doors. Keep your weather radio on for updates. If you lose power, use flashlights rather than candles to avoid fire risk.
One of the most dangerous moments in a cyclone is the eye. If the storm’s eye passes over your area, the wind will suddenly stop, the sky may clear, and it will feel like the storm is over. It is not. The calm can last anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour, but on the other side of the eye, winds rapidly return to full force from the opposite direction. Stay inside. People who go outside during the eye to inspect damage or check on neighbors have been killed when the back side of the storm arrived faster than expected.
If you’re caught driving when the storm hits, find a sturdy building and shelter inside. Do not try to outrun a cyclone in a car. If no building is available and you cannot drive away safely, pull over, stay below the windows, and cover yourself with a blanket or coat to protect against broken glass.
After the Storm Passes
The hours after a cyclone can be just as dangerous as the storm itself. Downed power lines are the most immediate threat. Treat every fallen line as live, even if your power is out, because lines can remain energized from other parts of the grid. Stay at least 10 feet from any distribution line on the ground. If a tree is touching or near a power line, stay at least 33 feet away. Entire trees can become electrified when branches contact wires, and touching any part of that tree, or cutting into it with a saw, can cause electrocution. Never attempt to remove branches or trees from utility lines yourself, including cable and telephone lines.
Avoid floodwater. It’s often contaminated with sewage, chemicals, and debris you can’t see. Don’t walk or drive through it. If your home was flooded, don’t turn on electrical systems until they’ve been inspected. Check for gas leaks by smell (never with a flame), and if you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call your utility provider from outside.
Large trees leaning against other trees or structures are unstable and require heavy equipment to remove safely. Don’t try to handle these yourself. Inspect your home for structural damage from outside first, looking for sagging rooflines, cracked walls, or shifted foundations before going in. If anything looks compromised, stay out until a professional can assess it.
Keep Your Communication Plan Active
Cell networks are often overwhelmed or knocked out after a cyclone. Text messages use less bandwidth than voice calls and are more likely to go through. Designate an out-of-area contact person that all family members can check in with, since local calls may fail while long-distance connections still work. Keep your phone charged and limit use to essential communication. If you have access to Wi-Fi calling or satellite messaging, those can serve as backup when cellular towers are down.