What to do when a cyclone watch is issued
What to do when a cyclone watch is issued
- Check your property for any loose material and tie down (or fill with water) any large or relatively light items such as boats and rubbish bins
- Fill your vehicles’ fuel tanks and jerry cans with fuel
- Check your emergency kit and fill any water containers you may have
- Make sure household members know what the strongest part of the house is and what to do in the event of a cyclone warning or evacuation
- Tune in to your local radio or television stations for more information and warnings
- Check neighbours are aware of the situation and are prepared
What to do when a cyclone warning is issued
What to do when a cyclone warning is issued
- Activate your household emergency plan and finalise your emergency kit
- Collect children from school or childcare centres and go home
- Park vehicles under solid shelter (handbrake on and in gear)
- Secure outdoor furniture, garden items, caravans, and boats
- Loose items may be locked inside
- Close shutters and board up or block all windows
- Draw curtains and secure all external doors and windows
- Shelter and secure pets and animals
- Stay tuned to your local radio or television for more information
- Fill your bathtubs and buckets with water
What to do when a cyclone strikes
What to do when a cyclone strikes
- Turn off power, gas, and water supplies
- Disconnect all electrical appliances
- Stay inside your shelter area in the strongest part of your home
- Shift furniture and fixtures away from windows and doors
- Listen to your portable radio for cyclone updates
- If the building starts to break up, protect yourself with mattresses, rugs, and blankets under a strong table, or hold onto a solid fixture, for example a water pipe
- Beware of the calm ‘eye’ – if the wind drops, don’t assume the cyclone is over; violent winds will soon resume from another direction
- Wait for the official ‘all clear’ if driving
- Stop clear of trees, power lines and streams
What to do after a cyclone
What to do after a cyclone
- Listen to the local radio for official warnings and advice
- Don’t go outside until advised officially that it’s safe
- If you need to go outside, beware of fallen powerlines, damaged buildings and trees, and flooded water courses
- Check for gas leaks and don’t use electrical appliances if wet
- If you had to evacuate, don’t go home until advised
- Use the route recommended and stay calm
- Don’t ignore warnings and don’t go sightseeing, stay where you are if it's safe
- Check on neighbours and help them if necessary and safe to do so
- Don’t make unnecessary telephone calls
- Always assume downed powerlines are live and lethal