Cyclones - Ready and Able
Like any other natural disaster, a cyclone is dangerous and unpredictable. There are a few things you need to know to ensure your safety and that of your family:
- Are you in a cyclone prone area?
- Preparing for the cyclone
- Emergency Survival Kit
- Warning signs
- During the cyclone
- The calm after the storm
Are you in a cyclone prone area?
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The most cyclone prone areas include Queensland,
Western Australia and the Northern Territory
(see the text on the left for more information)
You can find out if you are in a cyclone area by asking your State or Territory Emergency Services how often cyclones have occurred in your area and the chances of more occurring.
Asking your family and other community members about your town or city’s cyclone history is another way of finding out if you are in a cyclone prone area.
By looking at the first map on this page, you can see the areas in Australia that have had cyclone activity over the past 150 years. The most cyclone prone areas include the coastal regions of Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
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A map that traces the intensity of cyclones and
hurricanes around the world (see the text on the
left for more information)
The second map on this page shows that hurricanes and cyclones form over most of the world's tropical waters between about 50 and 220 latitude (in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This map also shows that the most intense hurricanes and cyclones occuring in the Northwest Pacific.
Preparing for the cyclone
As the cyclone season approaches, there are a few steps you and your family will need to take to ensure your safety and preventing the extent of damages to your property and community.
Print out this page and place a tick in the box when you have completed each step:
| √ | STEPS TO TAKE WHEN PLANNING FOR THE CYCLONE SEASON |
|---|---|
| Check the building regulations. In some areas, if you are building a house, there are strict regulations that need to be followed. These can be found at your local council. | |
| Ensure your home is in good condition, especially the roof: no loose tiles, the structure is secure and safe | |
| Clear property of loose items and /or secure them. This reduces flying debris, which can cause fatal accidents | |
| Locate nearby safety. Find where your nearest safe higher ground is in case of flood warnings | |
| Create your emergency survival kit and stock tinned food, water containers, medicines, important documents, torches, candles and matches, portable radio | |
| Discuss with your family your emergency plan. Decide on the safest places in the house should a cyclone threaten, as well as ensuring that the emergency kit is easily accessible to all family members, a list of emergency contacts are clearly visible and a copy is in the emergency kit. |
Emergency Survival Kit
Creating an Emergency Survival Kit is important for your survival during a cyclone.
Find out what you should include in your:
Warning signs
Tracking and monitoring cyclones have improved with technology and communication. Meteorologists will notify the appropriate authorities if they find that a cyclone is forming and nominate a name and category to it.
The authorities and media then attempt to broadcast it to the communities at risk and possibly some steps that they could take to ensure safety. Some of these steps are:
- Continue listening to the local radio/watching TV for updates and more warnings.
- Board or tape your windows.
- Fill water containers.
- Ensure car is fuelled and is undercover.
- Check your emergency kit and gather a few extra clothing and shoes.
If you choose to leave your home well before the cyclone hits your region, remember before leaving your home to turn off all gas and electricity, take your Emergency Survival Kit and lock your home.
During the cyclone
During the cyclone, ensure you:
- Stay inside and be sheltered in the strongest part of the house (e.g. bathroom).
- Protect yourself with mattresses and blankets.
- Hold firmly to a strong fixture such as pipes or stay under a solid table
- Remain indoors until the cyclone has passed. Remember the eye of the cyclone and the brief moment of fine weather, until the cyclone continue, lowing wind in the opposite direction.
The calm after the storm
Remain indoors until you are advised that it is safe. When you do go outside, be aware of debris, buildings and trees may be unstable and powerlines will have fallen.
If you are driving, use recommended routes to avoid accidents, flooding of rivers and roads, and debris falling in the path of the cyclone.