# Cyclone safety checklist: what to do before, during and after

> A practical cyclone safety checklist for India based on NDMA and IMD advice — IMD warning colours, emergency kit, preparing your home, what to do during the storm and staying safe after it. Helpline 112.

- URL: https://2search.in/knowledge/articles/oct-26/cyclone-safety-checklist-india
- Genre: Safety & emergencies
- Country: India
- Published: 2026-10-29
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Publisher: 2search (https://2search.in)

> **Quick answer:** **Before a cyclone:** follow **IMD** and your district administration, pack an **emergency kit** (water, dry food, medicines, torch, power bank, documents in plastic), charge phones, secure loose objects and **move to a shelter if told to evacuate**. **During:** stay **indoors away from windows**, switch off mains power and gas, and **don't go out when the wind drops** — it may be the eye of the storm. **After:** wait for the official all-clear, keep away from **fallen power lines and floodwater**, and drink only boiled or bottled water. **Emergency: dial 112.**

> **Key takeaways**
> - **Red alert = take action now**; orange = be prepared; yellow = stay updated.
> - Keep **documents, cash and medicines** in a waterproof bag you can grab in a minute.
> - The **calm "eye"** can last 30 minutes or more — the strongest winds return from the other side.
> - **Storm surge** (sea water pushed inland) kills more people than wind — coastal residents must evacuate when told.
> - After the storm, **electrocution and contaminated water** are the biggest dangers.

## IMD warning colours

| Colour | Meaning | What you should do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Green** | No warning | Normal |
| **Yellow** | Be updated | Watch forecasts, check your kit |
| **Orange** | Be prepared | Secure home, stock supplies, plan evacuation route |
| **Red** | **Take action** | Follow evacuation orders, move to safety, stay indoors |

Get warnings from **mausam.imd.gov.in**, the **Mausam** and **Sachet** (NDMA) apps, Doordarshan, All India Radio and SMS alerts from your state.

## Before the cyclone

### Emergency kit checklist

- [ ] **Drinking water** — at least 3–4 litres per person per day for 3 days
- [ ] **Dry food** — biscuits, poha, chana, dry fruits, baby food if needed
- [ ] **Medicines** — 1 week of regular medicines, first-aid kit, ORS
- [ ] **Torch, spare batteries, candles and matchbox** (in a plastic bag)
- [ ] **Charged power bank** and phone charger
- [ ] **Battery radio**
- [ ] **Documents** — Aadhaar, ration card, bank passbook, insurance papers — in a **zip-lock bag** (also keep photos in your phone or DigiLocker)
- [ ] **Cash** in small notes — ATMs and UPI may not work
- [ ] **Clothes, a blanket, sanitary pads, a whistle and a rope**

### Preparing your home

- Bring in or tie down **loose items** — pots, tin sheets, bicycles, signboards.
- **Close and fasten windows**; tape won't stop glass breaking, so stay away from windows.
- **Cut weak branches** near the house if it's safe to do so.
- Move valuables and electrical items to a **higher shelf**.
- Fill buckets and drums with **water** for cleaning.
- **Fishermen:** don't go to sea; bring boats to safe ground and tie them.
- Know your nearest **cyclone shelter** and how to reach it.
- **Keep livestock** untied so they can escape floods, or move them to higher ground.

> **Tip:** Make a family plan: who picks up children and elderly relatives, where you'll meet if separated, and one phone number everyone remembers.

## During the cyclone

- **Stay indoors** in the strongest room, away from windows and glass doors.
- **Switch off** the main electricity switch and gas cylinder valve.
- Keep the **radio or phone** on for official updates, and save the battery.
- **Don't go outside** when the wind suddenly calms — it may be the **eye of the cyclone**, and violent winds will return.
- If your house starts to fail, take cover **under a strong table** or in an inner room.
- **If evacuated:** go to the shelter early, take your kit, lock your house, and follow officials' instructions.
- **Don't drive or walk through flowing water** — 15 cm can knock you down, 60 cm can sweep away a car.

## After the cyclone

- **Wait for the official all-clear** before leaving the shelter or house.
- Stay away from **fallen electric poles and wires** — report them to the electricity board.
- **Don't enter damaged buildings**; walls and roofs may collapse.
- Drink only **boiled, filtered or bottled water**; throw away food that touched floodwater.
- Watch for **snakes and insects** that move into homes during floods.
- **Photograph the damage** for insurance and government relief claims.
- Check on **neighbours**, especially elderly people and people living alone.
- Watch for **fever, diarrhoea and skin infections** in the days after floods; visit a health centre early.

## Emergency numbers

| Service | Number |
| --- | --- |
| **All emergencies** | **112** |
| Police | 100 (or 112) |
| Fire | 101 |
| Ambulance | 108 |
| Disaster management (state control rooms) | **1070** |
| District control room | **1077** |
| Women's helpline | 181 |

## Special care for vulnerable people

- **Elderly and people with disabilities:** arrange transport early; pack mobility aids and medicines.
- **Pregnant women:** carry medical records; move to a shelter near a hospital if advised.
- **Children:** keep an ID card with a parent's phone number in their pocket.
- **Pets:** carry food and a leash; check whether your shelter allows animals.

## Follow live updates

For the latest on the current storm, see our [Cyclone Arnab live updates](/liveupdates/weather/cyclone-arnab-live-updates).

## Frequently asked questions

### What should I do when a cyclone red alert is issued?

Take action immediately: follow evacuation orders, move to a safe building or shelter, and stay indoors.

### What should be in a cyclone emergency kit?

Water, dry food, medicines, torch, batteries, power bank, radio, documents in a waterproof bag, cash, clothes and a whistle.

### Is it safe to go out when the wind stops during a cyclone?

No. It may be the eye of the storm. Strong winds return, often from the opposite direction.

### What is storm surge?

A rise in sea level pushed onto the coast by a cyclone's winds. It can flood low-lying areas quickly and is very dangerous.

### Which number should I call during a cyclone?

112 for any emergency. 1070 (state) and 1077 (district) for disaster control rooms.

### How do I get official cyclone warnings?

From IMD (mausam.imd.gov.in), the Mausam and Sachet apps, government SMS alerts, radio and TV.

## Sources

- [NDMA — National Disaster Management Authority](https://ndma.gov.in/)
- [India Meteorological Department](https://mausam.imd.gov.in/)
- [NDMA — Sachet alert portal](https://sachet.ndma.gov.in/)