Home Cyclone-Proofing Checklist: Protect Your House

Most damage to homes in a cyclone starts at a weak point: a loose roof sheet, a window that breaks, a door that bursts open. Once wind gets inside, it pushes up on the roof from underneath and the whole structure can fail. The good news is that most of these weak points can be fixed cheaply, if you do it before the storm.

Work through this checklist at the start of each cyclone season (April and October), and again when IMD issues a Cyclone Alert.

1. Roof

The roof is the most important part of the house in a cyclone. If it holds, the house usually survives.

Tin, Asbestos and Tiled Roofs

• ☐ Check every sheet is fixed with J-bolts or hook bolts and washers, not just nails
• ☐ Replace rusted bolts and fasteners
• ☐ Fix loose edges and corners first. Wind gets under them first
• ☐ Tie the roof down with strong ropes running over the top, anchored to the ground or walls on both sides
• ☐ Place sandbags along the roof edges
• ☐ Replace broken or loose tiles

Concrete Roofs and Terraces

• ☐ Clear the terrace of loose items: pots, chairs, tin sheds, clothes stands
• ☐ Clean the terrace drains so rainwater does not pool and leak
• ☐ Check that solar panels and dish antennas are firmly bolted, or take them down

Water Tank

• ☐ Fill the overhead tank. A full tank is too heavy for the wind to lift
• ☐ Check the tank is strapped or bolted to its base
• ☐ Close the tank lid tightly

2. Windows and Glass

• ☐ Fit storm shutters, or cut plywood boards to size for each window and keep them ready with screws
• ☐ Close all windows and shutters fully
• ☐ Do not rely on tape. It does not stop glass breaking
• ☐ Close curtains and blinds to catch flying glass
• ☐ Move beds, sofas and children's areas away from windows
• ☐ Fix or replace cracked panes before the season

3. Doors

• ☐ Check hinges and bolts on all outer doors. Add a second bolt at the top and bottom if needed
• ☐ Brace the main door from inside with a strong plank or heavy furniture during the storm
• ☐ Secure rolling shutters and garage doors. These fail easily in strong wind
• ☐ Keep sandbags or a raised barrier ready at doorways if your area floods

4. Around the House

• ☐ Trim dead and weak branches over the roof, power lines and parking area
• ☐ Check for trees leaning towards the house. Get large ones checked by the municipality or forest department
• ☐ Clear drains, gutters and nallahs around the house
• ☐ Bring inside or tie down anything that can fly: tin sheets, flower pots, buckets, cycles, plastic chairs, signboards
• ☐ Take down banners, hoardings and temporary sheds
• ☐ Park vehicles away from trees, poles, walls and low-lying ground
• ☐ Secure the compound gate in the open or closed position so it cannot swing

5. Electricity

• ☐ Know where the main switch (MCB or fuse box) is, and that every adult in the house can turn it off
• ☐ Raise the inverter and its battery off the floor
• ☐ Unplug TVs, computers, fridges and other appliances before the storm to protect them from power surges
• ☐ Move electrical items to a higher shelf if flooding is possible
• ☐ Report sagging or sparking lines near your house to the electricity office before the storm
• ☐ If you have a generator, plan to run it outdoors only, far from windows and doors

6. Gas and Water

• ☐ Keep the LPG cylinder upright and indoors, away from where water could enter
• ☐ Turn off the regulator after cooking, and fully before the storm
• ☐ Store a spare cylinder upright and chained or tied, if you have one
• ☐ Fill buckets and drums with water for washing and toilets
• ☐ Cover open wells to keep out debris and flood water

7. Inside the House

• ☐ Choose a safe room: small, inner, with few or no windows (bathroom, store room or inner corridor)
• ☐ Move the emergency kit, water and torches into the safe room
• ☐ Raise grain, documents, electronics and valuables to high shelves or an upper floor
• ☐ Wrap important items in plastic bags
• ☐ Secure heavy shelves and cupboards to the wall so they do not fall

8. For Kutcha and Thatched Houses

Mud, thatch and light tin houses can be destroyed even by a Severe Cyclonic Storm. Strengthening helps protect your belongings, but your family's safety comes first.

• ☐ Tie the thatch or roof down with ropes over the top, weighted or anchored on both sides
• ☐ Prop weak walls from outside with poles
• ☐ Pack valuables, grain and documents in plastic and move them to a pucca building if possible
• ☐ Plan to move to a cyclone shelter or a strong concrete building as soon as a Cyclone Warning is issued

9. For Flats and Apartments

• ☐ Clear balconies completely: plants, chairs, clothes stands, AC covers
• ☐ Check that window AC units and outdoor units are firmly fixed
• ☐ Close balcony glass doors and stay away from them during the storm
• ☐ Avoid lifts once the storm begins
• ☐ Housing society: check the generator, fuel, sump and terrace tanks, clear terrace drains, and tie down terrace sheds
• ☐ Ground floor and basement residents: raise valuables, and move vehicles out of basements that flood

10. Photograph Everything

• ☐ Take photos and a short video of every room, the roof, and valuable items before the storm
• ☐ Save them to cloud storage or send them to a relative
• ☐ Keep your house insurance policy in your document pouch

These photos make damage and compensation claims much easier afterwards.

Keep Going

A strong house is only one part of being ready. Follow the 72-hour countdown checklist when a storm approaches, pack your emergency kit, and know when to evacuate. No house is worth risking your life for.

For major structural work, consult a qualified engineer or mason. Indian Cyclones is an independent explainer, not an official warning service.