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Cyclone survival
When
a Cyclone
Warning is issued
A
cyclone warning is issued as soon as gales or stronger winds are expected to
affect coastal or island communities within 24 hours.
When
you hear a cyclone warning issued please assist other people by passing the
information to neighbours and visitors who may not have heard it or may not have
understood the meaning.
Step
1 (about 24 hours away)
- Listen
to 102.3 4TOFM on the FM band of your radio.
- Fill
water buckets and cover them.
- If
not using the car, fill it with fuel and park in a safe place.
- Make
sure you have fresh batteries in your radio and freeze water for alternative
refrigeration should the power fail.
- Check
on elderly or disabled neighbours.
- Plan
your evacuation route to high ground.
- Gather
personal documents, mementos and valuables and place in a waterproof bag, such
as a garbage bag, and secure in a suitcase to avoid damage.
- Make
sure you have all relevant supplies of prescribed medicine.
- Check
house, garden and emergency kit.
Step
2 (about 16 hours away)
- Listen
to 102.3 4TOFM on your radio for further information and advice.
- Ensure
children are home and that they stay indoors.
- Board
windows where practical.
- Gather
tools that may be needed in emergency repairs, including hammer, nails, rope,
saw and any tarpaulins.
- Place
clothing in waterproof bags.
- If
staying in a caravan, be prepared to move to a more solid structure.
Step
3 (about 9 hours away)
- Listen
to 102.3 4TOFM for further information and advice.
- Prepare
safest part of the house (usually the bathroom) using strong tables and
mattresses and place emergency stores there.
- If
you are unsure of the soundness of your house, go to a friend's house or
substantial building and try and let someone know where you are.
- Lock
your pets at home.
- Gather
protective gear, including helmets, and place in shelter.
Step
4 (about 6 hours away)
- Listen
to 102.3 4TOFM (or if required 103.1 HOT-FM / 774 4TO on the AM band) for
further information and advice.
- Turn
off gas at bottle.
- Stay
in a safe place - do not move.
- Do
not make unnecessary demands on the emergency services.
- Beware
of the calm "eye" of the storm and do not go outside until you are
advised to do so.
When
the cyclone has passed
- Listen
to 102.3 4TOFM (or if required 103.1 HOT-FM / 774 4TO on the AM band) for
further information & advice. Remember that a cyclone can turn and pass back
over the same spot.
- Do
not make unnecessary demands on the emergency services.
- Do
not turn on power and gas if damaged until checked by the authorities.
- Do
not touch wet switches.
- Do
not drink any water that may be contaminated such as floodwaters - boil it first
if possible.
- If
you have a serious problem (injury or lost roof), phone the emergency operations
centre.
- If
you need to use the telephone, make the call brief.
- Stay
at home to allow full access to emergency vehicles -no sightseers (passing
vehicles can send flood waters through homes!)
- Beware
of fallen power lines.
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