Cyclone Gulab: IMD lists out dos and don’ts ahead of the storm

Cyclone Gulab is expected to make landfall in coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday evening, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said, issuing a red alert for parts of those states. 

“The Cyclonic Storm ‘Gulab’ over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal moved nearly westwards lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 26th Sep, over northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal about 270 km east-southeast of Gopalpur & 330 km east of Kalingapatnam,” the IMD said in a statement. 

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The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Kalingapatanam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha.

Here are the dos and don’ts to be followed in case of a cyclone:

Dos

It is advisable to check your houses and repair loose tiles, doors and windows.  

Check the area around the house. Remove dead or dying trees, anchor removable objects like lumber piles, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards, loose zinc sheets etc, the IMD said in its list of precautions.

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Paste paper strips or wooden boards on your windows to ensure splinters don’t fly into the house in case they are shattered. 

Keep handy a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, flashlight and enough dry cells.

Condemned building should be demolished. 

Keep your radio on if you have one. This will keep you in loop with the latest weather warnings. 

Steer clear of low lying beaches or other locations prone to getting swept by high tides or storm waves.

Be alert for high water in areas where streams of rivers may flood due to heavy rains.

Stock up on extra food and drinking water. Go for foods that can be eaten without cooking.

If you are in one of the evacuation areas, move your valuable articles to the upper floors to minimise flood damage.

Check on everything that might blow away or be torn loose.  

If the centre of the ‘eye’ of the storm passes directly over your place, there will be a lull in the wind and rain, lasting for half an hour or more. During this period stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs during the lull period if necessary, but remember that strong wind will return suddenly from the opposite direction, frequently with even greater violence, the IMD said.

Remember to remain calm and in shelter until the storm passes. 

Avoid running into any loose wire from the lamp post. 

Avoid  disaster areas unless required to assist.

Clean the houses and dwellings of debris.

Report losses to the appropriate authorities. 

Don’ts

Don’t let rumours mislead you.  

Don’t leave shelters until informed by the rescue personnel.

Don’t evacuate safe places.