![What to Do After a Cyclone [Complete Guide]](http://au.jackery.com/cdn/shop/articles/what_to_do_after_a_cyclone_f4483444-4123-4c1d-82b3-180a6ea47ee2.png?v=1742522636)
Key Takeaways: |
- After the cyclone, your home may not have electricity, internet, mobile phone reception, or a water supply, which may continue for some time. - Do not leave your home until officials advise you that it is safe. Wear protective gear and equipment, such as fully covered shoes, gloves, glasses, and an N95 mask if you have it. - Tell your friends, family, neighbours, and acquaintances how you feel. Be honest. It is expected to have anxiety and upset following a terrible occurrence. - If you require additional assistance, seek it. Community rehabilitation hubs will be established, each with a list of phone numbers for support. - We recommend Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and 1000 Plus to power your essential appliances, such as refrigerators, radios, phones, computers, and more. |
Timeline: What to Do After a Cyclone
Following Cyclone Alfred, the early aftermath of a cyclone is a time of increased danger and vulnerability. While the storm has passed, the problems it has left behind, from structural damage and downed power lines to tainted water and displaced wildlife, need to be addressed quickly and effectively. The timeline below outlines how you can take action after a cyclone.
Before Leaving Your Safe Room
Say you've decided to "shelter in place" in the safest room in the house. The smallest room with the fewest windows is frequently a restroom, a hallway, or a room beneath the stairs. Please do not leave this room until authorities confirm it is safe. Even after the storm has passed, wind gusts can be somewhat unpredictable. Depending on your location, floodwater may still pose a concern.
If you still have internet access, visit the digital disaster dashboard online. Each council in Queensland has its own disaster dashboard. New South Wales features the Hazards Near Me app. Listen to your local ABC radio station for official emergency updates, alerts, and guidance. Make sure you have extra batteries and a backup AM/FM radio. Use your phone as little as possible to save battery life and network capacity. SMS/text messages are more likely to get through than phone calls.
While Waiting for Normal Services to Resume
After the cyclone, your home may not have electricity, internet, mobile phone reception, or a water supply, which may continue for some time.
Before the storm, attempt to store enough drinking water to last many days (don't forget about your pets). Store water in freezer bottles; they keep it cool if the power goes off and can be used to drink when it melts. You also need more water for hygiene, cleaning, and toileting. Fill your bathtub or top-loading washing machine with water before the storm hits.
During a flood, sewage may rise through ground-floor toilets and drains. Before the storm, cover your drains with plastic sheeting and a sandbag on top for weight. Place a plastic bag full of sand inside the toilet to make a plug, then close the seat. Consider a bucket for short-term toileting.
Wait for the floodwaters to recede before unsealing the toilet. After the storm, check with the local authority to see if the sewage system is operational before attempting to flush the toilet again.
If the power goes out, your refrigerator can stay cool, but the food inside may no longer be safe to consume. If any foods in your freezer have begun to defrost, cook them immediately or discard them. Some medications that require refrigeration will also need to be discarded.
Contact Your Insurance Provider
If you are likely to file an insurance claim, call your insurer immediately for guidance. The insurance company will most likely ask for your policy number. Try to have it (and other essential documents) on hand, perhaps in a waterproof wallet or as images on your smartphone.
Don't immediately enter cleanup and recovery mode unless you've checked their needs. Ripping up damp carpeting and discarding items may be incompatible with your insurance policy. Disposing of proof of damage may result in your claim being denied.
Before You Head Outside
Do not leave your home until officials advise you that it is safe. Wear protective gear and equipment, such as fully covered shoes, gloves, glasses, and an N95 mask if you have it. Wear a helmet and long pants with long sleeves. Keep your children and pets inside for as long as possible until you are confident the area is safe and clear.
Before bad weather hits, turn off your electricity, gas, and solar systems. Inspect your home and appliances before turning everything back on for any visible damage. Then, confirm with your utility service provider that everything is in order.
Even if your home is out of power, downed electrical lines may be live. Do not touch them, even if you want to move them. If the situation is life-threatening, call 000 or your local energy supplier. Look for evident structural problems in the house, such as broken windows, water leaks, or damaged roofs (missing tiles or screws). Be wary of fallen or windy debris, as well as shattered glass.
Before You Start Cleaning Up
When working with water-damaged products or mud, wear appropriate protective gear. Avoid touching your face and, if possible, wear a protective N95 mask. Mud and unclean water may be polluted, so disinfect and thoroughly wash your hands. If you have any wounds or scratches, disinfect and cover them immediately to avoid infection.
Following last year's floods in Northern Queensland, 16 people died of melioidosis, a bacterial infection found in mud. The bug is more common after heavy rains. If you feel sick, seek medical attention. Mould is another primary concern following severe rain and flooding. To allow for ventilation, open your windows.
Before You Go Further Afield
Resist the urge to go sightseeing. Instead, check in on your neighbours and vulnerable community members. Tell your friends, family, neighbours, and acquaintances how you feel. Be honest. It is expected to have anxiety and upset following a terrible occurrence.
If you require additional assistance, seek it. Community rehabilitation hubs will be established, each with a list of phone numbers for support. Use the services that are offered. Check your local catastrophe dashboard or app for the most recent information on evacuation centres, road closures, and other emergencies.
How-To Tips: What to Do After a Cyclone
Cyclones destroy many things, and the time right after one is hazardous. This is significant because that's when secret dangers like downed power lines, unstable buildings, and contaminated water become very real. Here are some things you can do after a storm.
Tip 1: Keep Safe After a Cyclone
Quickly and adequately acting isn't just about starting to get better; it's also about making sure that you, your family, and your community are safe right away. If you know what to do in those first few hours, you can lower the risks and stop more damage from happening.
Closures and Blockages on the Roads: Transportation officials from the city, county, and state plan to clear major roads fast, but most roads may not be open for a few days. Streets on the side may take even longer.
Food Safety: It's important to know that eating perishable foods that haven't been cold enough can be very bad for your health. A full freezer will stay frozen for about two days with closed doors. Stuff in a half-full freezer will stay frozen for about one day. Foods that are kept in the fridge can last up to four hours. If the food that needs to be kept cold has been above 40°F for over two hours, it should be thrown away. Throw away any food that smells, looks, or feels different.
Seek Help: People may find that they didn't think a storm would have as much of an effect on their lives or homes as they did. Don't be afraid to leave the area for a while and come back when things are better. For a while, you might need to find a place to stay or get help from disaster aid groups. This is very important if you care for children, older people, people with special needs, or pets.
Take Good Care of Your Pets: Make sure your pets have enough food, drink, and medical care. Remember that many animals, especially strays, may be scared and upset. They are more likely to bite, scratch, or fight. Be careful when you get close to wild animals, even if they look harmless.
Tip 2: Cyclone Cleaning Up
The cleanup process after a cyclone is critical to a successful recovery. Whether a homeowner or a business owner, you should adhere to safe and efficient debris collection requirements.
Local or state governments often dispose of disaster-related debris that private property owners leave at the kerb for pickup on a set date. While we may provide broad debris cleanup suggestions below, local guidelines may differ. Please get in touch with your county or municipality to obtain exact directions to your area.
Safety Is a Priority: When working with debris, wear safety clothing such as long pants, sturdy shoes, goggles, gloves, and a mask. Contact your local emergency management if you encounter storm-related debris that endangers public health or safety. Stay away from damaged structures to avoid injuries, and watch for snakes and animals. As you clear trash, look for visible cables and let professionals handle them.
Official Waste Collection: Local officials will know where and when pickups will occur. Speak with your local emergency managers about who to contact to remove hazardous debris. You must remove green debris and trees that do not threaten life or property; however, after an incident, SES can chainsaw trees that have already fallen if they harm persons or property.
Find Professional Help: Volunteer organisations or corporations can assist you with tree removal, drywall, flooring, appliance removal, roof tarping, and mould mitigation. For flood-damaged structures, follow these five fundamental actions: air out, tear out, move out, clean out, and dry out. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling things polluted with floodwater or sewage.
Tip 3: Rebuilding or Repairing Your Home
Cyclones, like any other natural disaster, have the potential to damage infrastructure, homes, and other property severely. Generally speaking, light-construction buildings, such as certain manufactured homes and other residential residences, sustain the most damage during cyclones.
Roof Design: High winds can cause significant damage to buildings and their contents due to roof failures. Some steps can be taken to lessen the likelihood of roof damage. Among these mitigating actions are:
Designing Wind-Resistant Roofs
Securing Sheathing Properly
Reinforcing Gable Roof Ends
Installing Shingles Properly
Document Your Belongings: Keeping records of everything you own will facilitate filing insurance claims. To chronicle the contents of your home, think about filming a video tour or snapping pictures of valuable objects.
Install Flood Vents: To reduce the chance of structural damage, install flood vents in garages, foundation walls, and other enclosed spaces to let water flow through and drain out. Drywall and insulation resistant to flooding will assist in reducing damage and are readily cleaned and sanitised.
Sewage Backup: Flooding may cause sewage to back up into your home's drainpipes in certain places. To avoid this possible health risk, speak with a plumber and, if necessary, get a sewer backflow valve.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) can assist you in recovering from a natural disaster, such as a flood, bushfire, cyclone, or severe storm, by offering general and technical guidance on various rebuilding-related topics. You can discover helpful publications, guidance, and fact sheets on QBCC's Rebuilding after a Natural Disaster page if you want to rebuild swiftly and safely.
Tip 4: Reconnecting Electricity & Water
Contact qualified professionals for safe reconnection of services and inspections after a cyclone. Do not attempt to reconnect electricity or water yourself. The combination of water and electricity is exceedingly hazardous. If any electrical equipment, appliances, or wiring has been damp or submerged, refrain from touching it.
Obtain the services of a licensed electrician to evaluate the condition of your home and electrical system, particularly in the event of inundation. Please refrain from attempting to reactivate the power or touch the main switchboard until a professional inspection has been conducted and it has been deemed secure.
The subsequent information pertains to the electricity suppliers in Australia:
Utility Suppliers | Contact |
| Energex | Call 000 or 13 19 62 To report fallen powerlines or electric shocks 24/7. |
| Ergon Energy | Call 000 or 13 16 70 To report fallen powerlines or electric shocks 24/7. |
| Ubran Utilities | 13 23 64 Faults and emergencies. 13 26 57 General enquiries. |
| Unity Water | 1300 086 489 Faults and emergencies. 1300 086 489 General enquiries. |
(Data Source: QLD Government)
A portable power station is essential during a cyclone as it offers an immediate source of electricity when the power grid fails. This enables access to vital appliances such as medical equipment, lighting, communication devices, and necessities, especially when evacuation or power restoration may be postponed due to the storm's intensity.
The Jackery Portable Power Station is easy to use, lightweight, and makes no noise. It has AC outlets, USB ports, and a 12V DC carport output, letting you charge several devices concurrently. Here, we recommend the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and 1000 Plus as emergency and home backup generator for powering essential appliances.
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus
With an expandable capacity from 2 to 12 kWh, Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is suitable for unexpected power outages caused by cyclones, hurricanes, or storms in Australia. It can charge 99% of essential appliances and electronics, such as lights, radios, phones, computers, etc. With a 20ms EPS, essential devices such as your refrigerator and CPAP remain operational instantaneously during a power outage.
When utilising 6 SolarSaga 100W solar panels, the Explorer 2000 Plus requires only 6 hours for a complete solar charge. This power source achieves complete autonomy by using solar energy for charging, eliminating reliance on the power grid. You can recharge it with a wall outlet (1.7 hours) and a carport (25 hours).
The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus uses cutting-edge lithium technology, making it highly temperature-resistant and ensuring safe and effective cell operation. Safety features, such as shock and fire resistance, also ensure safety. The integrated cooling system increases heat dissipation efficiency by 30%, providing a safe charging experience.
Using the Bluetooth or Wi-Fi feature makes managing your Explorer 2000 Plus simple. Using the app's other features and monitoring the battery level are now simpler than before. Numerous sophisticated settings can be altered to suit specific needs, guaranteeing constant energy management.
(*The working hours are only for reference; the actual working hours depend on your usage.)
-
Powerful: Expandable capacity of up to 12kWh for a week of off-grid living. Supports up to 5 add-on battery packs (sold separately).
-
Long-lasting: LiFePO4 battery with a 10-year lifespan.
-
Ultra-safe: High FCC/CE and UL certifications, innovative ChargeShield Technology with 62 forms of protection.
-
Sustainable: Whisper-quiet operation, emission-free, and rapid solar charging via IBC panels.
-
Supports pass-through charging: Charge the power station and your devices simultaneously.
-
Jackery iOS app can be downloaded at：https://apps.apple.com/au/app/jackery/id6446012836
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus
Compared to the Explorer 2000 Plus, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus (with 1.26 to 5 kWh expandable capacity) is more compact and inclined to use at home, off-grid cabin, or even on your caravan—expandable to five power levels, offering three days of emergency backup for household use.
Jackery 1000 Plus Power Station delivers an impressive 2,000W rated output and 4,000W peak power, capable of running your essential devices during an emergency, including refrigerators, CPAPs, and more. This solar generator is equipped with Dual PD 100W and multiple output ports (2*2000W AC, 2*USB-A, 2*USB-C, and 1*DC carport), so it charges various devices (radios, laptops, tablets) quickly and simultaneously.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus boasts an impressive 1,264Wh capacity, which allows for the expansion of up to three add-on battery packs simultaneously, bringing the total capacity from 1.26kWh to a formidable 5kWh. This guarantees 1-3 days of home backup power. This behemoth is the optimal solution for cyclones and other emergencies, offering infinite power possibilities.
With a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, the Jackery 1000 Plus boasts an impressive 10-year lifespan. It guarantees the safety of all of your electrical devices by providing a pure sine wave and a consistent voltage. The consistent power supply and advanced ChargeShield technology protect against potential equipment damage.
(*The working hours are only for reference; the actual working hours depend on your usage.)
Save more with the Grab-and-Go Bundle – Includes Solar Panel: Solar Generator 1000 Plus
- More Power in Smaller Size: With a capacity of 1264Wh and a 2000W output, the 1000 Plus supports 99% of devices.
- Expandable Capacity: Supports up to 3 add-on battery packs (sold separately), expanding up to 5kWh and ensuring 1-3 days of home backup power.
- Versatile & Fast Charging: 1.7 H Wall Charge (0-100%)
- Long-lasting Reliability: LiFePO4 battery cells, lasting up to 10 years - providing 4,000 charge cycles.
- Supports pass-through charging: Charge the power station and your devices simultaneously.
- Intelligent Control: With the advanced APP feature, via WiFi or Bluetooth.
- 3 + 2 Years Warranty: Automatically applied when purchased from our official website.
Tip 5: Replacing Lost or Destroyed Documents
Individuals residing in a declared disaster area may be eligible for complimentary document replacement services. The Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (RBDM) will provide free replacement life event certificates to individuals who have lost, damaged or destroyed their certificates in a declared disaster area.
If you reside in the affected area and have been affected, you may request to have your certificates replaced if they have been lost, damaged, or destroyed in a declared disaster area.
I have previously owned the certificate.
If you require a replacement for a certificate that has been lost or damaged due to other circumstances, you may apply for:
Tip 6: Physical Health after a Cyclone
Floods and storms can bring on numerous health hazards, including mould, bacterial infections, mosquitoes, bugs, and concerns about food and drinking water safety. Here are a few dangers and self-defence tips.
Mould: It is not advised to use abrasive methods, like a dry brush, to remove mould from a surface. This might release spores into the air, spreading mould to other places and negatively impacting health. Mould can be effectively killed and removed from walls, floors, and other hard surfaces using a variety of chemicals. White fermented vinegar cleaning solution and household cleaning products or detergents can work well if applied correctly.
Bacterial Infection: Wear long sleeves, closed shoes, gloves, protective eyewear, and long pants to prevent direct contact with water, dirt, and mud. Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and clean water to maintain healthy hygiene. Use a hand sanitiser in the absence of soap and clean water.
Mosquitoes: Because standing water from severe rainfall and flooding creates the perfect environment for mosquito reproduction, mosquito populations may rise during floods, storms, and cyclones. Different mosquitoes prefer to bite at other times of the day and night. It's critical to prevent getting bitten. Always use personal protective techniques and clear your home of any possible breeding grounds.
Food & Drinking Water Safety: Food that has come into contact with floodwater (cans and sealed food containers are included below); food with an odd texture, colour, or smell; food that has been refrigerated for longer than four hours or left out of the refrigerator or over 5°C. Food is frozen after 24 hours (if the freezer is only half full) or 48 hours (if the freezer is complete).
One of the most crucial aspects of safeguarding your health during and after a disaster is access to sufficient amounts of safe drinking water. However, following a disaster, the drinking water provided by your water company, local government, or private sources such as tanks, wells, and bores might not be available or might become dangerous to consume. As a result, your emergency kit should have sufficient amounts of potable water.
Tip 7: Mental Health & Wellbeing after a Cyclone
After a disaster, you will expend significant emotional energy to manage your anxieties, frustrations, and other emotions. You may be unaware of the energy you consume and neglect your emotional and physical well-being by working excessively and for an extended period. Eventually, you will begin to suffer the consequences. This is the onset of typical stress symptoms, which can impact your mind, body, emotions, and relationships.
These symptoms can be quite severe and are frequently at their most severe during the initial weeks. They are not indicators of vulnerability. It is reasonable to anticipate that these emotions are a reaction to a severe traumatic event. Most of the time, they will subside within the next few weeks or months, although some individuals may experience them for an extended period.
| Steps for Mental Health After a Cyclone |
| Step 1: Acknowledge that you are under stress. |
| Because they are too preoccupied with the issues, people frequently fail to notice when they are stressed. Pay attention to people who might perceive you more clearly than you do. |
| Step 2: Identify your stress cycle. |
| If the stress has been continuous, a pattern of stress may develop. This is known as a stress cycle and could become a way of life. |
| Step 3: Decide to stop your stress pattern. |
| Certain aspects of stress in your life may be easy to control, even though many are not. |
| Step 4: Reduce stressful activities. |
| Examine your routines and way of life to identify areas where you might lessen your stress. Try to cut back on activities that cause you to feel stressed. |
| Step 5: Increase relaxing and positive activities |
| Include throughout your day rewarding things that make you feel happy. Spend some time having fun. |
Alternatively, you may locate a community recovery centre to receive additional assistance. If a Community Recovery Hub in your vicinity has closed, please consult the following information and the locations of Support Services.
Community Recovery Hub locations were operational during Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025. Please refer to the Tropical Cyclone Alfred March 2025 disaster event page for a comprehensive list of places. Please contact the Community Recovery Hotline at 1800 173 349 for the most up-to-date information or assistance.
Tip 8: Business Recovery after a Cyclone
Your company should create the following kinds of plans to be ready for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters:
Risk Management Plan: A strategy that identifies potential hazards to your company and suggests solutions to reduce such risks.
Incident Response Plan (includes an emergency plan): An emergency plan is part of the incident response strategy. A strategy that outlines how to handle emergencies.
Business Continuity Plan: A plan for maintaining operations during and after a disaster.
When it is safe, return to the premises and secure any hazardous debris. Examine the damage to equipment, vehicles, assets, and structures. Keep an event journal for insurance claims with decisions, damage images, and/or videos. Calculate the cost of any repairs, replacements, or moves.
As you clean up and recuperate, keep your employees informed of any changes to the workspace or procedures.
Verify the support services offered to employees. Think about how you will handle your employees if you must temporarily shut down your company or scale back activities. As an employer, be sure you understand your legal responsibilities, particularly if you intend to:
Staff, please stand down.
Request paid or unpaid leave from employees.
Assign employees to various positions or areas.
Think about ways to lessen upcoming events' effect on structures and operations. Note the lessons you learnt from your company's recovery, such as the suitability of insurance plans and the accounting, IT, and record-keeping systems. Update your company's rules and processes and your business continuity plan. Examine and revise your emergency protocols.
FAQs
The following are the frequently asked questions about what to do after a cyclone.
1. What precautions should be taken after a cyclone?
Avoid loose or dangling wires from light posts at all costs. Exercise caution if you are required to operate a vehicle. Immediately remove any debris from your property. Inform the necessary authorities of the correct losses.
2. What is the best thing to do after a tropical cyclone?
Until the cyclone has ended entirely, remain indoors.
If you evacuated, refrain from returning until local officials permit you.
Perform an initial damage assessment of the immediate vicinity.
Refrain from sightseeing and remain in a secure location.
Make an effort to reach out to your family or acquaintances who are located outside of the area.
3. What comes after a cyclone?
Heavy precipitation and high winds may persist in post-tropical cyclones. Note: Two distinct categories of post-tropical cyclones are remnant lows and erstwhile tropical cyclones that transition to extratropical status.
4. What is the best way to survive a cyclone?
For protection, it is recommended that you wear sturdy footwear (not thongs) and durable apparel. Secure doors; disable electricity, gas, and water; and retrieve your emergency and evacuation kits. If you are evacuating inland (out of town), taking pets and departing early is advisable to prevent heavy traffic, flooding, and wind hazards.
Final Thoughts
Prioritise safety following a cyclone by keeping yourself updated via local authorities, avoiding flooded and damaged areas, and only returning home when it is deemed safe while inspecting for damage and possible dangers. You can follow this tutorial to learn what to do after a cyclone, particularly the recent Cyclone Alfred. In addition, you will expend a lot of emotional energy managing your disappointments, worries, and other emotions following a cyclone. There are numerous ways to interrupt the stress cycle, and engaging in activities you enjoy can be the best way to relieve stress.
