Cyclones are a part of life in northern Australia from November to April, and they can endanger lives and create widespread devastation. More tropical storms than usual are expected during the cyclone season, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Cyclones can wreak widespread havoc and destruction. Cyclone destruction has a long-term and short-term impact on communities. With proper cyclone preparation and knowing what to do during a cyclone, you can help reduce the danger of cyclone damage and boost everyone's safety.
On this page, you will learn how to prepare for a cyclone, including what a cyclone is and what you should do before, during, and after a cyclone. The ideal solution for preparing a cyclone is to own a Jackery Solar Generator, which combines a portable power station with SolarSaga solar panels to use solar energy anytime and anywhere, even at night.
Tropical cyclones, often known as 'hurricanes' in some parts of the world, begin as low-pressure systems that form over warmer tropical oceans.
How to prepare for a cyclone? There are six steps, including making a preparation plan, packing an emergency kit, cyclone warnings, upgrading your property, and preparing for pets, livestock, and boats.
During a cyclone, you can find a shelter and evacuate immediately.
After a cyclone, you need to check your property, check yourself and your families, pay attention to the food, and clean up.
Tropical cyclones, often known as 'hurricanes' in some parts of the world, begin as low-pressure systems that form over warmer tropical oceans, such as those surrounding Australia's northern and western coasts. A low-pressure system absorbs energy from the warm waters, creating a convection circulation of gale-force winds and moisture around a calmer center known as the cyclone eye.
A cyclone system gains strength as it moves, and while it can begin and end over the waters, it can also make it ashore. Torrential rain and flooding, tidal surges, and catastrophic wind gusts of up to 360 km per hour can result in fatalities and significant damage to property and communities in severe circumstances.
The severity of a tropical cyclone is classified into five categories:
Each year, six cyclones strike Australia's northern coastline, extending from northwestern Australia to north-eastern Queensland. The number of cyclones may appear tiny, but they can have devastating effects, with an estimated yearly damage bill of $3 billion. Cyclones are becoming one of our most dangerous natural disasters. (Data Source: James Cook University)
The cyclone season in Australia generally runs from November to April. However, preparation for a cyclone can and should begin much earlier.
How to Prepare for A Cyclone in Australia?
Tropical cyclones can linger for several days before dissipating over land or the frigid waters. The wind and rain accompanying them can have far-reaching consequences far beyond where the storm makes landfall. If you live in an area prone to cyclones, knowing how to survive a cyclone and taking measures towards cyclone preparation will assist in reducing risk. Here are three things you can do to prepare for a cyclone:
Step 1: Make A Preparation Plan
Suppose you reside in a cyclone-prone location, especially if you've recently moved there. In that case, it's a good idea to check with your local council or building authority to see if your house and other structures satisfy cyclone-resilient requirements.
Most buildings and flats built in the Northern Territory after Cyclone Tracy in the mid-1970s, for example, have been engineered to withstand gusts of 225-279 km per hour. Buildings, however, decay over time, and there is no such thing as a cyclone-proof dwelling. That is why it is vital to begin preparing for a cyclone as soon as possible.
First and foremost, you must study natural disaster management in your area. If severe storms, cyclones, floods, storm surges, or tsunamis are expected in your area, check with your
local council. Investigate your community's emergency plans, suggested evacuation routes, and zones. Find out what assistance is available from your local municipality and other support organizations. You can also prepare by downloading this cyclone emergency plan PDF.
Then, consider your evacuation and shelter options. Plan to shelter in your home if you reside in a well-built home outside of a storm-tide or flood-prone location. Determine the most vital, secure part of your home to take refuge in. How long may you stay alone if you take refuge in your home? How many days' worth of supplies would you require?
Step 2: Pack An Emergency Kit
Another way to prepare for a cyclone is to create an emergency kit. An emergency pack contains goods for your vital needs in a disaster such as a hurricane, flood, or storm. If you lose electricity or water, your kit should have enough supplies to last several days.
Make sure you have enough supplies for everyone in your family. Keep your supplies in a waterproof container that is easily accessible. Check your kit every season to ensure that the contents are still fresh and safe to use. Make your kit right away:
Cyclone Emergency Kit Checklist
Water (10 liters per person)
Non-perished Food (3 Days)
Solar power is the best option for cyclones. Portable solar generators, instead of gas- or diesel-powered generators, employ a free, abundant, and renewable energy source to produce electricity - the sun. Solar generators use the sun's energy to store clean energy in an emergency or as a backup power source.
The
Jackery Solar Generator is one such generator that is simple to use, lightweight, and produces no noise. It contains AC outlets, USB ports, and 12V DC carport output, allowing you to charge several devices simultaneously. In the following section, you can learn more about Jackery Solar Generators.
The warning system indicates when and what measures should be taken. It is advisable to remain well-informed and adhere to the alerts and warnings provided by
Emergency WA or tune in to the local ABC radio station in the event of a predicted cyclone.
For updates and directions, tune in to your local radio station. Wear protective equipment and double-check your home for loose stuff. Gather your emergency supplies and ensure everyone knows where the most vital area of the house is. Suppose officials direct you to pick up your children from school. Then, ensure that you bring in any pets from outside. Turn off the power and gas at the mains. Inform your neighbors about the cyclone danger. Fill bathtubs, sinks, and buckets with water if water supplies are disrupted. Finally, secure the windows and doors.
Step 4: Upgrade Your Property
You can reduce the danger of cyclone damage to your property by improving important spots where wind and rainwater cause damage, as well as recognizing any possible hazards in your area. These crucial sections include the doors, roof and windows, roof eaves, garage doors, and building attachments. A building professional will assess the wind loads on your property using Australian Standards, which will result in wind pressures or a wind classification appropriate for your region.
Because of the high uplift forces, the roof is the most vulnerable portion of a building during a cyclone. Many factors determine the magnitude of these pressures, including the design of the roof; for example, a structure with a near-flat roof experiences greater uplift forces than one with a hip roof. Because uplift details are more significant along the edges and ridges of roofs, connections in these regions must be incredibly sturdy.
Wind forces and wind-borne debris can cause damage to doors and windows. Strong winds entering your property through damaged windows or doors can create significant internal pressures, increasing the risk of your roof flying off. In addition to the garage doors, downpipe, flashing, and other accessories.
Step 5: Prepare for Pets or Livestock
When preparing for cyclones, remember your pets and cattle. Ensure your pets are correctly identifiable with a name tag or microchip, that you have a recent photo of them with you, and that your livestock stock registries are up to date. You can also enquire with your local authority about pet or animal welfare provisions during an emergency.
The best method to safeguard your pet is to relocate them to a safer location ahead of time. This may entail transporting them to family members, friends, animal boarding facilities, or a temporary animal shelter or evacuation center that takes animals.
It is critical to have a plan in place for cattle care. The most excellent way to ensure their safety is to leave early. When transporting livestock, consider installing gates on internal fences to avoid transporting stock over public roadways. Mark the locations of your property's gates and water sources on a map. Keep this map handy if someone has to relocate the livestock for you.
Step 6: Take Action for Boat
Cyclones offer a significant risk to boating due to high winds, torrential rain, and flooding. Storm surges, strong swells, and storm tides can all be caused by cyclones. These elements might contribute to hazardous conditions for boats and boat owners. It is critical to make preparations before a cyclone arrives to decrease the danger of damage, injury, or even death.
When a cyclone is predicted, don't venture out on the water. Conditions might change quickly and without warning. If you are already on the sea when a cyclone warning is issued, you must act soon to relocate to a safer place. Inform someone of your whereabouts.
Jackery Solar Generators for Cyclones
Solar generators, unlike their typical gas or diesel counterparts, do not emit any hazardous fumes or other pollutants, nor do they offer the risk of flammable oil spills. Furthermore, they are significantly less noisy than conventional generators, which are noisy since they use an alternator to generate energy. Solar generators, on the other hand, use chemical energy to store the electricity generated by solar panels.
Portable solar generators are a great way to prepare for a cyclone or other emergency. Jackery is a well-known global manufacturer of high-quality solar equipment, such as solar generators.
Jackery Solar Generators offer larger capacities to run home appliances for numerous hours or days.
Jackery Portable Power Stations use lithium batteries to provide consistent and stable power to essential appliances. By connecting
Jackery Solar Panels to Jackery Portable Power Stations, the Jackery Solar Generator maximizes solar energy use. To safeguard charging devices, Jackery solar generators employ a sophisticated Battery Management System and a pure sine wave inverter. The Jackery Portable Power Stations are 30% lighter than similar items of the same capacity, making them perfect for cyclone preparation.
1000 cycles to 80%+ capacity
1000 cycles to 80%+ capacity
Explorer 2000 Pro + 6*SolarSaga 100W: 5.5H
Explorer 1000 Pro + 6*SolarSaga 80W: 9H
2*AC Output: 230V, 2200W (peak 4400W); 2*USB-A: Quick Charge 3.0x2, 18W Max; 2*USB-C: 100W Max, (5V, 9V, 15V, 12V, 20V up to 5A); 1*Carport: 12V⎓10A
2*AC Output: 230V, 1000W, peak 2000W; 2*USB-A: Quick Charge 3.0x2, 18W Max; 2*USB-C: 100W Max, (5V, 9V, 15V, 12V, 20V up to 5A); 1*Carport: 12V⎓10A
Refrigerator(700W): 2.5H
Phone(5W): 345.6H
Flashlight(25W): 69.1H
CPAP Machine(60W): 28.8H
Radio(100W): 17.3H
Portable Stove(850W): 2H
Refrigerator(700W): 1.1H
Phone(5W): 160.3H
Flashlight(25W): 32.1H
CPAP Machine(60W): 13.4H
Radio(100W): 8H
Portable Stove(850W): 0.9H
The Solar Generator 2000 Pro offers a big 2,160
Wh charging capacity. It can be fully charged in less than 5.5 hours using 6*
SolarSaga 100W solar panels and in less than 2 hours with an AC wall outlet. Superior BMS ensures dependability and safety. With the Solar Generator 2000 Pro, you may use free and unlimited solar energy to power most of your home appliances. The high-quality lithium battery contains four temperature core detectors and two chips for dual battery protection, ensuring the ideal balance of safe and dependable charging.
The
Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro portable power station can survive for up to ten years if used twice each week. It has a standby capacity of 100% for over 365 days, making it an incredibly dependable power supply for home backup. The 19.5-kilogram power station incorporates a foldable handle for easy portability.
When sunlight hits the SolarSaga 100W solar panels, they absorb it with a 24.3% conversion efficiency rate and store it in the Explorer 2000 Pro portable power station, which houses a lithium-ion battery,
MPPT charge controller, and pure sine wave inverter, ensuring stable and consistent electricity flow. During a cyclone, it can power a 100W radio for 17.3 hours and a 60W CPAP machine for 28.8 hours.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro
In addition to its 1000W output power, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro offers a capacity of 1002Wh. An entire wall charge lasts 1.8 hours and can withstand 1000 charge cycles. By combining 2*
SolarSaga 80W solar panels, the power generation efficiency can be raised by 25%. It is also a low-cost option for preparing for a cyclone.
The
Explorer 1000 Pro portable power station has two 1000W AC output outlets, two USB A connectors, and one DC vehicle port. It can power up to 93% of your household equipment, such as an electric radio, refrigerator, phone, computer, and other electronics. For example, it can power a 100W radio for 8 hours, enough time to receive essential government messages and warnings. It can also keep a phone connected to others for 160.3 hours.
The foldable handle simplifies transit and storage. Because of its lightweight design and 1,000-charge cycle life, this portable power source is excellent for home power backup. A pure sine wave inverter supplies consistent power to your electronics. In this ultra-quiet (46dB) product, a battery management system (BMS) checks and preserves the battery life.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro
What Should You Do During A Cyclone in Australia?
A cyclone will make a roaring train or jet engine sound. You could be stuck inside for several hours. Strong winds and horizontal rain are possible. The sky will darken, and day will give way to darkness. Wind transforms unsecured debris into missiles that can cause harm to your home. Prepare yourself for noise and darkness.
Find the best shelter, such as a stairway or a chamber with walls reinforced with pipes on the building's lowest floor. Keep your distance from windows and glass doors. Listen to local radio for warnings of heavy winds or a tornado, and turn off all appliances. If the building begins to crumble, cover under a bench or table with a rug, blanket, or mattress.
If you're outside, seek shelter from the wind and cover your head. If you're inside a vehicle, keep your face from the windows and use the hand brake. Avoid parking near trees and electricity lines.
Step 2: Evacuate Immediately
It is best to seek a public shelter inland or on higher ground. On your way out, close all doors and windows. Check with your neighbors to ensure they have received the most recent information. Turn off all utilities, including power, gas, and water, and disconnect all appliances. Make sure that everyone in your household is wearing sturdy shoes and appropriate attire.
Take your emergency survival pack with you. Stick to your evacuation plan. If you are evacuating to a shelter, bring bedding and books, toys, or other activities for youngsters. The local council or emergency agency will inform you of your best evacuation alternatives.
Maintain your cool. Continue to listen to your local ABC Radio station, listen online or on the ABC Listen app, and follow ABC Emergency on Twitter and Facebook for updates and instructions. If it is safe, contact your local ABC radio station to report what you saw. The dissemination of personal and credible information regarding ongoing events will prove advantageous to the broader community. Please keep our phone number handy.
What Should You Do After A Cyclone in Australia?
The period immediately following a cyclone is frequently equally as deadly as the catastrophe itself. Always wait for the all-clear from emergency services before assuming the threat has passed - you could be in the path of a tropical cyclone. If you have evacuated your property, do not return until an official all-clear has been issued.
Step 1: Check Your Property
If you believe it is unsafe to remain in your house, contact your local council and inquire about available services. Be wary of downed power lines and trees, broken sewer and water pipelines, loose roof sheets, and other debris. Keep an eye out for gas leaks. Please turn off the power and any appliances until an electrician can inspect them.
Do not turn on your power supply if your solar panels are damaged. Before using gas equipment, have them inspected. Promptly get in touch with your insurance provider. Photograph any damage. It will help to expedite the evaluation of your claims. If you rent your home, notify your landlord as quickly as possible, as well as your contents insurance company.
Step 2: Check Yourself & Others
Engaging in dialogue with a trained professional can facilitate the cognitive and emotional processing of one's reactions, thus fostering the development of adaptive coping mechanisms. If you want more support, if people you know are worried about you, or if you're still feeling unsettled even after a few weeks – it is a good idea to talk to someone. Help is available.
Check on your neighbors, family and friends, and anybody else who may want assistance. Investigate the whereabouts of pets and animals. After a natural calamity, do you feel like yourself? It may be beneficial to contact 131 114.
It is natural to experience powerful emotional or bodily emotions following a significant incident. There is no right or wrong way to feel; people might react differently to the same incident. If you need additional assistance, if others you know are concerned about you, or if you're still feeling uneasy after a few weeks, talk to someone. There is assistance available.
Step 3: Pay Attention to Food
Throw away flood-damaged medication, food, or drinking water, especially canned products. Throw away any frozen or refrigerated food exposed to the elements. Only drink or cook with tap water if you are sure it is not polluted. Follow any boil-water warnings issued by your local authorities.
Inquire with your local government about safe debris removal. Clean and dry your house and everything in it. Things wet for more than two days typically become moldy, and there may be germs and pests in your home following a flood. Some persons with asthma, allergies, or other breathing difficulties may become ill due to mold. If there are a lot of molds, you may wish to engage a professional to clear it up.
If you have wooden spoons, plastic utensils, infant bottle teats, or dummies that have been flooded, throw them away. There is no way to clean them securely. Boiling metal pans and utensils in clean water will disinfect them. When cleaning up, wear protective clothing and take all essential precautions when handling asbestos cement waste.
Every year, six cyclones impact the Australian coastline, and if you reside in a cyclone-prone location, you must take precautions. How to prepare for a cyclone? Maintain your home in good condition to reduce cyclone damage; if in doubt, obtain professional advice regarding your home's cyclone resilience. Always keep an emergency kit on hand and know where the nearest shelter is if you need to flee. Additionally, put a Jackery Solar Generator in your cyclone emergency kit to power all your essentials and connect with others or the local government.
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