Colonel Razzaque Adil is a multiple award-winning military veteran with more than 21 years of experience in HSE, Risk Management, Resilience & Disaster Response operations with the Indian Army, National Security Guards, and the United Nations Peace Keeping Force.

This article looks at some interesting aspects of Cyclones – what causes them, how are they named, and precautions that need to be taken before, during, and after a cyclone by those residing in cyclone/storm prone areas.

Cyclones: Myths & Facts

Though they can often be quite destructive, Cyclones are a fascinating phenomenon of nature. As per Indian mythology, when Vayu Dev the lord of wind, gets angry, he blows fiercely in the form of a storm. His most fierce form, i.e., his 49th form ‘Prabhanjana’ (literal meaning – forceful breaker) can roughly be equated with cyclones.

In meteorological terms, a cyclone can be understood as a wind system similar to the intense ring forming a whirl that rotates inwards (counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere) around a strong low-pressure center. One often gets confused with the terms Cyclone, Hurricane, and Typhoon all three of which actually refer to the same phenomenon. Tropical Storms are called Hurricanes in the Atlantic, Typhoons in the Pacific, and Cyclones in the Indian Ocean (IMD, 2021).

The term “Cyclone” itself has an Indian connection. Henry Paddington (1797-1858) was an English sea captain who settled in Bengal where he was well known for his pioneering studies in meteorology of tropical storms. Studying the logs of several ships, he noticed that most tropical storms had a calm center while the winds around them ran anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. In the 2nd edition of his book, “The Horn-Book for the Law of Storms for the Indian and China Seas”, (published 1848), he introduced the word “Cyclone” derived from the Greek word, ‘κύκλος’ (kyklos, meaning “circle” or “ring”).

Naming of Cyclones

Cyclones are given names to help in their quick identification while transmitting storm warning messages because names are easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. Initially, they were named arbitrarily but later meteorologists prepared an alphabetical list wherein the first storm to occur in the year was given a name beginning with the alphabet ‘A’ and so on. Since 1953, tropical storms have been named from lists maintained by the International Committee of the World Meteorological Organization. Though the original lists featured only women’s names, in 1979, men’s names were introduced and now they are used alternatively. Six lists are used in rotation. Thus, the 2022 list will be used again in 2028. The only time when there is a change in the list is when a storm is so deadly that the future use of its name is considered insensitive.

Cyclones in India

In India, 13 coastal regions are prone to cyclones. Most of these coastal regions are located in the states/union territories of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat & Puducherry. Such cyclones are often accompanied by strong winds, torrential rains, and storm surges which cause damage to infrastructure, uproot trees, damaged property, and cause unprecedented floods which lead to erosion of beaches and embankments. Severe cyclonic storms often result in the loss of human, plant, and animal lives and can even affect the region’s economy.

Protection against Cyclones

If you live in any of the cyclone prone areas in India, the following precautions can prove to be useful before, during & after a Cyclone. Many of these precautions can also be taken against severe storms in other parts of the country.

Precautions to Be Taken Before a Cyclone

• Ensure your house is in a condition to withstand strong winds. If in doubt, get your house checked by your local building control authority.
• Trim down trees to make sure they do not fall over telephone/ electricity lines during the storm.
• Keep your mobile phone fully charged and other appliances like torches handy as there may be power cuts during a cyclone.
• Store essential items like groceries and medicines in advance. It is vital to store dry food items that are not perishable.
• Prepare an emergency kit containing – a portable battery radio, torch with spare batteries, a can opener, matches, fuel lamp, portable stove, cooking gear, eating utensils, and a first aid kit.
• Store drinking water because the water supply may be disrupted during cyclones.
• Do not leave any loose sharp objects lying around, as they can injure people during gusty winds.
• Steer clear of demolished buildings.

Precautions to Be Taken During a Cyclone

• Remain aware of the official cyclone warnings by listening to the radio or other authentic sources.
• Install storm shutters or board-up glass windows.
• Ensure all household members know which is the strongest part of the house, and what to do in the event of a cyclone warning or an evacuation.
• Keep all doors and windows closed.
• Take proper care of elderly /children who need attention.
• Switch off the electrical mains in your house.
• Park your vehicles beneath a solid shelter (hand brake on and in gear).
• If you are asked to evacuate, trust the government authorities and do not hesitate or delay. Move to a house/shelter built on higher ground.
• Do not move outside the house immediately after the storm passes, as there will be wind gusts from the opposite direction.
• Avoid rumors of any sort, and do not panic.
• Stay away from concrete walls and floors because thunder and lightning can pass through the metal bars in them.

Precautions to Be Taken After a Cyclone

• After a cyclone, the chances of diseases increase due to stagnant water and floods can be there. Hence, eat fresh dry food and keep it away from pests and flies.
• Boil water before drinking or cooking.
• Keep your surroundings clean by using disinfectants.
• Cover drain holes to prevent backflow of sewage.
• Clear debris from your premises.
• Stay inside until you receive proper information that it’s safe to move outside.
• Do not drive out immediately after a storm because the roads would be slippery & may be blocked by fallen trees etc.
• Do not go near loose electric wires.
• Avoid going to areas covered with floodwater.
• Stay away from sewerage lines, gutters, and drains.
• Check for gas leaks. Don’t use electric appliances if they are wet.

Way Forward

In the mid-19th century, Port Canning, a port city was being built on the fringes of the Sundarbans by the colonial authorities. The port was designed to welcome ships from all corners of the British Empire, promising to be a worthy twin to Calcutta, the colonial capital of India. In 1853, Henry Paddington (who by then was made president of the marine court of inquiry at Calcutta), advised the Governor General of India that Port Canning was best not built on the south-eastern side of Calcutta as it was vulnerable to storms. His warnings were however ignored and the port was built at the same location. A few years after Paddington’s death, Port Canning was devastated in 1867 by a cyclone and abandoned a few years later. What remains today is described by author Amitabh Ghosh in his book Hungry Tides as a “horrible, muddy little ghost town.”

Damages caused by all tropical storms including cyclones are usually preventable. Studies of cyclones and their predictions have improved hugely today. India has made huge signs of progress in its early warning systems which ensure that the numbers of human causalities during cyclones are now minimal (human casualty during cyclone Fani in 2019 was less than 100). India needs to continue strengthening its Cyclone risk governance with robust early warning systems, cyclone risk reduction strategies, and community participation at local levels. Also, precautions at community and individual levels need to be taken continuously to ensure zero casualties during future cyclones.