DISASTER MANGEMENT

(UCE11B11/UCE21B08)
Dr. Manu S Nadesan
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology Agartala

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 Cyclone: Unit 5

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Syllabus
• Cyclone and Fire, Cyclone Disaster Mitigation and ensuring wind and
fire hazard safety during disaster.
Expected Outcome:
• Having the knowledge of fire proof construction students will make
themselves enable for future fire disaster.
• Students will be able to understand the effects of cyclone by knowing
their underlying causes.

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 Cyclone?

Cyclones are caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-

pressure area distinguished by swift and often disruptive air
circulation. The word cyclone is derived from the Greek word
Cyclos meaning the coils of a snake and it was coined by Henry
Piddington.
What is Cyclone?
• In meteorology, the term cyclone is defined as
• A system of winds that are rotating inwards to an area of low barometric
pressure, such that in the Northern Hemisphere it is anticlockwise and in
the Southern Hemisphere it is clockwise circulation.
• Cyclones are formed with an enormous amount of energy from the ocean
to the atmosphere. According to studies, every year there are 70 to 90
cyclonic systems developed across the globe. The surface winds get
spiralled towards the low-pressure system due to the Coriolis force. The
cyclonic systems are not formed in the equatorial regions because the
Coriolis force is negligible between the latitudes 5 degrees north and 5
degrees south.
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Northern Southern

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 How are Cyclones Formed?
• Tropical cyclones are formed only over warm ocean waters near the equator.
• When warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the surface, a
cyclone is formed.
• When the air rises up and away from the ocean surface, it creates an area of
lower air pressure below.
• It causes the air from surrounding areas with higher pressure to move towards
the low-pressure area which further leads to warming up of the air and causes it
to rise above.
• As the warm, moist air rises and cools the water in the air forms clouds.
• As the wind system rotates with increasing speed, an eye gets formed in the
middle.
• The centre of a cyclone is very calm and clear with very low air pressure.

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 Coriolis Force (f)
• The Coriolis force is zero at the equator (no cyclones at equator because of
zero Coriolis Force) but it increases with latitude. Coriolis force at 5°
latitude is significant enough to create a storm [cyclonic vortex].
• About 65 per cent of cyclonic activity occurs between 10° and 20° latitude

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 Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation
• Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C,
• Presence of the Coriolis force enough to create a cyclonic vortex,
• Small variations in the vertical wind speed,
• A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation,
• Upper divergence above the sea level system

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Structure of cyclone

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 Structure of cyclone
Eye
• The “eye” is a roughly circular area of comparatively light winds and fair
weather found at the center of a severe tropical cyclone.
• There is little or no precipitation and sometimes blue sky or stars can be seen.
• Eyes range in size from 8 km to over 200 km across, but most are approximately
30-60 km in diameter.
Eye wall
• The eye is surrounded by the “eye wall”, the roughly circular ring of deep
convection, which is the area of highest surface winds in the tropical cyclone.
• Eye Wall region also sees the maximum sustained winds i.e. fastest winds in a
cyclone occur along the eye wall region.
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 Structure of cyclone
Spiral bands
• Another feature of tropical cyclones that probably plays a role in forming and
maintaining the eye is the eye wall convection.
• Convection in tropical cyclones is organized into long, narrow rain bands which are
oriented in the same direction as the horizontal wind.
• Because these bands seem to spiral into the center of a tropical cyclone, they are
called “spiral bands”.

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 Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation
• Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C,
• Presence of the Coriolis force enough to create a cyclonic vortex,
• Small variations in the vertical wind speed,
• A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation,
• Upper divergence above the sea level system,

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Other Names of Cyclone

Region Other names for cyclone

Caribbean sea Hurricanes
China sea Typhoons
Indian ocean Tropical cyclones
Japan Taifu
Northern Australia Wily willies
Philippines Baguio
USA Tornadoes

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Before the Cyclone season:
• Check the house; secure loose tiles and carry out repairs of doors and
windows
• Remove dead branches or dying trees close to the house; anchor
removable objects such as lumber piles, loose tin sheets, loose bricks,
garbage cans, sign-boards etc. which can fly in strong winds
• Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if
needed
• Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and
enough dry cells
• Demolish condemned buildings
• Keep some extra batteries for transistors
• Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for use in emergency

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Necessary actions
• The actions that need to be taken in the event of a cyclone threat can
broadly be divided into :
• Immediately before the cyclone season
• When cyclone alerts and warnings are communicated
• When evacuations are advised
• When the cyclone has crossed the coast

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When the Cyclone starts
• Listen to the radio (All India Radio stations give weather warnings).
• Keep monitoring the warnings. This will help you prepare for a cyclone
emergency.
• Pass the information to others.
• Ignore rumours and do not spread them; this will help to avoid panic
situations.
• Believe in the official information
• When a cyclone alert is on for your area continue normal working but stay
alert to the radio warnings.
• Stay alert for the next 24 hours as a cyclone alert means that the danger is
within 24 hours.
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When your area is under cyclone warning get away
from low-lying beaches or other low-lying areas
close to the coast
• Leave early before your way to high ground or shelter gets flooded
• Do not delay and run the risk of being marooned
• If your house is securely built on high ground take shelter in the safe
part of the house. However, if asked to evacuate do not hesitate to
leave the place.
• Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place.
• Provide strong suitable support for outside doors.
• If you do not have wooden boards handy, paste paper strips on
glasses to prevent splinters. However, this may not avoid breaking
windows.

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• Get extra food, which can be eaten without cooking. Store extra drinking water in
suitably covered vessels.
• If you have to evacuate the house move your valuable articles to upper floors to
minimize flood damage.
• Ensure that your hurricane lantern, torches or other emergency lights are in
working condition and keep them handy.
• Small and loose things, which can fly in strong winds, should be stored safely in a
room.
• Be sure that a window and door can be opened only on the side opposite to the
one facing the wind.
• Make provision for children and adults requiring special diet.
• If the centre of the cyclone is passing directly over your house there will be a lull
in the wind and rain lasting for half an hour or so. During this time do not go out;
because immediately after that, very strong winds will blow from the opposite
direction.
• Switch off the electrical mains in your house.
• Remain calm.

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During a cyclone
DO NOT venture out even when the winds appear to calm down. The 'eye' of
the cyclone might be passing. Winds might intensify and gush again and
cause damage. Be safe inside till it is officially announced that the cyclone
has passed.
• When Evacuation is instructed
• Pack essentials for yourself and your family to last a few days. These should
include medicines, special food for babies and children or elders.
• Head for the proper shelter or evacuation points indicated for your area.
• Do not worry about your property
• At the shelter follow instructions of the person in charge.
• Remain in the shelter until you are informed to leave
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Post-cyclone measures
• You should remain in the shelter until informed that you can return to
your home.
• You must get inoculated against diseases immediately.
• Strictly avoid any loose and dangling wires from lamp posts.
• If you have to drive, do drive carefully.
• Clear debris from your premises immediately.
• Report the correct losses to appropriate authorities.

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 Thanks

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