VHF radio is always good you never have to worrie about the phone network to invite your buddies over to lift the fallen tree off your car. Nor do you have to worrie about the fact that they will eat and drink you out of house and home. So stock up and enjoy the ride. :cheers:

VHF? Private band or air band? UHF would be a good idea instead Id say.. The eating you out of house and home would be a small price to pay if ur house was one of the ones still standing!

Why do people use masking tape for windows?
Cloth tape (gaffer) is much better. It's a bit expensive, but hey, if it saves being decapitated...

i have brought this thread back up for those residents in monicas path over the next few days.
i have read some good info/ideas in the cyclone monica thread, for those who contributed, please feel free to offer some advice in this thread aswell.
thanks Mick

"Why do people use masking tape for windows?
Cloth tape (gaffer) is much better. It's a bit expensive, but hey, if it saves being decapitated... "

Well, I hadn't thought of using cloth tape, but I don't use masking tape either. For a start, it won't stick properly if the windows are already damp from rain/humidity...and if it does stick properly, it's a real pain getting it off again if you leave it too long!

Nowdays, I use sticky plastic 'contact' (book covering). I keep a number of LARGE rolls in stock at all times - enough to completely cover all of my windows. It is fairly easy to apply, and very easy to remove. If you use clear contact, and the cyclone hits in the daytime, then you still get a good view too (unless you have the curtains/blinds shut like you're supposed to!).

If you do get a broken window during a cyclone, or any other glass broken, then you can also use a sheet of sticky plastic contact to pick up the tiny slivers of glass off the floor (because you won't be able to use the vacuum cleaner with the power off).

Does anyone know if it is best to leave your manhole cover in place during a cyclone, or to remove it?

Several people I know had their manhole covers blown out onto the floor during cyclone Larry, but other people had their's sucked up into the roof space.

Also, what is the latest recommendation regarding leaving a window open on the leeward side of the house during a cyclone? I always thought this prevented the house from exploding, but it doesn't seem to be mentioned much any more these days.

The reconmendations are to keep your home closed, not open any windows

Cheers

Hey guys. We went thru this prior to Larry. My experience is to open the windows opposite to the wind direction. We had our manhole cover sucked up into the roof cavity at the beginning of "Steve". We ran around the house like chooks with our heads cut off madly opening and closing windows. But if there are new rules I would greatly reommend that you review them.

Dont forget the camera and the video footage that could throw you into national stardom and give you your minutes of fame. we have been receiving ph calls from friends and family down south wondering what the plan is - you gotta love the media from down south !!!

Its not just down south, there are some crackers here in the north too.

i have a question: what do people do with swing sets and trampolines during a cyclone? Do you take the mat off or leave it on and turn it upside down?

quote:
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Originally posted by NTrelle:
i have a question: what do people do with swing sets and trampolines during a cyclone? Do you take the mat off or leave it on and turn it upside down?
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i tied the trampoline to the house, left it upside down and tied it up to the bricks that made up our garage (they had gaps in them) under the house, i took the actual swings off the swing set and left the frame tied to a tree.

NTrelle, definitely take the mats off - I found several trampoline mats in my yard after Larry, and I don't own a trampoline! I also found a couple of trampoline springs (?). It would be a good idea to turn it upside down. If you don't have anywhere undercover to place it, then be careful if you tie it to something. Sometimes the object tied can damage the structure that it is tied to.

Can anyone provide more information about whether to leave a window open or not?

Leave all windows closed during a cyclone.

Houses have adequate ventilation for equalisation during pressure changes that happen during cyclones - otherwise you would suffocate any time you closed all your windows and doors - part of your cyclone preparations should be to make sure all air vents are clear of obstructions.

The structural integrity of your house during cyclonic winds depends on your windows being closed.

During a severe cyclone, local turbulance effects including tornadic vortexes means extreme winds can suddenly come at you from any direction - it is not wise to leave a window open on the lee side as it might suddenly become the windward side leaving a breach in your wall that could cause you to lose your roof.

Also, if you have a lee side window open and debris smashes a window on the other side, cyclonic winds have a path straight through your house, which can be extremely dangerous and destructive due to loose objects inside your house being picked up a flung about, and it may soon lead to the destruction of your house.

Also, stay right away from any windows during a cyclone - a debris strike whilst one is stuffing about trying open / close various windows as winds change direction could have fatal consequences.

The fact that some have got away with opening windows during cyclones does not mean it is OK to do it.

Thanks Carl, most of that makes sense to me.
The only bit that puzzles me, is this:

"Houses have adequate ventilation for equalisation during pressure changes that happen during cyclones - otherwise you would suffocate any time you closed all your windows and doors - part of your cyclone preparations should be to make sure all air vents are clear of obstructions."

I can't identify ANY vents/gaps anywhere inside my house when the windows and doors are closed. Where is the air supposed to get in?

Indigo, it depends on how your house is designed, however there will be vents, even if they are not obvious.

If there are obvious vents, you can often find them easier from the outside - the most common locations are around floor level or under the eves.

Some more modern houses have no obvious vents, but there are still air gaps, perhaps under the eves and under the floor, that allow pressures to equalise.

There is nothing to be concerned about if you cannot find any obvious vents, as clever design tricks like bathroom or kitchen ventilation fans or air-conditioning units double as air vents to allow enough air to flow from your living area into roof cavities or directly though walls to the outside to equalise pressures.

Vents really do not require much area to equalise the kind of gradual air pressure changes that happen in cyclones, and even the small gaps under doors are usually enough to ensure this can happen anyway - tropical houses are not usually designed to be as airtight as some may be in cold climates.

Thanks Carl. However, my house is on a concrete slab, so there is no ventilation under the floor. I don't have airconditioners, so no vents there. There are no extractor fans in the bathroom or kitchen. No air can get under the doors, because two are sliding glass doors, and the other two are wooden doors with rubber 'weather shield' strips across the bottoms. There are no vents at all in the eaves.

So if no air can get in, should I still keep it all closed up during a cyclone?

I have never had all my doors and windows closed, so I don't know if I really would suffocate! The only time I close windows is if the rain is getting in. Although I did close all except one during Larry.

Is there a ventilation grill a few inches high above a small window in the toilet?

Aha! So there is! Forgot about that. Thanks.

...So that would be enough then?