Unless you're one of those "let's wing it" travellers, most of us plan our trips well ahead: the flights, the hotels, the dinner reservation we're already looking forward to. And usually, that planning pays off. A cyclone like Cyclone Arnab rarely gets in the way of a holiday booked weeks earlier.
But what if you in the middle of your trip, the sky outside looks like it has made other plans. A quick look at the forecast would have told you to stay home if only you had checked the weather forecast. Now you're here, and the weather has arrived with you.
Movies have been staging this nightmare for years. In Forces of Nature, Ben Affleck plays a jittery groom-to-be, nervous about flying even before a plane skids off the runway, who just wants to reach his wedding in Savannah. Then a hurricane closes in, and every sensible plan he made comes undone. The film plays it for laughs, with Sandra Bullock along for the chaos. Real life isn't nearly a rom-com, and a cyclone is never funny when you're the one standing in the lobby with your bags.
So if the storm has beaten you to your destination, what do you do? Here is how to handle it.
IMD issues a Pre-Cyclone Watch about 72 hours ahead of the actually forecasted disaster. A Cyclone Alert 48 hours prior and Cyclone Warning 24 hours prior before a Post-Landfall Outlook is issued 12 hours before. So, if you haven't landed at your final destination, if all the signs warn you to go back. Go back. Cancel all your plans as safety is more important than cancelling leaves from work.
Always check which stage of warning you're in because it decides everything that follows. Cyclone Arnab, for instance, is a current example that's projected to cross the Andhra coast on the morning of October 28, 2026 between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, with gusts that could reach 140 kmph. But people in Odisha are not waiting for the disaster to cross state borders. They have taken cognizance of the situation and have already banned fishing and barred tourists from hills, waterfalls, dams and scenic spots in six districts.
Go inland while the roads and trains still run and don't wait for the last bulletin. Check flights for cancellation before you head to the airport, check with you respective airlines as in cyclone like situations the flights are the first to get cancelled.
Know your rights, if you have to cancel as a weather cancellation counts as force mjeure. That exempts the airline from the separate cash compensation, but you keep your full refund entitlement. For tickets bought on cred card, the refund is due within 7 days. Keep receipts handy for cancelled hotels, meals, cabs flights incase of closures. If an airline stonewalls you, you have the right to file a complaint with the DGCA or on the AirSewa App.
A hotel is not entirely a bad place to be stuck in. Most hotel teams are trained for emergencies, and if they ask guests to gather in a central room, you go. Cooperation is the key here. During cyclone the immediate threat is the flying debris than the downpour. It can be the biggest killer in these situations so stay indoors if you're not able to return home safely. Stay away from windows and out in the open especially neat the sea.
Incase you're on the road and the disaster hits, pull over safely. During cyclones, it is advised you stay away from trees, power lines, utility poles, steep slopes and water bodies. Always keep your seatbelt fastened, engage handbrake and put the car in gear and stay low below the window level.
You're always advised to never drive or walk into flooded roads as even 6 inches of moving water can stall a call and 1 foot can sweep it awaay.
Stay calm. Ignore rumours, keep your phone charged and use SMS where calls fail.
Put documents and valuables in waterproof containers and prepare an emergency kit.
Store water and non-perishable food because supply can be disrupted.
Keep the windows, doors shut and switch off the mains and gas.
Keep cash handy as atms may not be accessible if the towers are down
Save your lifeline numbers including emergency contact numbers, local disaster helpline, download offline maps and even get your respective hotel's number saved/written in your diary.
Keep checking IMD for updates