In a flood or cyclone

1Your situation

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Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.

2Documents you need

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• Death certificateoriginal and a copyHave itNeed it
  If you don't have it: → After a death in the family
  Details

  Not confirmed: The norms only say the cause of death must be certified by the appropriate authority. Ask at the Tahsildar office which document they need.

  Sources: 9

• Disability certificateoriginalHave itNeed it
  Details

  Only if a limb or an eye was lost: from a doctor at a government hospital or dispensary, stating the extent and cause of the disability.

  Sources: 9

Nothing to get ready before these steps.

3Your steps

· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.

1. Do this now

   If someone is trapped or hurt, call 112 at once.

   Where

   By phone

   Sources: 1

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2. Do this now

   If government officials tell you to leave, go to a safe place at once.

   Where

   You do this yourself

   Sources: 6

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3. Do this now

   Do not walk or drive through flood water.

   Two feet of moving water can wash away even big cars.

   Where

   You do this yourself

   Sources: 6

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4. Do this now

   If you have to step into water, wear suitable footwear.

   Do not enter deep or unknown water; check the depth with a stick.

   Where

   You do this yourself

   Sources: 6

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5. Do this now

   Keep away from electric poles, fallen power lines, sewers, drains and manholes.

   Where

   You do this yourself

   Sources: 6

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6. Do this now

   For warnings for your area, see the National Disaster Management Authority's "SACHET" portal or its app.

   Warnings also come by SMS from the sender XX-NDMAEW.

   Where

   SACHET (NDMA)

   Open the official page

   Sources: 4

   I have done this step
7. Do this now

   See district-wise warnings for Telangana on the page of the India Meteorological Department's Hyderabad centre.

   Where

   IMD Meteorological Centre Hyderabad

   Open the official page

   Sources: 5

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8. Do this now

   Keep following weather news on radio, TV and in newspapers.

   Ignore rumours and stay calm.

   Where

   You do this yourself

   Sources: 6

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9. Do this now

   Keep your phone charged.

   Use SMS to keep in touch in an emergency.

   Where

   You do this yourself

   Sources: 6

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10. Do this now

    Get an emergency kit ready: a torch, spare batteries, a battery radio, a first-aid kit and your medicines, dry food and sealed water, candles and matches in a waterproof box, a knife, chlorine tablets, strong rope, shoes and some cash.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 7, 6

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11. Do this now

    Put important papers such as your ration card, voter ID and Aadhaar card, and your valuables, in waterproof bags.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 7, 6

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12. Do this now

    Store enough ready-to-eat food and drinking water for at least a week.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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13. Do this now

    Find out the safe way to the nearest shelter or raised pucca building.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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14. Do this now

    Keep cattle and other animals untied, for their safety.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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15. Do this now

    Remember that canals, streams and drainage channels can flood suddenly.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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16. Do this now

    Secure your house, especially the roof, and make repairs.

    Do not leave sharp objects lying loose.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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17. Do this now

    Close doors and windows securely.

    Tie down anything that can move.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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18. Do this now

    If your house is not safe, leave early, before the cyclone arrives, and reach a shelter.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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19. Do this now

    If government officials tell you to leave, go to a safe place at once.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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20. Do this now

    Before leaving home, raise furniture and appliances onto beds and tables.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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21. Do this now

    Before leaving, turn off the electricity at the mains and the gas connection.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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22. Do this now

    Take the emergency kit, the first-aid kit, your valuables and important papers, and move to higher ground or a shelter.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
23. Do this now

    If you are outdoors, get to a safe shelter at once.

    Never stand under a tree or an electric pole. Do not enter damaged buildings.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
24. Do this now

    If the wind suddenly drops, do not assume the cyclone is over; violent winds may return from another direction.

    Wait until the officials give the all clear.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
25. Do this now

    Drink only boiled or chlorinated water.

    Eat freshly cooked or dry food, and keep food covered.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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26. Do this now

    If your home is not safe, you can stay in a relief camp set up by the government.

    Relief camps give temporary shelter, food, clothing and medical care.

    Where

    Government relief camp

    Sources: 9

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27. Do this now

    Keep following weather news on radio, TV and in newspapers.

    Ignore rumours and stay calm.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
28. Do this now

    For warnings for your area, see the National Disaster Management Authority's "SACHET" portal or its app.

    Warnings also come by SMS from the sender XX-NDMAEW.

    Where

    SACHET (NDMA)

    Open the official page

    Sources: 4

    I have done this step
29. Do this now

    See district-wise warnings for Telangana on the page of the India Meteorological Department's Hyderabad centre.

    Where

    IMD Meteorological Centre Hyderabad

    Open the official page

    Sources: 5

    I have done this step
30. Do this now

    Go back home only when the officials say so.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
31. Do this now

    Do not use damaged or wet electrical goods; have an electrician check them first.

    Watch out for broken wires and poles, sharp objects and debris.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

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32. Do this now

    Do not eat food that has been in flood water.

    Do not drink tap water until the Health Department says it is safe.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
33. Do this now

    Do not let children play in or near flood water.

    Snake bites are common after floods; be careful.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
34. Do this now

    Clean and disinfect everything that got wet.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 6

    I have done this step
35. Do this now

    If your house, crops or animals were damaged, or someone died or was injured, tell the Tahsildar office of your mandal.

    Officials must certify the loss before government help is given. The norms say this help must be paid straight into the beneficiary's bank account.

    Where

    Tahsildar office (mandal revenue office)

    Not confirmed

    The official pages we read do not say whom to tell in Telangana, or on which form. Ask at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9, 10

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36. Do this now

    If you are an Indian citizen living abroad (NRI), an OCI cardholder or a foreign national: ask the Tahsildar office whether you can get government relief for your losses.

    The Government of India's relief norms (SDRF/NDRF) say nothing about them. Under the Ministry of Home Affairs notification S.O. 1050(E) of 2021, an OCI cardholder is a foreign national, with a foreigner's rights in fields the notification does not name.

    Where

    Tahsildar office (mandal revenue office)

    Not confirmed

    We found no official rule that says whether relief is paid to them; only the Tahsildar office can tell you. Nothing official says the relief amounts below apply to them either.

    Sources: 9, 11

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37. Do this now

    Give the official damage survey team correct information.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Sources: 8

    I have done this step
38. Do this now

    Help for a destroyed or severely damaged house (pucca or kutcha) is ₹1,20,000 in plain areas and ₹1,30,000 in hilly areas.

    It applies only to an authorised construction.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9

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39. Do this now

    For a house at least 15% damaged: ₹6,500 for a pucca house, ₹4,000 for a kutcha house.

    It applies only to an authorised construction.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    Both lists print the pucca figure as "Rs. 65,00"; we read it as ₹6,500. States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9, 10

    I have done this step
40. Do this now

    ₹8,000 for a damaged or destroyed hut.

    It applies only to an authorised construction.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9

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41. Do this now

    If your house was washed away, fully damaged, or badly flooded for more than two days: ₹2,500 per family for lost clothing and ₹2,500 for lost utensils and household goods.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9, 10

    I have done this step
42. Do this now

    ₹3,000 for a damaged cattle shed attached to the house.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9

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43. Do this now

    If 33% or more of the crop is lost, there is input subsidy per hectare (about two and a half acres): ₹8,500 for rain-fed land, ₹17,000 for land with assured irrigation, ₹22,500 for perennial crops.

    Only for sown land, up to 2 hectares per farmer. A farmer with up to 2 hectares of land gets at least ₹1,000 (rain-fed), ₹2,000 (irrigated) or ₹2,500 (perennial crops).

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9, 10

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44. Do this now

    For small and marginal farmers and landless livestock owners: ₹37,500 for a milch cow or buffalo; ₹4,000 for a sheep, goat or pig; ₹32,000 for a draught animal such as a bullock; ₹20,000 for a calf or donkey; ₹100 per poultry bird (up to ₹10,000 per household).

    There is a limit per household (for example 3 large milch animals). The animals must be registered with the local authorities. Not given if help for the same loss is available from another government scheme.

    Where

    You do this yourself

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9

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45. Do this now

    ₹4 lakh ex gratia for the family of each person who died in the disaster.

    The cause of death must be certified by the appropriate authority.

    Where

    Tahsildar office (mandal revenue office)

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9

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46. Do this now

    ₹16,000 if the injured person was in hospital for more than a week, ₹5,400 for less than a week; not for those treated under Ayushman Bharat.

    For the loss of a limb or eye: ₹74,000 if the disability is 40-60%, ₹2.5 lakh if it is more than 60%.

    Where

    Tahsildar office (mandal revenue office)

    Not confirmed

    States give this relief from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) under the Government of India's norms. The amounts here are from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of norms made for 2022-23 to 2025-26, revised in July 2023 and in force from 2023-24. We found no newer list for 2026-27 onwards, and no Telangana order of its own, so the amount Telangana pays may differ. Confirm at the Tahsildar office.

    Sources: 9

    I have done this step