Preparing your home for cyclone season in Mauritius

Understanding the cyclone warning system

Before you can prepare effectively, it helps to understand the official framework. The Mauritius Meteorological Services — the authority you should always follow — issues cyclone warnings in four escalating classes. Each class is a signal for a specific level of readiness, not just a general alert.

Before the season: inspect your roof and fixings

Your roof is the single most important structure to check before November. A roof that looks fine from the garden can have loose ridge tiles, corroded fixings, or perished sealant around penetrations — any of which can let in water or, at worst, allow sections to lift under sustained wind. Book a qualified roofer to do a physical inspection, not just a visual one from the ground.

On Prouva, you can search for roofing contractors who have been verified — meaning the owner has claimed the listing and we've checked their identity and, where applicable, their business registration. Look especially for reviews backed by an invoice or contract, which carry the 'Verified' badge. That distinction matters when you are trusting someone to work at height on your home. Look at how reviewers rate quality and reliability, not just price.

• Have a roofer physically check all ridge tiles, hip tiles and any roof-sheet fixings for looseness or corrosion.
• Inspect sealant around any roof penetrations — solar panels, water tanks, air-conditioning units, skylights.
• Look inside your roof space after heavy rain for any signs of water ingress before committing to 'all clear'.
• If you have a flat or low-pitch section, confirm the drainage outlets are unobstructed and the waterproofing membrane is intact.
• Get any repairs quoted and completed before December — roofers are typically booked solid once the first Class I warning of the season is issued.

Gutters, drains and water management

A cyclone can dump months of rain in a matter of hours. Blocked gutters and drains do not just cause cosmetic damage — they send water into wall cavities, under doors and through foundations. Clear your gutters thoroughly in October or early November, before the mango and flamboyant trees begin dropping significant leaf litter.

• Clear all gutters and downpipes of leaves and debris.
• Check that downpipes discharge well away from the foundation or into a proper drain.
• Remove any blockages from yard drains, channel drains and boundary walls with drainage gaps.
• If you have a water storage tank, use the pre-season period to check it is clean and serviceable — you may need to rely on it if the mains supply is disrupted during or after the storm.
• Stock at least enough drinking water for several days for your household; fill clean containers once Class II is issued.

Trees, outdoor furniture and loose items

Overhanging branches and poorly maintained trees are among the most common sources of cyclone damage to Mauritian homes. A large branch falling on a roof or a car does far more harm than rain alone. Arrange for a gardener or tree surgeon to assess any trees close to the house, particularly older or larger specimens, before the season starts.

On Prouva, gardening providers can be reviewed on exactly the dimensions that matter for this kind of work: do they show up on time, do they do quality work, and would you recommend them to a neighbour? Use the directory to build a shortlist before October so you have someone you trust already on call.

• Have a qualified gardener or tree surgeon trim branches that overhang the roof, driveway or boundary walls.
• Remove or reduce the canopy of any tree that leans toward the house or shows signs of root instability.
• Store or secure all outdoor furniture, planters, decorative items, children's play equipment and tools.
• Bring in or firmly anchor any shade sails, umbrellas or lightweight structures — these become projectiles in high wind.
• Secure your garden gate and check that fence posts are solid and properly set.

Windows, shutters and electrics

Storm protection for windows ranges from traditional timber shutters to aluminium roll-shutters and purpose-made storm panels. If your home has older shutters, have an aluminium or glazing specialist check that the tracks, locks and fixings are sound. A shutter that cannot close properly because the track is bent or the screws have pulled out of the frame offers no real protection.

If your home does not have adequate window protection and you are considering installing roll-shutters or storm panels, book an aluminium fabricator well before the season. Lead times stretch significantly in October and November as demand builds across the island. Prouva's directory lists aluminium and glazing providers with verified reviews so you can compare quality and responsiveness before you call.

For electrics, the pre-season check is about safety and resilience. Have a licensed electrician inspect your distribution board, earthing and any outdoor sockets or lighting. If you have a generator, have it serviced and test-run now, not when you are already at Class III. Stock the fuel it needs, within safe storage limits.

• Test all shutters for full closure and secure locking before November.
• Have an aluminium specialist repair or replace any damaged shutter tracks, slats or locks.
• Have a licensed electrician check your main board, earthing and any outdoor electrical installations.
• Service your generator and test-run it under load; top up fuel stocks within safe limits.
• Stock spare batteries, torches, a portable phone charger and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
• Know the location of your main electrical isolator and water stopcock so you can shut them off quickly if needed.

During and after the cyclone: staying safe and recovering quickly

Once a Class III or IV warning is in force, your preparation window has closed. The only sensible action is to stay indoors in the most sheltered part of your home — away from large windows and external doors — and follow official instructions. Keep your emergency kit accessible, conserve your phone battery, and do not venture outside to inspect damage until the authorities have confirmed it is safe to do so. The calm eye of a cyclone can be deceptive: the other half of the storm is still coming.

Once the all-clear has been given and it is safe to go outside, your first priority is safety, not speed. Walk the property carefully, looking for downed power lines, unstable structures and sharp debris before any clean-up begins.

• Check for downed power lines before walking near fences, hedges or any fallen trees — assume any line on the ground is live.
• Photograph all visible damage before moving, covering or removing anything. Your insurer will need a full photographic record.
• Document damage to the roof, walls, windows, outdoor structures and any vehicles.
• Contact your insurer as soon as practical to register the claim and understand what temporary repairs they will authorise.
• Call the providers on your pre-season shortlist for emergency repairs — roofers, glaziers, electricians and handymen will be working through a long queue, and those who know you will prioritise existing contacts.
• Be cautious of unsolicited door-knocking by contractors offering immediate repairs at unusual prices in the aftermath of a storm — check reviews on Prouva before agreeing to any work.

The providers who come through reliably in the aftermath of a cyclone — who show up when promised, complete the work to a proper standard and charge fairly — are exactly the providers who earn strong ratings on Prouva across the 'shows up', 'quality' and 'would recommend' signals. After your repairs are done, leaving an honest review helps the next homeowner in the same position make a better choice.