A roof is a home’s first shelter from rain and wind. In Seychelles, strong weather can turn a loose object, blocked gutter or unnoticed leak into a wider household problem. A calm inspection before unsettled weather is safer than climbing during it.
Inspect from the ground
Walk around and look for slipped-looking coverings, sagging gutters, dangling cables, cracked skylight panes and branches touching the roof. Inside, look for daylight, damp patches, mould or a new water mark. Photograph concerns for a qualified professional. Never climb a wet roof or work in wind.
Reduce loose objects
Bring in or secure chairs, plant pots, signs, tools and children’s toys. Check that ladders, drums and stored materials cannot blow into windows or neighbours’ property. Keep roof access clear for professionals, but do not leave a ladder propped outside.
Maintain without improvising
Clear reachable gutter debris only when conditions are dry and stable, using safe footing. Do not drill, cut, remove coverings, alter ties or attempt structural repairs from an online article. Arrange competent inspection for movement, corrosion, exposed fasteners, persistent leaks or damage.
When winds arrive
Follow official alerts and stay indoors away from windows if advised. Close shutters, move valuables from glazing, and keep a torch and charged phone nearby. Never check a roof during the event. Afterwards avoid fallen lines and damaged roofs; wait for qualified help.
Preparedness is most useful when it becomes a normal household habit. Review this checklist with the people who share your home, adapt it to your location and abilities, and keep practical supplies where they can be reached. Conditions can change quickly across the islands, so use current official information for decisions about travel, shelter and safety. If a task seems hazardous, pause and seek qualified help rather than improvising. Share updates with household members, check supplies after use, and revisit the plan whenever someone’s needs or contact details change. Keep decisions practical, calm and proportionate to the information available.
Further guidance
An insight from the Development and Resilience Research Monitor (DRRM).