Cyclone Arnab is coming to India’s east coast. The storm formed over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh by the morning of Oct. 28 with gusts up to 140 kph, India’s weather office said. The Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s major regions for tropical cyclones.

The weather office said the cyclone will probably intensify further and bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall to Andhra Pradesh’s northern and central coastal districts and southern Odisha. These rains could cause flooding in the affected areas.

Andhra Pradesh identified 570,000 vulnerable people. A senior Andhra Pradesh disaster management official told Reuters on Oct. 26 that the state ordered boats at sea to return ashore, began evacuations that evening, and prepared rapid power restoration.

Odisha’s government closed schools and colleges in five districts for Oct. 27‑28. It also prepared to move residents of low‑lying areas to cyclone shelters.

Both states show how quickly governments can act to protect people during a severe storm. The response to Cyclone Arnab teaches us the importance of early evacuation, sheltering, and restoring power.