Construction of shelters along vulnerable coastal areas is one of the important cyclone mitigation measures. These guidelines address conditions in the north Bay of Bengal, where storm surge conditions are among the most extreme worldwide in case of cyclone. The work contains recommendations for the planning and design of shelters, covering such topics as: sustainable year-round uses, construction methods and selection of materials, accommodation capacity, location, height of the cyclone shelter, inner design, structural specifications, water supply and toilets and sewerage. Detailed design drawings are provided. This 26 page guide was published by the GoI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme and four valuable reports from the associated workshop are included in annex. Also included is a final chapter on the preparation of Killas or earth mounds, which have become an essential part of cyclone hazard minimization to protect livestock from the cyclone surge.