James Cook University (JCU) Disaster Studies researcher Yetta Gurtner says households need to be prepared year-round as the frequency and unpredictability of extreme weather events increases.
"People assume that because we're going into El Nino, it'll be a drier wet season and we're not as likely to experience much rain," she said.
"But in terms of cyclones, it doesn't mean there won't be any."
Australia's cyclone season is usually from November to April, typically peaking in Queensland in February and March.
Dr Gurtner said bare essentials in disaster kits did not have to be expensive in the face of cost-of-living pressures.
"A 10kg bag of rice, while not gourmet, can keep you from going hungry," she said.
"You don't even have to cook it - you can soak it over several hours.
"Likewise, you can buy a cheap AM/FM radio ... an important backup if you lose phone signal or your battery goes flat.
"Empty plastic cordial or milk bottles can be filled up with water and put in the freezer, so if the power does go out, it will not only keep your freezer cooler for longer but it's water you can drink afterward.
"You don't want to be waiting up to three to five days for someone to come and help you when you can have those supplies ready to go."
JCU Cyclone Testing Station chief engineer David Henderson urged people to follow advice from local councils and the SES - such as pruning trees and clearing yards of debris - before a cyclone hits.
State government grants such as the Household Resilience Program could help with the cost of upgrades to houses built before the 1980s that might not be as structurally robust as modern homes.
"It's all about protecting the building envelope and making sure it remains intact to protect you inside it," he said.
Dr Gurtner urged families and households to discuss what they would do if separated during a natural disaster - "where you would go, where you would meet and a communication plan".
"If you've made disaster preparations yourself, emergency services such as the SES can focus on helping people in houses that have lost roofs, experienced flooding and things like that," she said.
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