Five steps to get prepped for disaster season

Published on 25 October 2022

With disaster season right around the corner and the recent rain events across the country, Council is asking the Rockhampton Region to take time to prepare their families and property for possible natural disasters.

Chair of the LDMG Mayor Tony Williams said our region is no stranger to disasters with the potential risk of floods, storms, bushfires, and cyclones each year.

“Our community is well aware that disasters happen, and most households in the region will have already faced a few," Mayor Williams said.

“I want to ensure that the community have the ‘Get Ready’ mindset embedded in their homes as we know from experience that being prepared can make a huge difference.

“There are five steps you can follow to ensure you're ready if a disaster occurs.

“Take some time to learn about the hazards in our region and understand your local risk.

“Ensure everyone in your household knows what to do if a disaster occurs. Create a hardcopy or electric plan and chat over dinner with your family about what you plan to do if a disaster occurs.

“Spend some time packing an emergency kit which should include essential supplies to equip your household for at least three days of isolation.

“You can make a morning out of it with the kids – have them guess what they think they should include in the kit.

“This is a fun opportunity to share preparedness importance with your family and children.

“The fourth step we encourage the community to undertake is preparing your home, which includes checking your insurance and undertaking home maintenance.

“Last but not least, in emergencies, pets are often the most vulnerable member of the family. Make sure your plan includes your pets.

“If you follow these steps and take the time to get ready, it means we can face a disaster with the confidence that we’re as protected as possible and the decisions we’re making have been well thought out beforehand.

“Being prepared also contributes to how we manage stress leading into a disaster and reduces community impacts during the recovery phase.

“We can’t afford to be on the back foot during an emergency, don’t wait for an impending or actual disaster before you start your preparation.

"I encourage everyone to get their emergency kits and plans together and make yourself familiar with Council's Emergency Dashboard."

Rockhampton Regional Councils Disaster Management team have a wide range of resources and information you can access for free to help get ready, visit, https://emergency.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/.