YOUR EMERGENCY CHECKLIST

Your emergency kit provides items you might need if you lose power or need to leave your home in a hurry.

Your emergency kit contents:

A portable radio with batteries

A torch with spare batteries

A first aid kit

Candles and waterproof matches

Important papers including emergency contact numbers

Copies of any emergency plan

A waterproof bag for valuables

When leaving or evacuating your property, place into your emergency kit:

Medications

Supplies for your baby

Supplies for any other people, pets or animals in your care

Appropriate clothing and footwear

Food and drinking water

During a storm

During a storm, there are simple things you can do to help protect your family:

• Never enter or travel through floodwater

• Stay indoors, clear of windows

• Stay clear of creeks, drains, causeways, gutters, streams, fallen trees, power lines and damaged buildings

• If driving, put your hazard lights on and pull over to the side of the road keeping clear of drains, causeways, streams, creeks, trees and power lines

• If outdoors, seek secure shelter away from drains, causeways, streams, creeks, trees and power lines

• Listen to your local radio station and other media for information, updates and advice.

After the storm

• Keep listening to your local radio station for information, updates and advice

• Check your house or property for damage

• Stay clear of creeks, drains, causeways, gutters, streams, fallen trees, power lines and any damaged buildings

• Check to see if your neighbours need help

• Do not go sightseeing as this may hinder recovery efforts or put yourself and others at risk.

Floodsafe

Are you at risk from floods?

If you live close to a creek, river, major stormwater drain or in a low-lying area, you may be at risk from flooding even if you have not experienced it personally.

Families should learn and talk about their flood risks, why floods occur and understand key terms such as flood watch (flooding may happen in the area), flood warning (flood is happening or will happen very soon) and evacuation (leave the area now/before a certain time.)

Floodwaters can kill and may carry debris or contaminants that can cause injuries or disease. Families should make plans for what they will do if they become impacted by floodwaters.

During a flood

How do I prepare when flooding is about to happen?

• Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater

• Listen to your local radio station for information, updates and advice

• Locate and check you Emergency Kit

• Move pets and agisted animals to high ground

• Stack possessions, records, stock or equipment on benches and tables, placing electrical items on top

• Secure objects that are likely to float and cause damage

• Relocate waste containers, chemicals and poisons well above floor level

• Activate your Home FloodSafe Plan

• Keep in contact with your neighbours and make sure they are aware of the Flood Warning

• Be prepared to evacuate if advised by emergency services

• Act early as roads may become congested or close.

Watch and Act - Prepare to evacuate

In addition, to prepare for possible evacuation:t

Learn more about Flood Safety how to be prepared for a flood about your flood risk

• Have your mobile phone close and pack your charger, battery-powered radio, medicine, rain gear, warm clothes, blankets, baby and pet items, water, food, torch, something to attract attention, and valuables like photos and insurance or banking records

• Wear enclosed shoes and pack warm clothes to last you for at least three days

• Arrange to evacuate to the home of family or friends who are in a safe location away from flooding. Consider how to transport your pet(s) and companion animals

• Never drive, walk, ride through, play or swim in floodwater - it is dangerous and toxic

• Obey all signs about road closures and instructions from emergency services.

Emergency Warning - Evacuate now/before

In addition, when you leave:

• Turn off the electricity and gas at the mains before you leave and turn off and secure any gas bottles

• The safest option is to evacuate as early as possible to avoid additional hazards. Do not wait until the last minute

• Immediately move to a safer location away from present and potential flooding. Travel to the home of family or friends who are in a safe location away from flooding

• Take your pets with you

• Never enter or travel through floodwater

STORM, FLOOD AND TSUNAMI SAFETY

Tsunamisafe

What is a Tsunami?

A tsunami is a series of waves generated b y a sudden displacement of large volumes of water from a number of causes including:

• Vertical movement of the sea floor as the result of a large earthquake

• Submarine or coastal volcanic eruptions

• Meteor impacts

• Coastal landslides and slumps, either land-based or submarine

What is the real threat of a Tsunami in NSW?

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there have been more than 50 Tsunami events in Australia since 1788, mostly causing dangerous rips, waves, and strong currents.

The impact of a Tsunami hitting vulnerable lowlying areas of the NSW coast could be significant. While a land-threat Tsunami is of low-likelihood it will have an extremely high-impact when it does occur.

Tsunami threat levels and warnings

The first stage of the process for warning you is a ‘tsunami watch’.

If there is a threat, Geoscience Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology’s Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) will co-issue a National Tsunami Watch, with three possible threat levels:

• No threat - An undersea earthquake has been detected, however it has not generated a Tsunami, or the Tsunami poses no threat to Australia and its offshore territories.

• Marine and immediate foreshore threat

• Warning of potentially dangerous rips, waves and strong ocean currents in the marine environment and the possibility of only some localised overflow onto the immediate foreshore.

• Land inundation threat - Warning for low-lying coastal areas of major land inundation, flooding, dangerous rips, waves and strong ocean currents. Emergency services may commence. evacuations immediately

What you need to do

It is important to act early on warnings as tsunamis can reach the coastline quickly.

• Locate your Emergency Kit and add any medications, important papers, special items for babies, elderly, clothing, food and water

• If you have a Home and/or Business Emergency Plan, use it now

• Keep listening to your local radio station or other media for any updates and advice

• Follow advice given to you by emergency services

• Check that your neighbours have received this advice.

Marine and Immediate Foreshore

• Get out of the water and move away from the immediate water’s edge of harbours, coast estuaries, rock platforms, and beaches

• Boats in harbours, estuaries and in shallow coastal water should return to shore. Secure your boat and move away from the waterfront

• Vessels already at sea should stay offshore in deep water until further advised

• DO NOT go to the coast to watch the tsunami.

Land Inundation

• Move Up 10 meters above sea level, Up 10km of estuaries and at least 1km Away from the coastline/ water’s edge. Remember Up, Up & Away

Where to go

Find the safest route to travel in case you need to evacuate, look at the evacuation map and local maps. You may need to think about walking or ride a bike, as roads may be blocked or congested with other cars. Find out where any evacuation centres could be set up in your area. If you prefer, check with friends and family outside the affected area to organise a place to go.

Consider: If you live or work within a couple of kilometres of the coast line, how will you prepare? Where will you go?

Learn more about Tsunami Safety

Learn more about the

SES Home Emergency Plan Checklist

Are you in a tsunami evacuation area?