Disability Cyclone Guide

GET READY... for cyclones!

PLAN Make an emergency plan for my home

PACK Pack an emergency kit

LISTEN Stay up to date

Easy Information for Residents and Visitors

Acknowledgements

An initiative of Cairns Regional Council Access and Equity Advisory Group.

This booklet has been made possible through funding provided under the Community Development and Recovery Package, which is a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

Although funding for this booklet has been provided by both the Australian and Queensland Governments, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of either Government.

Written by Janet Morris & Anita Veivers of ARC Disability Services Inc. www.arcinc.org.au

How to use this booklet • This booklet is designed as a tool to help explain what a cyclone is to people who need assistance to understand.

• It is not designed to be just given to someone, but should be discussed, interpreted and reinforced by a communication partner or parent.

• It should be shared using words which will be understood by the person you are assisting.

•

It is important to refer to this booklet as many times as the person wants or needs to ensure they understand and are as comfortable as they can be with the information.

• This booklet should be used as a tool to prepare prior to the cyclone season, as well as in the lead up to an expected event.

• Talk through each part of the booklet and allow the person to talk about what this may mean for them.

• Space has been allowed for the person to record their thoughts or feelings.

 What is a cyclone?   

It willAstart to rain. cyclone is aSometimes big storm.it will rain a lot.

 

 AA cyclone is big storm.

A cyclone cycloneis isaa abig bigstorm. storm.   

cyclone a ItA get is windy.

Sometimes it will get very, very A will cyclone is a big big storm. storm.

It may get very, very windy. m.windy. stor big a is one cycl AIt It Itmay may get very, very windy. mayget getvery, very,very verywindy. windy.

It It may may get get very, very, very very windy. windy. y. willvery be, very verywind noisy.

It mayItget

ItItItwill will be very noisy.

It noisy. willbe bevery very noisy. will get very noisy. Things might blow around

It be noisy.

It will willbang be very very noisy. and and crash.

It will be very noisy.

There may be lots of rain and there There may be lots ofofrain rain and there may There may of there may There maybe belots lots rainand and there may There may be of may flooding. be flooding.

There maybe be lots lots of rain rain and and there there may may be flooding. be flooding.

ItThe might go on for a long time.

Ite may might get hot but ther and rain be flooding. of lots be may re be flooding. we open the windows. . flooding be can’t

It Ithappens happens only during the wet season.

It happens mainly during the wet season.

It only during the wet season. happens only during the wet season.

It happens only during the wet season.

It happens only during the wet season.

We know when cyclone is coming. . seaason wet We usually know when cyclone is coming. ng the duri only pensusually hap We usually know when aacyclone is ItWe usually know when acyclone cyclone iscoming. coming.

We usually know when amight coming.

Sometimes people beisscared.

We usually know when a cyclone is coming. ing.

We usually know when a cyclone is com

ItIt can be bit scary when we are waiting for Itbe can be a bit scary when we are waiting can be scary when we are waiting for It can scary when we are waiting for can beaaa abit bit scary when we are waiting for place.

ItIt can be ato bit scary when we are waiting forsafe We need stay inside and wait in our for ing wait are we n whe the cyclone come. y the cyclone to come. scar bit a betheto for It can the cyclone come. the cyclone to come. to come. the cyclone tocyclone come. the cyclone to come.

The wind might stop for athe while but we need to We can hear the sirens on radio and TV We can hear the sirens on the radio and TV We can hear the sirens on the radio and TV We sirens on the radio and TV Wecan canhear hearthe the sirens on the radio and TV and We can hear the sirens on the radio TV and o radi the on ns that tell us a cyclone is coming. sire r the hea stay inside because itcoming. might start again. canus Wetell that tell us cyclone is that a cyclone is coming. that thattell tellusthat usa acyclone cyclone coming.is coming.

TV tell us isaiscoming. cyclone that tell us a cyclone is coming.

Cyclones are given a name by people whose

Cyclones are are given aaname byby people whose Cyclones given name people People in charge will tell us when itwhose iswhose over and se ple who Cyclones are given a name by people peo Cyclones are given a name by people by e nam a job it is to watch out for cyclones. n give are s lone Cyc a name by whose people job itCyclones is to watchare out given for cyclones. job it is to watch out for cyclones. ones. cycl job itto toto safe come out. job itis towatch watch outfor forcyclones. cyclones. hout watc is it is job whose job itout is for to watch out for cyclones.

4 4 The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

8

4

44 4

For  Me? Who will tell me when a cyclone is coming?

Who will tell me when a cyclone is coming?

What do I know about cyclones?

What do I know about cyclones?

How might I feel when a cyclone is coming?

How might I feel when a cyclone is coming?

My thoughts

My thoughts...

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

5



         What things happen       

before a cyclone comes?  



  getready ready wind the rain.  get forfor thethe wind andand the rain. get ready for the wind and the rain. get ready for theto: wind and the rain.

We for need get ready for the wind and the rain. get ready the wind and thethe rain. get ready for the wind and rain. get ready for the wind and the rain. put things away. put things away. put things away. put things away. put away. putthings things away. put things away. put things away. buy food and batteries in case the power goes out buy food andand batteries in case the power goes out buy food batteries in case the power goes o and the food shops are closed. buybuy food andbatteries batteries in case the power goes out buy food and in case the power goes out and batteries in case the power and the shops are closed. buy food and batteries in case case the the power power goes goes out out and the shops are closed. buy food and batteries in and the shops are closed. and goes the shops are the closed. out and shops are closed. and the the shops shops are are closed. closed. and make sure our pets are safe and have enough food makemake sure sure our pets are are safesafe andand have enough food our are pets have make sure our pets safe and have enough food make sure pets are safe and have enough and water. make sure ourour pets are safe and have enough food fo and water. enough food and water. make sure our our pets pets are are safe safe and and have have enough enough food food and water. make sure and water. and water. and water. water. and get other things ready first-aid get other things ready like like firstaid kitskits and water in get thingsready readylike likefirstaid firstaid kits and water get other other things kits and water in in and in ready case wind andthings. rain case the water wind and rainthe damages get other things like firstaid kits and water in getother other things ready like firstaid kitswater and water case the wind and rain damages things. case wind and rain damages things. get things ready like firstaid kits and in damages things. get things ready firstaidthings. kits and water in caseother the wind and rainlike damages casethe the wind and damages things. case the wind and rainrain damages things. case wind and rain damages things. listen tothe the radio andand listen to what emergency listen to radio the radio emergency services listen to and to to what emergency listen to the radio andlisten listen what emergency services people tell us listen to do.ask people and do what they us to emergency do. listen to people the radio and to what services tell do. services people tellus ustoto do. to what emergency listen to the radio and listen listentoto the radio listen to what emergency listen the radio and listen to what emergency services people tell usand to do. services people telltell us to to do. do. do. services people us services choose apeople safe tell place tous beto- we may need choose aasafe place to to bebe  we maymay need to leave choose safe place  we need to leave to leave theplace housetoand somewhere choose a safe be go  we may needelse to leave the house somewhere else (this(this is called the house andgoplace go somewhere iswill called choose a and safe to be  and weelse may need to leave (this is called evacuation) someone the house and go somewhere else (this isdo called choose a safe place to be  we may need to leave evacuation) and someone will tell us what to choose a what safe place to be will wetell may need to leave evacuation) and us(this what to do to lea the house and gosomeone somewhere else isneed called tell us to do and where to go. choose a safe place to be  we may evacuation) and go someone will tell us (this whatistocalled do the house houseto and somewhere else and where the gosomeone somewhere else (this is to called and where and togo. go. evacuation) and will tell us what do the house and goLLC. somewhere else (this is called The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 Mayer-Johnson All Rights Reserved Worldwide. and where tobyand go.

6do evacuation) someone will tell tell us us what to do Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC. evacuation) and someone will what to 6 and where to go.

6 do evacuation) and someone will tell us what to and where where to to go. go. and 6 







and where to go.

66

 For  Me?

Whatthings special things do I want to keepsafe? safe?

What special do I want to keep

What will be different when we are getting ready for a cyclone?

What will be different when we are getting ready for a cyclone?

What will I do when I hear a siren?

What will I do when I hear a siren?

My thoughts...

My thoughts The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

  It will start to rain. Sometimes it will rain a lot.  

   What might happen    ItIt will get windy.

Sometimes it will getrain very, very  will start to rain.

Sometimes it will a lot.  during a cyclone?

It will start to rain. Sometimes it will rain a lot. windy.

It will start to rain. Sometimes it will rain a lot.

It will start to rain. Sometimes it will rain a lot.

It will startstart to rain.

Sometimes it will rain a lot.

It will to rain.

It will will start to rain.

Sometimes it it will rain a very lot.

It get windy.

Sometimes will get very, very get windy.

Sometimes it will get very, It will start to rain.

Sometimes it will rain a lot.

Sometimes it will rain a lot.

It will get windy.

Sometimes it will get very, very It will very noisy. Things might Itwindy. will get get windy.

Sometimes it will get very,blow very around windy.

Itwindy. will getbang windy.

Sometimes and and crash. it will get very, very windy.

It will get get windy.

Sometimes it will get very, very It will windy.

It will get windy. Sometimes it will get very, very windy. windy.

Sometimes will get very, very windy.

It will get very itnoisy.

Things might blow around windy. willgetget very noisy.

Things blow around ItItwill very noisy.

Things mightmight blow around ItIt will get very noisy.

Things might blow around and bang and crash. go on for a long time. It might get hot bu andmight bang and crash. bang and crash.

Itbang will get very noisy.

Things might blow Itand will get very noisy.

Things might blow around and and crash.

It willcan’t get very noisy.

Things might blow around we open the windows. around andcrash. bang and crash.

It will get very noisy.

Things might blow around and bang and and bang and crash.

It might go on for a long time. It might get hot but bang crash.

Itand might go and on for a long time. It might get hot but ItIt might goopen ongoon for afor long time.time.

It might hot get but hot bu we can’t the windows. might go aa long long time.

It get might It might on for It might we Sometimes can’t open the windows. people might be scared.

Itwe might go on for athe long time.

It might get hot but we can’t open the windows. get hot but we open windows. can’t windows.

It might goopen on for acan’t long time.the It might get hot but It might on for long time. It might get hot but we can’tgo open the awindows. we can’t openpeople the windows.

Sometimes might be scared. we can’t open the windows.

Sometimes people might bebe scared.

Sometimes people might scared.

Sometimes people might be scared.

We need to stay inside and wait in our safe plac Sometimes people might be scared.

Sometimes people might be scared.

Sometimes people might be scared.

We need to stay inside and wait ininour We need to stay inside and wait oursafe place.

Sometimes people might scared.

We need to stay inside andbe wait in our safe place. safe place.

We need to stay inside and wait in our safe place.

The wind might stop forwait a while we need to We need to stay inside and in ourbut safe place.

We need to stay inside and wait in our safe plac We need to stay inside and wait in our safe place.

The wind might stop for a while but we need to stay inside because might again.

We need to stay inside instart our safe place.

The wind might stop for await while but need The wind might stop for and aitwhile but wewe need to The might stop for a while but we need to staywind inside because it might start again. stay inside because it might again. stay to inside because it might start start again. stay inside because it might start again.

The wind might stop for a while but we need to The might stop for a but we Thewind wind might stop forwhile a while butneed we to need to The wind might stopitfor a while but we need to stay inside because might start again.

People in charge will tell usstart when it is over a People in charge will tell usstart when ititisis over stay inside because it might again. stay inside because it might again.

People in because charge will tell us when over and stay inside it might start again.

People charge willout. tell us when it is over and and in safe to come

safetoto come out.

People income charge will tell us when it is over and safe out. safe to come out.

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. tois acome People in charge willLLC.tell us when it is over and 8 Used with permission.safe Boardmaker® trademark of out.

Mayer-Johnson People in charge will tell us when it is over and 8 People in in charge tell us it is over 8 People charge tellwhen us when it isand over a safe to come out. will will safe to come out. safe out.out.

8 safetotocome come 8

For  Me? Who will tell me when a cyclone is coming?

How I might feel?

What do I know about cyclones?

What will I do?

How might I feel when a cyclone is coming?

Who will help me?

My thoughts

My thoughts...

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

5

     adio and spare batteries   

Things I need to get ready:      □ Batteryoperated radio and spare batteries MY CHECKLIST    atteries 

 □atteryoperated Batteryoperated and batteries □radio Torch andspare spare batteries radio and spare batteries Batteryoperated radio and spare batteries q □ Batteryoperated radio and spare batteries □ Batteryoperated radio and spare batteries □ Batteryoperated radio and spare □ Water bottlebatteries eryoperated radio and spare batteries □ qTorch □ Torch and spare batteries orch spare □and andbatteries spare batteries Torchand spare batteries Battery-operated radio and spare batteries

Batteryoperated radio and spare batteries Torch and spare batteries

□□ □ □days Water bottle 34Water □Water q bottle Water bottle Water bottle bottle □ Water bottle □ Water bottle □ Medication er bottle□ Water bottle □ qFood – enough for 34 days Food – enough for 3 - 4 days □ –– enough for 34 days □–Food Food ––enough for 34 days □Food enough for days □enough Food enough for 34 days □34 Toiletries ood – enough for days Food for34 34 days d – enough for 34 days □ Medication qMedication Medication □ □ Change of clothes and strong shoes in a □ Medication □ Medication □Medication Medication ication □ Toiletries edication bag □ Toiletries q Toiletries Toiletries □ □□Toiletries etries Change of clothes and strongpapers, shoes inbooks a □ Toiletries □ Special or photos oiletries Toiletries □ qbag Change of clothes and strong shoes in a Change of clothes andstrong □ Change of clothes and shoes □ Change of clothes and strong shoes in ain a nge of clothes andshoes strong shoes in a and strong in a bagstrong shoes in a bag □ and  □ Change of papers, clothes □bagbag Special books or strong photos shoes in a

and spare batteries Torch and spare batteries Food – enough for 34 days h and spare batteries □Torch Torch and spare batteries

hange□ofofclothes and strong shoes Change clothes and strong shoesinina a Special papers, books or photos  q Special papers, books photos bag □ Special papers, books ororphotos  □ Special papers, books or photos □  ag cial papers, books or photos bag □ 

 q □  □  □ Special papers, books or photos oks or photos   pecial papers, books Special papers, booksororphotos photos      □     Remind my helper to look at the Council   list in the back of this book for more

information and a bigger checklist.

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

    1010 

 For  Me?

Whatthings special foods will I want to pack?

What special do I want to keep safe?

What special things do I want to pack – not too many?

What will be different when we are getting ready for a cyclone?

Anything else?

What will I do when I hear a siren?

My thoughts...

My thoughts The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

    Listen to what the to person in charge tells m What should I do    

keep safe in a cyclone?

Listentotowhat whatthe theperson personinincharge charge tells tells me.

Listen Listen what the person charge tells me.

Listen toto what the person inincharge tells me. someo Stay in my inside safe place unless Listen to what the person in charge tells me.

charge tells me I need to go somewhere e

Stay inside safeplace placeunless unless someone someone in Stayin in my myinside insidesafe safe Stay place unless Stay in in my my inside safe place unless someone inin someone in charge tells need someone charge tells me Ineed need goIunless somewhere else.in Stay in my inside safe place charge tells me I need totome go somewhere else. charge tells me I to go somewhere else. to go somewhere else. charge tells me I need to go somewhere else.

Ask for help if I need it.

Ask for help if I need it.

Ask forfor help need it.it.

Ask helpif ifI need I needit.

Ask Ask for help if I need it.

Share my feelings.

Share Share my my feelings. feelings.

Share my feelings.

Share feelings.

Share my feelings.

Do what the emergency service people or

Dowhat whatthe the emergency emergency service Do servicepeople people or someone in charge tells us to do.

Do what the emergency service people oror or someone in charge tells us to do.

Do what theinemergency people someone charge tellsservice us to do. someone in Do what the emergency service people or someone in charge charge tells tellsus usto todo. do. someone in charge tells us to do.

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

12 12 12

For  Me? Who will tell me when a cyclone is coming?

What can I do to help?

What do I know about cyclones?

What can I do if I get scared?

How might I feel when a cyclone is coming?

Who will I listen to?

My thoughts

My thoughts...

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

5





The cyclone will pass, but it might st

The cyclone will pass, but it might still be  andrainy rainy for a while.

What might happen  and for a while. 

 after the cyclone?  

  There may bestill lots of trees orw There may be lots ofbe tre The cyclone will pass, be The cyclone will but pass, but itstill might still The cyclone will pass, butitititmight might be windy The cyclone will pass, but might still windy The cyclone will pass, but ityards might still windy lying around inawhile. the andbe on the and rainy for aa while. windy and rainy for while. lying around in the yards and onroad the and rainy for while. and rainy for a and rainy for a while. careful lines.  carefulofofpower power lines.  CAREFUL! There may be lots of trees

There may lots of or There may be bethe lotsyards of trees trees or things things or things lying around in and or There may be lots of trees things There may be lots of or t lying around in the yards and on the roads.

Be lying in the yards of and on the roads. trees Be on around the roads.

Be careful power lines. lying around in the yards and on the roads. Be careful of power lines.  lying around in the yards and on roads We might not have any lights or the other thin They are dangerous. careful of power lines.  careful of power lines.  We might not have any lights or othe

careful of power  need power like lines. computers, TV or air con We might not have any lights or other need power like computers, TV or a Our phones might not work.

We might not have any lights or other things that

like computers, Wethings mightthat notneed havepower any lights or other things that We might not have any lights or other things that Our phones might not work. need power like computers, TV TV or air conditioners. need power like computers, TV or or air air conditioners conditioners need power like computers, TV or air conditioners We might not have any lights or other thing Our phones might not work.

Our phones might not work.

Our phones might not work.

There might be people with noisy machin

need power like Our phones might notcomputers, work.

TV or air cond chainsaws to clean Our phoneshelping might not work. up.

There might be people with noisy There might be people with noisy machines and There might be people with noisy machines and There might be people with noisy machines There might be people with noisy machines and chainsaws helping to clean up. chainsaws helping to clean up.to clean up. chainsaws helping and chainsaws helping to clean chainsaws helping to clean up. up.

m

We need to stay inside until it is safe. We There might be people with noisy machine We to inside until We stay away from drains water.

We need stay inside untilititisand is safe. safe.

We need need totostay stay inside until safe.

We need need to to chainsaws helping to clean up.

We need to stay inside until it is safe.

We need to stay away from drains and water.

We need to stay away from drains and water.

to stay inside stayWe awayneed from drains and water. stay away from drains and water.

until it is saf stay away drains andare water.

People mightfrom be sad if things broken

People might be sad thingsare are broken People be sad ifif ifthings broken We might need to stay inside until it isand safe.

People might be sad things are broken and People might be sad if things are broken and and messy. messy. messy. messy. stay away from drains and water. messy.

We

People might be sad if things are br messy.might be sad if things are broken a People

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

14 14

For  Me? Who will tell me when a cyclone is coming?

What can I do to help?

What do I know about cyclones?

How will I feel if outside looks very different?

How might I feel when a cyclone is coming?

What will people be busy doing?

My thoughts

My thoughts...

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

5

Feelings

Scared

    because of the noise  I don’t understand  because of the noise 

Scared Scared because becauseI of the understand noise don’t Scared  because I of don’t Scared theunderstand noise - because ofbecause the noise Scared  because of the noise - because I don’t understand  because Ithings don’t understand Sad are broken  because don’t becauseIthings thingsunderstand arebroken different Sad because are Sad  because things are different broken - because things are broken  because things are different - because things are things different Sad because are broken

Sad

Sad are becausethings things are different Angry  because we are allbroken stuck together  because things are different and it is hot Angry  because Angry we are all stuck together - because we are stuck because I can’t do what Itogether want to it isallhot Angry and because we aretogether all stuck and it is hot and it is hot because can’t to - because Ibecause can’t doIwhat I do want to I want Angry we are allwhat stuck together Angry because are all because I can’t do stuck what Itogether want to and it is we hot and it is hot Bored can’t is dono what Bored because becauseI there TV Iorwant to  because I can’t do what I want to - because there is no TV or computer computer Bored  because there is no TV or - because we are stuck inside Bored  computer because no TVinside or because there we areisstuck

computer

Bored  because becausewe there no TV or are is stuck inside Happy Bored  because there is no TV or - because it’s over we because are stuck inside computer Happy because its over - becausecomputer everyone is safe

we are stuck inside because becauseits everyone is safe Happy because over  because we are stuck inside Happy because over is safe becauseits everyone The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of LLC. everyone is safe because Happy  Mayer-Johnson because its over Happy  because its over  because everyone is safe  because everyone is safe

16 16 16

Notes  For Me Who will tell me when a cyclone is coming?

What do I know about cyclones?

How might I feel when a cyclone is coming?

My thoughts

The Picture Communication Symbols ©1981–2011 by Mayer-Johnson LLC. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Used with permission. Boardmaker® is a trademark of Mayer-Johnson LLC.

5

Contacts details and phone numbers: Family and friends:___________________________________

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Guardian:___________________________________________ Service provider:_____________________________________ Insurance company:__________________________________

Important medical information: Medicare card number:_______________________________ Allergies:___________________________________________

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Medication details:___________________________________

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Doctor / Specialist:___________________________________ Chemist:____________________________________________

Other important information: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Further Contacts Tune into your local radio station for updates ABC Radio Cairns................................... 801 AM ............................................................... 106.7 and 95.5 FM Port Douglas) ............ 639 ABC Radio (Mossman Your &online source forAM, 90.1 FM For more information visit: local disaster information

Emergency contacts

Council’s Emergency Contacts Disaster information For information BEFORE a cyclone....... 4044 3044 Local hazard maps For information DURING a cyclone.......

4044 3377

RoadCoordination closures Centre on Follow the Disaster Publications and Twitter Checklists

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Other Emergency Contacts Police / Ambulance / Fire....................... 000 State Emergency Services (SES)............. 132 500 Ergon Energy.......................................... 132 296 Main Roads............................................. 131 940

PLAN

Make a household emergency plan

PACK

LISTEN

Pack an Stay informed emergency kit www.cairns.qld.gov.au