Recently I attended a ‘Disaster Preparedness for Older People’ workshop hosted by our very own Moreton Bay Regional Council and Volunteering Queensland. It was an excellent workshop with great reminders to put plans in place before a disaster occurs.
With the end of summer, you may wonder why this article? Disasters can occur at any time, not just in summertime. Here’s a quick checklist to see if you are disaster ready:
Stay alert – Sign up to receive weather alerts on your mobile, email or landline by registering with Moreton Bay Regional Council. Call their office on 3205 0555 or register online www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/moretonalert
Arrange an Emergency Kit of essential items - Torch, first aid kit, food, water, mobile phone charger, emergency toiletries, pet food, scan and keep important documents (mortgage, bank, insurance policies, EPOAs, AHDs, wills etc.) with another member of the family.
Take action – Secure loose items around yard, outdoor furniture, pets, and livestock. If you need to evacuate, take your Emergency Kit and remember if it’s flooded, forget it!
Know your risks – How could a cyclone, severe storm, flood, heatwave or bushfire impact you?
Prepare you and your family – Get to know your neighbours and prepare an Emergency Plan that includes checking on vulnerable neighbours, or (if living solo), that you have someone who can check on you.
Prepare your property – Check condition of roof and gutters, clear gutters, trim back trees and long grass, check insurance policy for home, contents etc. for storm, flood and bushfire damage, and identify how to turn off mains supply to electricity, gas and water.
Other important numbers to keep in your phone or handy to landline:
State Emergency Service (SES) 132 500
Energex (fallen powerlines or electric shock) 13 19 62
Energex (loss of power) 13 62 62
QLDTraffic (traffic conditions) 13 19 40
Kerri-Anne Dooley is the Care Service Manager of Home Instead Brisbane North. Kerri-Anne is passionate about supporting seniors to stay in their own homes with the right care at the right time. To book a FREE in -home Care Consultation about Home Care Packages or private services, contact Home Instead on 3482 0800