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Be Prepared

Plan for storms, floods and heatwaves

Develop a Home Emergency Plan

The first step in preparing for storms, floods and heatwaves is to develop a Home Emergency Plan.  The SES has a step-by-step guide to help you develop your Home Emergency Plan.

A good plan will cover:

  1. What to do before the emergency, so that you are ready?
  2. What do you plan to do during the emergency to keep safe and minimise the impact of the emergency on you and your property?
  3. What you plan to do after the emergency to get help, recover and return to normal life as soon as possible?

 

Prepare an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit includes items you and your family will need during and after most emergencies, in case you are required to evacuate. It should include:

  1. Your Home Emergency Plan.
  2. Plenty of bottled water.
  3. A radio - battery-operated or wind-up plus batteries.
  4. A torch - battery-operated or wind-up plus batteries.
  5. First aid kit.
  6. Rubber gloves and strong leather work or garden gloves
  7. Mobile phone and charger.
  8. A waterproof bag or container for: valuables, important papers, photographs, phone numbers (family and friends), back-up copy of computer files etc.
  9. Medicines or prescriptions.
  10. A change of clothes.
  11. Strong shoes or gumboots.
  12. Special requirements for babies, young children, elderly or infirm.
  13. Enough non-perishable food for every person, as well as pets, to last three days (if you have tinned food, don’t forget to pack a can-opener).
  14. Favourite toy, pack of cards, game or book for children.
  15. Pet items – water bowls, leash or harness, medications.
  16. Toiletries and toilet paper.
  17. Anti-bacterial hand sanitiser.

Your emergency kit should be kept in a waterproof storage box.  Check the kit contents regularly and restock any out-of-date items such as batteries, food and medications.

 

Prepare your home and car

  1. Inspect and fix fences, roofs and gutters for damage or loose materials.
  2. Clean your gutters and downpipes frequently.
  3. Seal any cracks in the foundation and exterior walls of your home. Store car oils, pesticides and other dangerous chemicals in air tight containers.
  4. Ensure branches near your home and power lines are trimmed.
  5. Keep your yard or balcony/porch free from clutter.
  6. Ensure your fan or air-conditioner is in good order.
  7. Consider making alterations to your home to make it cooler, such as installing insulation in the roof, or awnings, shade cloth or external blinds on the sides of the house facing the sun.
  8. Make sure your car is always roadworthy: good tyre tread, working brakes, windscreen wipers and air-conditioning (if applicable).
  9. Keep a basic Emergency Kit in your car, including a torch and first aid kit.

 

Prepare yourself and your family

How people behave during a storm, flood or heatwave can determine the extent of personal wellbeing.

  1. Ensure all members of your family know and understand your Home Emergency Plan.
  2. Explain the dangers of storms, floods and heatwaves to children. This includes the dangers of high water and fast moving water, strong winds and of extremely hot weather.
  3. Plan and practise an evacuation route
  4. Ensure all members of the family know what they should do if they are isolated from each other during a storm or flood event, for example, at work or at school.
  5. Establish a safe meeting point in case of a sudden emergency.
  6. Discuss how you will care for pets should you have to evacuate.
  7. Have pets identified with name tags and microchips.
  8. Learn how and when to turn off the utility mains such as gas, electricity and water. If you don’t know how to do this, contact your gas, electricity and water suppliers.
  9. Identify nearby “cool spaces” to go if you are unable to stay in your home during a heatwave i.e. your local library.

 

Know your neighbours

Being able to turn to neighbours for support can help with preparing for, and recovering from storms, floods and heatwaves. Neighbours can help each other by:

  1. Providing information about what is happening.
  2. Helping secure a property prior to a storm.
  3. Moving furniture and property to high ground before a flood.
  4. Providing a place of shelter during a storm, flood or heatwave.
  5. Helping to clean up after a storm or flood.

 

Join the conversation

Share your experiences and any tips you think could help others respond to future heatwave, storm or flood events?  Visit our have your say webpage.

 

Next steps

Be alert - when a warning is broadcast  

Be safe - what to do during a storm, flood or heatwave  

Evacuate - if you need to evacuate  

Stay safe - what to do after a storm, flood or heatwave 

 

For more information

For more information or if you require this publication in an alternative format, such as large print, audio, braille, or in a different language, please contact ASSIST on 9209 6777 or email assist@portphillip.vic.gov.au.

 

Printable information kit

Being safe during Storms, Floods and Heatwaves

 

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