Extreme weather preparation

How to prepare

• Understand the risks

  • Is your home likely to be impacted by severe weather? To find out read your local Vic SES Flood Guide:
    • Elwood flood guide
    • St Kilda and Balaclava flood guide
    • South Melbourne flood guide
  • Check around your home for issues, such as large trees with branches overhanging your roof, damaged roof tiles or structural cracks in the walls of your home.
  • Check if your insurance is adequate. If you are unsure if your home is covered, seek advice from your insurance provider. Learn more about extreme weather insurance, visit understand insurance

• Develop an emergency plan and kit

  • The first step in preparing for severe weather is to develop a home emergency plan. The Vic SES has a step-by-step guide to create your 'rediplan'. A good plan will cover what to do before, during and after the emergency.

• Prepare yourself and your family

  • Consider any vulnerable people such as children, pregnant women or elderly people and how they may be impacted 
  • If you are elderly, join our Linking Neighbours program that organises volunteers to call older residents during weather events
  • Make sure your family understands your emergency plan, has a safe meeting point and practice an evacuation route
  • Discuss how you will care for pets should you have to evacuate and use name tags and microchips
  • Learn how and when to turn off utility mains such as gas, electricity and water 
  • Make sure that important documents are kept somewhere that will stay dry 

• Prepare your home

  • Inspect and fix fences, roofs and gutters for damage or loose materials. Clean your gutters and downpipes frequently
  • Seal any cracks in the foundation and exterior walls of your home
  • Store car oils, pesticides and other dangerous chemicals in air tight containers
  • Make sure branches near your home and power lines are trimmed.
  • Keep your yard, balcony or porch free from clutter
  • Ensure your heating, fans and air-conditioning are in working order
  • Consider making alterations to your home to make it cooler
  • Find your Vic SES sandbag collection point 

• Be heatwave safe

  Extreme heat is one of the most significant natural hazards facing Victorians. Here are some tips to beat the heat:

  1. Drink water

  • Even if you don't feel thirsty, drink water and ensure pets have full water bowls

  2. Stay somewhere cool

  • Never leave anyone or any pets in a car. Hot cars kill. The temperature inside a parked car can double within minutes
  • Block out the sun by closing curtains and blinds.
  • Use fans or air conditioners. Close off areas of your home that you are not using
  • Seek out air-conditioned buildings. Identify nearby ‘cool spaces’ to go if you are unable to stay in your home during a heatwave, such as your local library
  • Dress in light and loose clothing 
  • Keep cool by using wet towels
  • If you must go outside, apply sunscreen, take a hat and an umbrella

  3. Check-in on others

  Extreme heat can affect anybody. Those most at risk are older people, young children and people with a medical condition. People living alone and people who are socially isolated are among those most affected.

  Look after those most at risk in the heat – your neighbour living alone, older people, the young, people with a medical condition and don’t forget your pets.

  If you or someone you know is unwell, call Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24 for 24-hour health advice or see your doctor. In an emergency, call 000.

  Heatwave safe reminders

  Don’t:

  • Drink alcohol, tea, coffee and sugary drinks. They make dehydration worse
  • Leave children, adults or animals in parked vehicles.
  • Do strenuous activity
  • Go out during the hottest part of the day

  Helpful resources

  Subscribe to receive heat health alerts and other emergency advice from the Victorian Government. For more information visit the Better Health.

• Be storm safe

  • Get your emergency kit ready
  • Bring children and pets indoors. Secure pets so they can't escape outdoors
  • Move outdoor furniture, toys or other loose items to a secure place. Turn trampolines mat-side down, or tie to a fixed object
  • Park your car under solid cover, away from trees, powerlines, drains and streams

  During a storm

  • Shelter indoors with pets, away from windows if possible
  • If outdoors, seek shelter in a building or vehicle
  • Check that all household members are safe and not travelling during the storm
  • If it is a thunderstorm, unplug electrical appliances and only use a cordless phone
  • Avoid driving during the storm. If you are driving when the storm hits slow down and watch for hazards such as powerlines, fast flowing water and tree branches. When visibility is poor, pull off the road, but try stay away from gutters, and low-lying areas

  Don't

  • Shelter under a tree
  • Try to re-locate your car during the storm
  • Drive through floodwaters over roads of unknown depth and current
  • Secure pets in cages outside the home. These may be impacted by flooding or wind carried debris
  • Park your car in an underground car park if you are in a flood-prone area

• Be flood safe

  • Get your emergency kit ready.
  • Bring children and pets indoors. Secure pets so they can’t escape outdoors.
  • Tie down objects likely to float and cause damage.
  • Raise waste containers, poisons, oils and chemicals well above floor level.
  • Block toilets and drains to prevent sewage back flow into the house. A hessian bag filled with sand or soil will work.
  • Stack valuables, furniture, electrical items onto benches or tables or move them off-site.

  During

  • Check emergency warnings for updated information.
  • Be prepared to evacuate if needed.
  • Keep in contact with your neighbours.
  • Check that all household members are safe and not travelling in flood areas.
  • Avoid walking through floodwaters. If you must enter floodwaters, wear solid shoes, not thongs or bare feet.
  • Use towels or sandbags to help slow water seepage into your home.
  • Stay away from drains, gutters, waterways and flood areas.
  • Stay away from fallen powerlines.

  Don’t

  • Secure pets in cages outside the home. These may be impacted by flooding or wind carried debris.
  • Park your car in an underground car park if you are in a flood-prone area.
  • Go flood 'sight-seeing'.
  • Play in floodwaters.
  • Drive through floodwaters over roads, of unknown depth and current.
  • Attempt to go into the roof to fix any leaks. Instead, contact the Vic SES.