Gum trees silhouetted against a cloudy sunset
Community

Get ready for summer: prepare and plan early for seasonal hazards

Published: 17 Dec 2020 4:28pm

Wagga Wagga City Council is encouraging families, friends and neighbours to use the start of summer to become aware of and prepare for seasonal hazards.

“Aussie summers are iconic. They can also be tragic,” Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said.

“Each year, communities across NSW experience bush fires, home fires, floods, storms, heatwaves, power outages and other emergencies. The start of summer is the time to start a conversation around being prepared for the multiple hazards communities across NSW face.”

Commissioner of Resilience NSW, Shane Fitzsimmons, encouraged everyone to have a conversation around being prepared for emergency, whatever the hazard may be.

“Our emergency service organisations do an incredible job keeping us safe, but they can only do so much,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

“Being aware and prepared is everyone’s responsibility, whether you’re at home, at work or away on holidays.

“We want everyone to have safe and happy holidays. This year, that also means adapting our usual summer rituals to include COVID-safe practice. Avoid crowded environments. Maintain physical distancing of 1.5 meters – about the length of a beach towel – and where physical distancing cannot be maintained, wear a mask. If you feel unwell, get tested and self-isolate.”

Get ready for summer now in five simple steps

  1. Know your risk: think about the area you’re in and the types of disasters that could affect you.
  2. Plan now for what you will do: sit down and talk with your family and plan for what you will do if a disaster affects your area.
  3. Get your home ready: prepare your home by doing general home maintenance and checking your insurance coverage.
  4. Be aware: find out how to prepare, what to do if there is a disaster in your area and connect with NSW emergency services to stay informed.
  5. Look out for each other: share information with your family, friends, neighbours and those who may need assistance.

Get ready is a community preparedness program coordinated by Resilience NSW. Find out more at resilience.nsw.gov.au/prepare