ARE YOU PREPARED FOR STORM SEASON Dec08
It looks like this is going to be a wild storm season this summer. As we breathe a sigh of relief that we were not subjected to the same damaging winds as our near neighbours at The Gap, we need to make sure that we are prepared for future storms.
Have you secured any loose items in your yard?
Residents should make sure their yards were free of items that could be picked up and tossed around by high winds.
Have you secured any loose items in your yard?
Residents should make sure their yards were free of items that could be picked up and tossed around by high winds.
Have you made sure that you have a properly stocked emergency kit.
The kit should be kept in a waterproof container and include items such as:
A battery operated radio with spare working batteries
A torch with spare batteries, candles and water proof matches
First aid kit and manual, and combination pocket knife;
Medications, toiletry and sanitary supplies and a change of clothes.
Money, including change for phone calls
Strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents, and photographs).
Also, keep handy a list of emergency phone numbers, including numbers for local Police, Fire, Ambulance, State Emergency Service, Local Council, Gas and Electricity Company and relatives.
Store important documents (eg wills, passports, photos, birth certs) in a fire/water-proof container or safe deposit box.
Report any fallen power lines to Energex on 13 19 62.
MY EXPERIENCE RIDING OUT A CYCLONE
When living in Townsville years ago, it was standard procedure to have that bag packed in case of an emergency evacuation being required and also to have a store of canned food etc that would get you through an extended period without power. (Being prepared gives some peace of mind.)
At least with cyclones we generally had plenty of warning and tracked their dog-legged journey towards our coastline. Not like these sudden storms!! Just home from hospital with my first child, we had to prepare for the coming cyclone.
A visit by the Giru ambulance officer, inviting us to stay with his family, was followed by the Police officer encouraging us to move into town and stay at the pub. This did little to allay my fears about staying ‘at home’ for my first cyclone. We were living in a caravan, on our 40 acre block. We’ll be right said Dave to these kind offers.
We put the photo albums into a plastic garbage bag and into the cab of the truck, then adjourned to the besser block generator shed with battery operated radio, card table and pack of cards, chairs, esky of food and drink, thermos of hot water for coffee, lantern, candles etc, nappies and spare baby clothes and baby, George, in his capsule. The emergency bag containing clothing, food etc was packed in the car.
What happened? Well the radio stopped – because the radio transmitter at Brandon (between Townsville and Ayr) had been blown over by the cyclone when it hit the coast. Giru township was without power for a few days. Us? Well after it was all over, we moved back into the caravan and continued as normal. A dead tree fell across a fence because of the amount of rainfall after the cyclone’s winds, and a sheet of corrugated iron on the shed came loose!! We didn’t have mains power connected anyway – so just fired up the generator, as usual, when required. No worries!!
We had been protected from the damaging winds by the spur of the mountain. Doreen S.
The kit should be kept in a waterproof container and include items such as:
A battery operated radio with spare working batteries
A torch with spare batteries, candles and water proof matches
First aid kit and manual, and combination pocket knife;
Medications, toiletry and sanitary supplies and a change of clothes.
Money, including change for phone calls
Strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents, and photographs).
Also, keep handy a list of emergency phone numbers, including numbers for local Police, Fire, Ambulance, State Emergency Service, Local Council, Gas and Electricity Company and relatives.
Store important documents (eg wills, passports, photos, birth certs) in a fire/water-proof container or safe deposit box.
Report any fallen power lines to Energex on 13 19 62.
MY EXPERIENCE RIDING OUT A CYCLONE
When living in Townsville years ago, it was standard procedure to have that bag packed in case of an emergency evacuation being required and also to have a store of canned food etc that would get you through an extended period without power. (Being prepared gives some peace of mind.)
At least with cyclones we generally had plenty of warning and tracked their dog-legged journey towards our coastline. Not like these sudden storms!! Just home from hospital with my first child, we had to prepare for the coming cyclone.
A visit by the Giru ambulance officer, inviting us to stay with his family, was followed by the Police officer encouraging us to move into town and stay at the pub. This did little to allay my fears about staying ‘at home’ for my first cyclone. We were living in a caravan, on our 40 acre block. We’ll be right said Dave to these kind offers.
We put the photo albums into a plastic garbage bag and into the cab of the truck, then adjourned to the besser block generator shed with battery operated radio, card table and pack of cards, chairs, esky of food and drink, thermos of hot water for coffee, lantern, candles etc, nappies and spare baby clothes and baby, George, in his capsule. The emergency bag containing clothing, food etc was packed in the car.
What happened? Well the radio stopped – because the radio transmitter at Brandon (between Townsville and Ayr) had been blown over by the cyclone when it hit the coast. Giru township was without power for a few days. Us? Well after it was all over, we moved back into the caravan and continued as normal. A dead tree fell across a fence because of the amount of rainfall after the cyclone’s winds, and a sheet of corrugated iron on the shed came loose!! We didn’t have mains power connected anyway – so just fired up the generator, as usual, when required. No worries!!
We had been protected from the damaging winds by the spur of the mountain. Doreen S.
