There are many things you can do to reduce your chances of becoming a victim during a disaster.

Taking some simple precautions now before the onset of any natural hazard will help protect you, your family and your property.

Find out what can happen to you

Check with your Local Disaster Management Group or the council on potential hazards in your area.

Find out the following:

• What are the threats? For example, cyclones, storm tides, flooding or landslides.
• Is your house in a flood or storm tide zone? If so, how high an event above Australian Height Datum (AHD) would threaten your house? How high is your floor level above AHD?
• Read material from the council on what action to take before, during and after a disaster.
• Undertake a first aid course.
• Teach yourself, and responsible family members, how to turn off the electricity, water and gas supplies to your house.
• Find out about disaster arrangements at work, and your children's school, kindergarten or day care centre.
• Find out about what to do with your pets during and after a disaster.

Give yourself peace of mind

• Find out what types of insurance policies are available to you. Is flood insurance available in your area?
• Are you adequately insured for rebuilding and replacing contents to a level at least equal to your living standards prior to an event? Are you insured to cover current value or replacement cost?
• Update your contents inventory regularly. It helps to take photos and video footage of items. Ensure valuations are up to date including home improvements.
• Make two photocopies of vital documents. Keep one copy in a safe place in a watertight container and give the second copy to trusted relatives or friends who do not live in the area. Documents should include birth and marriage certificates, tax records, credit card details, financial records, wills and trusts.

Create a family disaster plan

• Meet with your family and explain the need for a family disaster plan. Explain the likely threats.
• Explain to each family member what he or she should do during a disaster event.
• As a family, locate a safe place in your house to shelter for each type of hazard.
• Designate a friend or relative's house as an alternative shelter.
• Arrange for an out of town relative or friend to be your family contact point. This is the person to contact with information on how you have fared during the disaster. This person will then inform others.
• Produce checklists of actions to take in preparation for specific disaster events.
• Clearly display emergency telephone numbers near the phone. Teach children to ring 000 in an emergency.
• Create an emergency kit.

Educate your children

• Tell children a disaster is something that could hurt people, cause damage, or cut things off such as electricity, water and telephones. Explain nature sometimes provides too much of a good thing such as rain, wind and fire.
• Give examples of disasters that could happen. Talking with them ahead of time will reduce the fear and anxiety when an event does occur.
• Teach your children how to ring 000 in a life threatening emergency or when parents are incapacitated.
• Teach your children to call the family contact if they become separated during a disaster.

Remember your pets

• Check with animal refuges, animal boarding facilities, and vets on whether they accommodate pets in the event of an evacuation.
• Think about moving your pets to friends or relatives who are in a safe area.
• If your pet is on medication ensure you have an adequate supply.
• Have your pet wear an identification tag listing your name, address and telephone number.
• In your family emergency kit, have extra supplies of pet food.
• Consider a muzzle for your dog because the stress of a disaster event may lead some normally placid animals to become aggressive.
• Have recent photos of pets available to help with identification if you become separated from them.
• If you have to leave pets behind when you evacuate consider the following:
• Place each pet in a separate room. Even pets that normally get on well together may become aggressive towards each other under the stress. Do not tie them up.
• Small rooms such as toilets and bathrooms are most appropriate.
• Leave two or three days of dry food and water in sturdy containers.
• A tap left slowly dripping can replenish water supplies in a container and large dogs may be able to drink from a partially filled bathtub.

Check your local Council's web site for more details.

Other links -

Emergency Management Qld
www.emergency.qld.gov.au

Emergency Management Australia
www.ema.gov.au

Bureau of Meteorology
www.bom.gov.au

Article by the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group.

Taking care of yourself when volunteering after a Natural Disaster

After a Natural Disaster such as cyclone, flood or fire it is the Australian way is to want to help a mate. The first instinct often is to reach out and help a, family member the neighbour next door or somebody in y our immediate community.

While good old fashioned common sense is often the best protection against injury or harm below are a few valuable safety tips to help keep you and those around you safe.

• Stay off the roads unless your trip is necessary
• Do not drive through any flood water
• Do not walk through any flood water
• Do not go near any fallen Power Lines
• Be aware that structures may still have live power connected or gas leaks
• Be aware that structures could be unstable and dangerous to enter
• Be aware of sewage leaks and water contamination
• Do o not walk around in bare feet
• If you' re clearing or cleaning wear solid shoes/boots
• War gloves, eye protection and face mask when necessary
• Beware of hydration and heat exhaustion
• Be aware of Asbestos (it requires specialised handling)
• Be aware of wildlife seeking shelter (snakes, spiders, lizards and even crocodiles)
• Treat all cuts and scratches with disinfectant immediately and cover
• Ensure you always have stable footing
• Your family comes first, then help others in your neighbourhood
• Do not be a her, your family and friends need you
• Be aware of the safety and activities of children
• Accept and follow instructions from those in authority
• Alcohol and Drugs have no place in a disaster
• Traffic Warning sings are placed for a reason, do not disregard them.

In the event of a natural disaster, should you wish to become a casual volunteer to assist with organized clean up activities Volunteer Registration Locations will be advertised through the media. If you would like further information about registering for the VNQ on call Disaster Volunteer Disaster Base or your own preparedness please contact us on:

Phone: 4725 5990
Email: vnq@volunteeringnthqld.org.au

Article written by Bob Roberson - VNQ's Volunteer Disaster Volunteer Coordinator

Disaster Readiness Index

Would you like to approach the upcoming cyclone season with a sense of confidence in your preparedness? The Disaster Readiness Index is an easy way of gauging your readiness for the storm season.

Recently I was part of a community consultation with Julie Molly from Volunteering Queensland where most of us had reasonable confidence in being prepared for the upcoming cyclone season. We took the test together as group and found that the results were less impressive than we would have thought. The exercise was short but definitely proved useful in highlighting areas that we could be better prepared in.

The Disaster Readiness Index Checklist is a 9-questions checklist which focuses on the things you need to know, the actions you should be taking, and your understanding of your environment before and during a disaster. The result of the checklist is your Disaster Readiness Index, measured upon a base score of 100.

To take the test, visit Volunteering Queensland's website and click on the Disaster Readiness Index link.

www.emergencyvolunteering.com.au

Article written by Anita Berry, Manager - Volunteering North Queensland

USEFUL CONTACTS - DISASTERS

Emergency - Police, Fire and Ambulance	000 112 - from mobiles
Australian Government Emergency Information Line	180 2 266 www.disasterassist.gov.au
Bureau of Meteorology	1300 659 219 - weather & warnings 1300 659 212 - cyclone warnings www.bom.gov.au
Bushfire Warnings	www.fire.qld.gov.au
Centrelink	Will be announced at the time of disaster www.centrelink.gov.au
Community Information Centre	4771 4230 cic@townsville.qld.gov.au
Department of Communities - Community Recovery	1800 173 349
Department of Housing	1800 806 197
Emergency Alerts (Townsville Local Disaster Management Group) To register	1300 878 001 www.townsville.qld.gov.au
Ergon Energy	13 16 70 www.ergon.com.au
Fire Brigade (Non-Life Threatening Calls)	4771 2111
Legal Aid - assistance with insurance claims	1300 651 188 www.legalaid.qld.gov.au
Lifeline - Counselling	13 11 14 www.lccg.org.au
Mater Hospital	4727 4444
NQ Wildlife Care	4779 7708
Origin Energy (Gas Leaks Only)	1800 808 526
Police (Non-Life Threatening Calls)	4759 9777
Queensland Disaster Management Services	www.disaster.qld.gov.au
Queensland Fire & Rescue Service - Northern Region	4796 9024
RACQ Road Reports	1300 130 595
Red Cross - Nth Qld Volunteer Services	4759 6111 www.redcross.org.au
Road Closures	1300 130 595
RSPCA	4774 5130 www.rspcaqld.org.au
State Emergency Service (SES)	132 500 www.ses.qld.gov.au
Telstra Faults	13 22 03
Townsville City Council	1300 878 001 www.townsville.qld.gov.au
Townsville Disaster Coordination Centre	1800 738 541
Triple T Community Radio - 103.9FM	4721 5333 www.triplet.com.au
Townsville Hospital	4796 1111
Volunteering North Queensland	4725 5990
Volunteer Community Recovery Coordination Group Pre & Post Disaster Volunteering	4725 5990 www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au
Your Insurance Provider
Your local GP
Your local Primary School
Your local High School
Your local Veterinary Clinic
Your Neighbour

Ring Community Information Centre (4771 4230) for other services not included here.
www.townsville.qld.gov.au

Information provided by the Community Information Centre.