Develop an emergency plan
A personal emergency plan is an important part of emergency management. It is also important for local, State and Australian government authorities to have response plans for an emergency, as well as plans to guide recovery and to increase preparedness in the future.
Be prepared
You can make sure that your home, school and workplace is prepared for emergencies by:
- finding out how and where you can turn off your power, gas and water supplies
- storing your important documents and photographs in a fire-proof and water-proof container or in a safe-deposit box
- preparing your emergency survival kit and keep it handy
- checking that you have adequate insurance cover and find out if there are any hazards that you are not covered for, and
- keeping a list of emergency telephone numbers next to your phone. Your emergency numbers should include the Police, Fire and Ambulance services, plus your State or Territory emergency services and your relatives.
Involve the family
You can get all your family involved by:
- making sure that everyone can agree on, and share important tasks. This could include contacting each other if you are not at home, deciding who will collect children from school and deciding who can check on your neighbours
- arranging for a friend or relative that lives out-of-town to be your emergency contact, and
- preparing your emergency survival kit and making sure everyone knows where it is.
Find out about existing plans
Make sure you are familiar with any existing emergency plans. You should be aware of any plans in your:
- school, workplace and any large building that you may be in. These buildings should have plans in place for emergency evacuations, and
- local area.
Be prepared for an evacuation
You should always follow the advice from the emergency authorities. In some emergencies, the safest action is to stay inside. In other emergencies, it can be safer to leave a building or to evacuate an entire area.
When preparing for an evacuation, it is important to:
- agree in advance on a safe gathering place that is at a safe distance
- practise your evacuation procedure and include a head count to make sure that everyone is safe
- leave as early as possible, or when directed to by emergency authorities
- allow for the special needs of people who are infants, elderly or who have a disability
- remember your pet's needs
- have your car under cover, with a full tank of fuel, and
- have a plan for alternative safe routes.
Remember the three golden rules if you leave:
- Turn off the power, gas and water. Lock all doors and windows.
- Take your emergency survival kit with you.
- Listen for emergency warnings and safety advice on the radio or television. Pay special attention if you hear the Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS).