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Before a Disaster

The Lockyer Valley is not immune to the threat of natural disasters such as bushfires, floods, heatwaves, landslides and severe weather. By actively preparing for disasters, you can help to minimise the potential impacts and threats these events pose.

When it comes to being ready, there is no better way to find out what to expect and how to prepare for it, than talking to a local.

Listen to Lockyer Valley locals share their experiences and what they have done to prepare.

Storm - Storms or thunderstorms can be unpredictable and can occur with little warning, which is why it is important to understand your risk and have a plan in place to help reduce its effects on you, your family, home and business.

Flood - Living with flooding is a natural part of life in Queensland. We can’t prevent floods from happening, but we can take steps to be prepared by understanding our flood risk, where and how we get our flood warnings, and what steps we can take to reduce the impact of flooding on our lives.

Bushfire - Vegetation, topography and weather conditions influence the size, intensity, speed and predictability of bushfires. Understanding how fire responds to these elements and the peak bushfire seasons across Queensland means you can be better prepared.

Heatwave - Heatwaves are the deadliest natural hazard in Queensland, leading to the loss of more than 100 lives every year.

Queensland is experiencing an increase in the frequency and duration of heat waves, which is why you need to understand how to stay safe during these conditions.

Get Ready Queensland is about building our resilience to deal with the extreme weather and natural disasters that are a part of living in our state. For information and fact sheets to assist you with planning for disasters, visit Home | Get Ready Queensland.

Don't wait for a disaster to happen before you think about how you and your family are going to survive. The Lockyer Valley Get Ready Guide contains information on local hazards that may impact the region and how you can get ready and prepare.

Click on the links below to download information to help you prepare and put together your Emergency Plan and Emergency Kit:

Get Ready Queensland have produced a series of checklists to help you work through what you might need to be prepared - from preparing your home, pets, car and kits.

Everyone has a role to play in disasters - especially in preparing ourselves, our family and community. Do you know your role?

Getting to know your neighbours and your local community is an important part of preparing your household for a disaster.

Your neighbours can help you prepare for, respond to and recover from a disaster. They can also help you and your family feel safer.

Neighbours can help each other in many different ways before, during and after a disaster by:

  • helping to prepare a household emergency plan and an emergency kit
  • helping you prepare your home and property, such as trimming trees and clearing gutters
  • helping you move outdoor furniture and secure other loose objects around your property
  • providing information about what is happening
  • providing a place to shelter during a disaster
  • helping to clean up after a disaster
  • talking about what has happened so you can be better prepared next time.

We’ll all cope better with disasters if we work together as a community and look out for people who might need extra help, or people who may be able to help you. Look out for:

  • older people living by themselves
  • people with physical or sensory disabilities
  • people living with chronic illness or mental illness
  • single parents with young children
  • large families
  • people who have recently arrived, including tourists, refugees or immigrants.

Check your neighbours checklist

For more information, please visit Get Ready Queensland or the Australian Red Cross websites.

It is important to talk to kids early about the dangers of severe weather. Get them involved in your preparation activities and create opportunity to discuss the risk to your household.

Get Ready Queensland has a number of resources available for kids of all ages - Getting Kids Ready For Natural Disasters | Get Ready Queensland

People with disability are more vulnerable to injury and social isolation during a disaster, but this risk can be reduced through emergency preparedness and having a plan. Emergency preparedness means taking steps to ensure you are safe before, during and after an emergency.

There are steps you can take to make sure you are safe before, during and after disasters or emergencies.

Support from others is important to developing your plan. You should reach out to others to get the information and support you need. Discuss your Emergency Plan with your support networks so you can all act together to stay safe during emergencies.

The Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Workbook helps you to create a realistic plan that considers your individual strengths, support needs and situation; steps you have already taken to prepare; gaps in your preparedness that increase your risk in emergencies; and ways to address the gaps.

This Workbook helps you take steps to increase your personal emergency preparedness. Prompts and tips help you to get started by considering your current stage of preparedness and helping you get to the next level. Spaces are provided to document your learning, reflections, and action plans.

Download the P-CEP Workbook and start your plan today, or to access a hard copy of the P-CEP Workbook, email disastermanagement@lvrc.qld.gov.au.

Everybody can do their part to make sure people with disability and their support needs are at the centre of emergency planning.

People with disability, their families and their carers can prepare for disasters and emergencies by creating a Person-Centred Emergency Plan, tailored to individual support needs.

P-CEP is a process for people with disability to create a plan for their needs in emergencies.

P-CEP can also help people who are ageing at home, have a mental illness, a chronic health concern, and other support needs.

P-CEP was co-designed by people with disability, carers, community organisations, emergency services, and researchers.

Disaster preparedness and response for people with disability

Overview of the project

Project Investigator Dr. Michelle Villeneuve - Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney, introduces the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) project and the role we all play in emergency preparedness.

DIDRR means making sure the needs and voices of people with disability are included in disaster risk management.

Tools and Resources

A range of tools and resources aimed at people with disability (PWD), service providers working with PWD and emergency service organisations are available for use or to explore. The various tools have been developed into three workstreams.

1. P-CEP Peer Leadership

Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Peer Support aims to increase individual emergency preparedness of people with disability. This workstream will guide people with disability to develop their own formal emergency preparedness plan to optimise their self-reliance and planned reliance on others in emergencies. Resources will showcase how person-centred planning conversations enable individualised emergency preparedness planning for diverse people with disability in Queensland communities.

What are the three key components of P-CEP?

The P-CEP workbook is a conversation guide used by people with disability to tailor emergency preparedness planning to their individual support needs.

If you want to discuss the P-CEP with a person with disability who is developing their own emergency plan, view How to be a person-centred conversation partner at every step of the P-CEP.

2. Collaborating 4 DIDRR

This webinar series is for:

  • people with disability
  • community, health and disability service providers
  • Government and emergency services personnel.

It aims to develop their capability to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of people with disability before, during and after disaster. The DIDRR four-part series discusses:

  • person-centred emergency preparedness
  • business continuity planning for the disability and community service sector
  • local government leadership, support and coordination in emergency management and disaster recovery planning
  • good practise examples show how to increase individual and community resilience.

3. Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning

Everybody can do their part to make sure people with disability and their support needs are at the centre of emergency planning. Access the following Queensland case studies to see what others are doing.

DIDRR Toolkit

The DIDRR toolkit includes a wide range of resources available to help you get the message out into the community and increase the uptake of the P-CEP.

The toolkit includes:

  • DIDRR Framework and reports
  • Resource library - quick access to tools that enable the advancement of DIDRR practices at the local community level
  • Info graphic overviews, flyers and posters.

This project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund and the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy.

Preparing your Animals for an Emergency

Our animals are such important and loved members of our family and when emergencies like disasters occur, you want to keep them safe.

The best process for keeping your animals safe and well during emergencies is to have a well-made plan and prepare in advance.

Your plan needs to consider all likely natural disasters for your area including storms, floods, bushfires and heatwaves and it’s also important to consider how those different events might affect your pet’s health and safety, your evacuation routes and end destinations.

Step #1 - Animal Emergency Plan

Step #2 - Animal Emergency Kit

Caring for Animals in Disasters - Overview

BE PREPARED

  • Include your animals in household emergency plans
  • Properly identify your pets (e.g. name tags, microchip, or band)
  • Keep a list of emergency phone numbers on display
  • Be aware that some evacuation centres may not accept animals so plan alternatives accordingly

ACT EARLY

  • If moving animals to a safer place, do so early to avoid unnecessary risk
  • Ensure there is access to plenty of food and water
  • If staying at home, secure animals in good time so that they do not take flight

BE CONSIDERATE

If you have to leave pets behind:

  • If possible, leave pets indoors
  • Place pets in separate rooms with small or preferably no windows (e.g. laundry, bathroom)
  • Provide adequate food and water in large heavy bowls
  • If left outside, do not tie them up

ACT SAFE

  • Your safety, and that of your family, is paramount
  • Don't risk human life trying to find and protect pets

For more information:

Consider your shelter and evacuation options

If you live in an area prone to flood, bushfire or other natural disasters, plan now for evacuation to save time and stress in the event an emergency.

The need to evacuate may happen at short notice, so residents are urged to prepare in advance.

In the event of an emergency situation, everyone has a responsibility for their own personal safety, and should monitor conditions and warnings - taking action when needed. The Lockyer Valley Disaster Dashboard provides up to date information to keep our community informed.

You should pre-plan where you will go, how you will get there and what routes you will take.

People with disability or are aged and need support are more vulnerable to injury and social isolation during a disaster, but this risk can be reduced by having a person centred emergency plan including any additional support and items needed for their evacuation.

When evacuations are necessary, you will be told through the media or by other warning methods. These include:

  • Disaster Dashboard
  • Grantham Siren
  • Emergency Alert system
    • telephone calls using the national emergency alert system
    • an SMS message to your mobile from 0444 444 444. Please do not block this number as it is used to deliver the emergency alert during disasters.
    • a voice message to your landline within a set geographic area

Types of Evacuation

People may choose to leave early based on forecast conditions. If you plan to leave early, then you must leave your home well before the disaster threatens and travelling by road becomes hazardous.

Self- EvacuationThis is your self-initiated decision to move to a safer place.
Voluntary evacuationAn individual can choose to self-evacuate based on available information prior to a directed evacuation. Exposed persons who may be impacted by an impending hazard are encouraged to commence evacuation voluntarily.
Directed evacuationExposed persons are directed under legislation to evacuate an exposed area or part of the area.

What to do if you need to evacuate when evacuation is imminent:

  • Tune into warnings
  • Ensure all householders are aware of the warnings and advice provided
  • Don’t wait to be told – self evacuate to your predetermined evacuation destination if you live in a flood prone area or require support – inform your family/neighbours/friends if you do plan to self evacuate.
  • Plan your evacuation route to avoid flood water and other possible hazards
  • Raise furniture, equipment, clothing and valuables if flood water is likely to enter your home or under your home
  • Empty fridges and freezers, leaving the doors open
  • Place sandbags (strong plastic bags full of sand or earth) in the toilet bowl and over all laundry/bathroom drain holes to prevent sewage back-flow
  • Call your out-of-town contact before you leave and once you arrive at your evacuation location
  • Charge your mobile phone
  • Check your neighbours and friends who may need special assistance
  • Prepare your animals
  • Fill your petrol tank and stock your car with emergency supplies
  • Evacuate your business

When you have been told to evacuate:

  • Act quickly on the advice provided
  • Follow all instructions by emergency authorities and react to changing conditions
  • Take your emergency kit and evacuation kit and commence your evacuation arrangements
  • Pack your medication, cash and phone chargers
  • Turn off all power, water and gas and unplug all appliances
  • Ensure all family members are wearing strong shoes and suitable clothing
  • Travel light – do not risk your safety with replaceable possessions
  • If available – consider putting call-forwarding on and forward your home phone number to your mobile phone number.
  • Secure and lock your home and other buildings and take the safest evacuation routes for your area
  • Seek shelter at your predetermined evacuation location
  • If you are visiting or holidaying in the region and do not have family or friends to shelter with, contact your accommodation provider immediately to identify options for evacuation
  • Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters.

For non-emergency communications, use text messaging, e-mail, or social media instead of making voice calls on your mobile phone to avoid tying up voice networks. Data-based services like texts and emails are less likely to experience network congestion. You can also use social media to post your status to let family and friends know you are okay.

Animals and evacuation

Animals are your responsibility, even during an emergency or disaster. For more information, view Council's video on evacuating with animals.

Where can I go?

Shelter in place if safe to soDepending on the severity of the disaster event, the warnings from authorities and the condition of the structure you are in, sheltering in place may be the safest option for you. If you live in a well constructed home not directly impacted by the impacts of the disaster, your best option is to plan and prepare to shelter in place in your home with your family, friends and neighbours. Plan what you will do if the circumstances change posing a risk to you and your family's safety.
Evacuate to a safer placeIf you are potentially at risk, your best option is to prearrange your evacuation so you can shelter in a safer place, such as:

Shelter with family, friends or neighbours in a safer place away from the immediate or potential effects of the hazard. This should be your first evacuation solution.

In commercial accommodation (such as a motel) in another location outside the warning or impacted area.
Evacuation centres
Seeking refuge at an evacuation centre should be your last resort as they are not a resort.

Evacuation centres should only be used if you have nowhere else to go.

Evacuation centres may open as a place of last resort to provide emergency shelter. If an evacuation centre is being opened in the Lockyer Valley, the location will be communicated through Council's media channels and the Disaster Dashboard.

Place of shelter
Places of shelter are capable of providing people with shelter from an impending disaster. This is a short-term place to shelter or take refuge as the effects of the disaster unfold.

The best way for your business to cope with a disaster is to have a plan before it strikes. Time and clear thinking are luxuries in an emergency situation, which is why it is so important to be prepared.

Preparing for disasters will have wide reaching benefits to both your business and the broader community. Planning will help you to limit impacts to services provided to your customers, ensure your employees can continue to work, and will help to keep the local economy running.

In the event of a natural disaster striking your community, you need to have plans in place that will help protect your business, your assets, your employees, and will help your business continue to operate and recover quickly.

The commonly accepted process for improving business resilience is:

  • Know the hazards that threaten your business;
  • Know what the consequences are in the case the hazard eventuates;
  • Think about what is most important for the survival of your business;
  • Plan how to prevent the impact from occurring or minimise the impact if it can't be prevented;
  • Write down the key information you need prior to, during and after a disruption/disaster; and
  • Test your plan to see if it works and where it can be improved.

For more information, access the 'Protect your Business' flyer.

The Laidley Business Resilience Reference Guide outlines resilience arrangements that aim to minimise the consequences of adverse events. The Guide is a great resource with information and checklists to assist you to build your business resilience no matter where you are based in the Lockyer Valley.

The Small Business Disaster Hub has information about managing your business before, during and after a disaster.

For further information visit Get Ready Queensland for Businesses

Queensland primary producers need to be prepared for natural disasters.

The region has seen how floods, bushfires, severe storms and hail storms heavily impact the Queensland agricultural industry. Specially tailored natural disaster guides to help primary producers protect their property, business, livestock and crops have been developed.

Tips include photographing assets in their pre-disaster condition and ensuring everyone on the property is familiar with a plan to get to safety in the event of a disaster and to ensure livestock have access to higher ground.

Keep emergency phone numbers handy for your veterinarian, animal welfare agency and pet and advisory services and make sure your pets and livestock can be properly identified if they escape.

For more information, check the drought and natural disaster advice for agribusiness on the Business Queensland website.

Floods, cyclones, storm tides and bushfires are a part of life for many Queenslanders. Using resilient building design improves how we prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

The building guidance for Queensland homes suite of documents promotes resilient design and construction to reduce long-term costs for homeowners associated with disaster damage. Resilient design improves how we prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, and can significantly reduce the effort and time to return people to their homes and workplaces following natural disasters. It not only reduces the physical and financial costs, but also the social and emotional impacts of disasters.

Having a suitable level of insurance is also critical to ensuring you can financially recover from a disaster event.

For more information on resilient design, construction and building guidance visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/resilient-homes.

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