Don’t get caught out this severe weather season
With an already wet start to the storm season, Lockyer Valley Regional Council is urging residents to prepare their homes for severe weather now.
Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, Mayor Tanya Milligan said it was especially important for people heading away over the holidays.
“Before you head off, ensure your yard and outdoor areas are free from loose items like outdoor furniture, garden tools and rubbish, tie down any play equipment, trim overhanging branches, clean gutters and ensure your roof and gutters are in good condition,” she said.
“The last thing you want is to return home from a relaxing time away to find your house damaged or waterlogged because you didn’t prepare for storms or flash flooding, which we’re highly susceptible to at this time of year.
“Check if your home is vulnerable to flooding or run-off, or if you already know it is, ensure you have sandbags at the ready, which you can buy from hardware stores or online, and have organised for family or friends to lay them in the event they’re needed.”
It is also worthwhile having a Plan B in case severe weather puts a spanner in your Christmas Day plans and you are forced to stay home, Mayor Milligan said.
“’Do you know which local roads flood? Do you have a Plan B if you can’t get to your destination?’ – these are the things we want people to consider,” she said.
“Given the amount of rain we’ve had and with our catchments already soaked, Council is remaining vigilant, and we encourage residents to follow our lead.
“In addition to routine and regular training, we’ve recently undertaken a fresh round of training for our staff who assist during disaster activations. We’ve also ensured we have the supplies we need such as road closure signs and evacuation centre supplies.
“Residents can get ready by checking their emergency kits and emergency plans.”
In the event of flooding, Mayor Milligan stressed the importance of not driving through floodwaters.
“The community is reminded that water levels over roads and in our creeks can rise and fall quickly, and we can’t always get road closed signs out or remove them as soon as conditions change,” she said.
“That’s why we always urge motorists to please, err on the side of caution and never, ever drive through floodwaters, regardless of their depth.”
To stay up-to-date with road closures, weather information, power outages and more, visit Council’s Disaster Dashboard at https://disaster.lvrc.qld.gov.au/.
To help plan and prepare, read the Lockyer Valley Get Ready Guide at www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/beforeadisaster.
