We've made this page to help you think about, and get started, in planning for your safety.
Preparedness - refers to making plans and taking certain actions ahead of time to be ready for an event or problem.
When we talk about emergency, disaster or crisis preparedness we mean things like a bushfire, flood, a big storm, loss of power, and community level events like COVID-19. Being prepared means thinking about what you will need to do if any of these issues happens to you. We've included some information below to help get you started. SchemeWise will also help its customers to think about their preparations and needs over time too. It's one of the ways we support you!
Having a bag (or a few) pre-packed for emergencies is a great way to plan ahead for any potential problems. Some items can be placed into an emergency bag (called a go-bag) so you just need to add a few last things and can leave a hazardous situation faster and early so you can get to safety. The emergency packing checklist below may prove helpful. Don't forget to check your emergency bag and update any essential information (e.g. important papers like insurance documents, a medication list, next of kin contacts, health/disaiblity conditions and reuqired supports, etc) as they change.
Emergency broadcasting information
Floods and storms
Flooding events can be dangerous for everyone but getting away quickly can be especially difficult for people with disability. You need to have a plan in place of where you will go (a safer place like higher gorund, or an evacuation area), who you will contact to tell them what you are doing and where you can get help. It also makes sense to have a go-bag ready so you can leave quickly in the event of an emergency.
Storms can also result in various others types of damage - not just floods. For example, loss of power from trees falling, damage to property and essential infrstructure from winds, or has occured in Australia over the last few years, damage to cars and homes from large hail stones. Storms and floods if severe enough bring signficant risk that you may not be able to stay in your home and will need to evacuate or even live somehere else for a while until repairs can be made and it is safe to return home.
The Bureau of Meteorology issues warnings and monitors conditions regarding storm activity.
The State Emergency Service is the lead agency in addressing storm damage to buildings and structures. For assistance call 132 500 to access help in your area.
ABC Emergency has created a guide on Planning for an emergency: Flood including what to do before a flood, during a flood and after a flood as well as links to flood emergency services. It is important not to enter floodwater, even if it looks calm.
ABC Emergency has also produced a guide to Planning for Storm Emergencies, including helping you think about getting your home in order, being prepared to leave, what to do during a storm event including dealing with power outages, and recovery after a storm has passed.
NSW/ACT - You should refer to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) for the latest weather warnings, and Live Traffic NSW for road closures across any particular region.
What to do in a flood situation
Flood Recovery
Maintaining Health during and after floods and storms Talks about floodwater pollution and how to stay safe. it covers drinking water, medications, cleaning up, and avoiding infectious diseases.
Regional Assistance through the National Drought and Flood Agency.
Bushfire
A bushfire is a fire that burns in grass, bush or woodland and can threaten life, property and the environment. Even if your home is not located in the designated bushfire prone area, you may work, travel or spend time in bushfire prone areas.
Bush or forest fires are quite different to grassfire because:
Bush or forest fires can also be difficult for fire fighters to control and they are the most destructive of any fire and usually consume all in its path.
Being ready is important as fires can move very fast relative to weather and other conditions. You may need to think about when to leave and if you can stay? And have plans in place for these scenario's.
The ACT has produced a good resource for thinking and planning ahead to be ready for bushfires (its equallly applicable in NSW also).
There's a few things to consider with bushfires:
1. Make a plan and talk about it - Make sure you and your family (or other house residents) has a general understanding about bushfires and bushfire safety in your area. If you live alone, talk about your plan with family lving nearby or your friends and neighbours. Be clear about your needs in your plan. The NSW Rural Fire Service has a great planning guide you can refer to help get bushifre ready.
2. Make preparations to your home - Embers can travel many kilometres ahead of a fire, so even if you are not directly threatened by a bush fire, you may be impacted by embers. Preparing your home can reduce the risk of embers starting spot fires around your home. Your preparations can also include ensuring hoses are connected to water sources, and an emergency kit or go-bag if you might need to evacuate.
3. Keep yourself informed on days of increased fire danger - Pay attention to your local radio and TV stations and monitor local emergency websites and/or social media pages on hot, dry, and windy days. This will help you plan your day and to consider (early) if you need to act.
4. Be prepared to leave - Put your plan into action if you think the local circumstance is changing and you may be at risk. It is better to leave early otherwise it may become to late go. If you intend evacuating, place a notice on your door saying you've left left and where you intend going (this can help emergency services and others when checking on people and save them vital time e.g. it means they don't have to enter your home to check you are safe). It may also not be possible to leave, so also think about what you need to do if you must bunker down in place. E.g. when a fire comes through, even if your home is not directly impacted you may lose power and there may be smoke which you'll need to prevent entering your home. If you have essential equipment that requires regular charging what will be your plan to keep it operating until power is restored (e.g. have you got a back-up generator, spare batteries, etc?)
5. Stay informed during and after an emergency - A battery powered radio can help to keep up with the latest emergency information. Make sure you have spare batteries (ahead of time) for this device in case its required for an extended period. A better option is looking into purchasing a hand-cranked (dynamo) emergency AM/FM radio and combined torch (or even two of these). They can be purchased for as low as $30 each and do not require batteries (you wind up the dynamo to provide power anytime its needed). A dynamo emergency radio could remain stored in your go-bag and you could have one in your home for immediate use if you lose power during an emergency so you can stay informed.
Bushfire Recovery
Residents of the Snowy Valleys Council can view the Newsfeed at the bottom of the Snowy Valleys Bushfire Recovery page for the latest information for residents. Bulletins, Recovery Points and links to services to assist you are available on the page.
Shoalhaven residents should see Shoalhaven Bushfire Recovery. Meanwhile, community Updates are seperately available for Eurobodalla Residents. For Bega Valley residents the local page is Bushfire Recovery Support.
The ACT supports are outlined here.
Home fires
Remember also that there are other forms of fire, like home fires. Do you know what you would do if a fire occurred at your home/residence? Is there a home evacuation plan in place? Do you have and know how to use a fire blanket, or a fire extinguisher; or have access to a first aid kit?
Are there smoke alarms fitted at your home to warn you of smoke and a potential emergency?
If you need help, NSW Fire and Rescue has a range of factsheets which can assist you think about different kinds of fires. It also has a home fire escape plan checklist which is really helpful in thinking more about how to evacuate and being safe.
Power outages or loss
Fires can also cause loss of power at your home or residence too - as can a storm or flood or other natural disaster.
The ABC has made a good resource about thinking about power outages and ways to stay safe and keep food and other essentials going too - click here
Did you know that various scheme's - like the NDIS and others - can also help you keep essential equipment working? For example, if it is not possible to evacuate or you can't leave because you use essential medical or health equipment you may be able to ask for funding for a generator to keep that equipment going during a power outage so you can remain safe.
COVID-19
Who can believe that before 2020 this word never existed... and how it has since impacted all our lives one way or another.
Preparing for COVID-19 means thinking about staying safe and taking precautions (like wearing a mask, practising good hand hygiene and social distancing), but also thinking ahead in case you, your supports or family become ill and what things you will need. Getting vaccinate is another great way to prepare for COVID-19 pontially ipact you or your support network in future. Vaccination signifciantly reduced the risk of serious disesase or death. You also have a right to insist allyour supports and service people are fully vaccinated and boostered for COVID-19. Effectivewly this a preparedness strategy which reduces your daily risk.
However, you should also prepare for the likelihood that at some point you, or other people close to you, may be exposed to coronavirus. See our seperate COVID-19 page for dealing with isolation and other service needs as well as a rang eof other useful information. You should ensure you have a good range of essential supplies in case you may become exposed also and need to isolate. Think about if you:
A further thing to think about is a hospital 'go-bag.' Like an emergency go-bag of essential things, this one is specifically to ensure hospital people can help you and know your needs when you may not be able tot otell them. Think to include your name and address, information about your disability and health conditions, your doctor and other specialsits names and contact details, medications and their doses, contact details for your family or significant others, and include a small amount of money and a travel card or voucher (you may need this to get home on discharge if you have no one to pick you up). It is best to have a hospital go-bag, ready and packed, in advance.
Your go-bag can also include information about any pets at home that hospital staff may need to alert people to care for (e.g. a service or therapy animal). Some poeple may have close others they need to keep supporting them so including that information can help the hospital people too. If you have a daily routine you follow think about including that, like by making it into a timetable you can include in your go-bag materials. Also pack some essential items like personal care products, a comb/brush, toothbrush and paste, clothes like under garments, pyjamas and a set of clothes for when you can go home, as well as a pair of slippers and shoes.
You should NOT go to hospital unless you are becoming very unwell - signs you need to go include trouble breathing, severe fatigue and significant fever (despite using panadol or ibuprofen). Before this time, if you notice symptoms or feel these are getting worse, a good option is to reach out and let your family, support services and doctor know. They can stay in contact with you to help make sure you are going OK.
Recently, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits have become available in Australia, so having a supply at home can help you test to see if you may have COVID-19 if you experience any symptoms (make sure to report your results, if positive, or get someone to help you do this). If you test positive, you should also let your doctor know, stay home, and isolate.
Most people recover from COVID-19 without problems, but can need to take it easy for a much longer period to do so. Take recovery slow, do things in manageable amounts, and ask for help if you need it. For example, you might need extra services or supports for a while compared to what you normally use.
Vaccination and booster shots are another great option as part of your planning to stay safe. Vaccinations protect from severe disease and possibly ending up in ICU. You may still get sick, if you catch coronavirus, but you may not need to go to hospital and your illness will be much milder (less complications). If you need help to get vaccinated, ensure to plan to speak with your doctor or close supports.
You can also access a person-centred COVID-19 preparedness plan to help think about your arrangements (Easy Read Version)
Where can you go for help in any emergency?
Calling for help
If you need assistance during a natural emergency event (storms, bushfire, flood, etc), call your local State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 or call Triple Zero (000) if life is in danger. The following websites also have great information to read and consider in your planning.
What will SchemeWise do if it is effected by an emergency, disaster or other crisis?
Great question - don't worry we have thought about this too!
We have policies, procedures and mechanisms in place to alert our people and customers as soon as possible. We can do this via email and SMS and using our website. We'll usually say what is happening and how our capacity may change. We'll also provide some brief details so you'll be able to let us know of issues you face too.
Our website is a crucial tool during emergency times. We have the ability to make a page of essential and ongoing information for you to know what's happening, and we will update this regularly. We can include alert notifications at the top of our pages also. If need be, we will use SMS to inform you of any changes (like if a service or support needs to stop due to an event and when it will start again too). We also have backup options in place should there be an issue with our website and can use this instead. Likewise all our systems have redundancies in place and are backed-up hourly (and can be moved as required to retain connectivity).
If you have an essential need, and we cannot provide that service because the business has been affected by an emergency, etc, (called a business interruption) we will also be in contact with you as soon as possible, to help establish any alternative options, so you can keep getting your essential needs met. In fact, where possible our aim is to help you think ahead of time about how your needs can be managed if SchemeWise is interrupted in any way. This can help us, help you, and means we can advance your decisions as quickly as possible.
Useful resources
We think these resources are fantastic. We hope you find them useful too.
Acknowledgement
We've included information orginally developed for and available on the IDEAS website some of which is reproduced here and we thank IDEAS for its curation. We also felt there were other useful resources to include and you will see those within the above materials to ensure information reasonably targets our customers needs (e.g. ABC info, ACT/NSW government info).
