Are you Ready

International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction

A recent CFA survey revealed that 45% of Victorians living in bushfire-prone areas are not concerned about bushfire safety despite being at increased risk. (cfa.vic.gov.au, 16 September 2024)

I suspect that this lack of concern and preparedness is duplicated across most Australian communities with the belief that “it won’t happen to me”.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast for October to December shows:

• There is an increased chance of unusually high rainfall?for much of Queensland, parts of south-eastern SA including the Riverland region, western Victoria and eastern Tasmania.
• There is an increased chance of unusually high maximum temperatures?for most of Australia, with a greater chance across northern and western Australia, and Tasmania. As the warmer months approach, the risk of heatwaves increases.

The National Council for Fire and Emergency Services has further highlighted the need for Australians to be fire prepared. Current indications suggest that Australian’s face increased fire risk this coming season due to a notably dry autumn and winter. (AFAC Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Spring 2024)

The Salvation Army Australia has been alongside Australians in disaster response and recovery for over 130 years, and thanks to our partners and the public who support us, we will be there again, and again. We will be providing front-line support to Australia’s emergency services personnel as they fight the fires, rescue flood victims, and provide lifesaving care. We will be in the evacuation and relief centres and the recovery hubs offering tangible (material and financial) resources and that more intangible but essential element of hope to impacted families and individuals.

The most important thing we can all do right now, is take time to make a plan. Understand your local and personal risk, know where you will get your information, and talk to your family about what you will do. There are many resources to help you plan and prepare (see below for some of these).

Information and Resources:

• National Emergency Management Agency: Prepare
• Australian Capital Territory: Preparing for Emergencies
• New South Wales: Understand your risk
• Northern Territory: Natural Disaster Advice
• Queensland: Understand your risk | Get Ready Queensland
• South Australia: SASES
• Tasmania: State Emergency Service
• Victoria: Plan and prepare for fire
• West Australia: Hazard Information

Readiness Plan Resources

• Preparing for the unplanned: Are you financially ready for a natural disaster? (The Salvation Army)
• Checklist to help you become disaster ready
• Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience: Emergency Planning Tools
• Resources to help you: Red Cross
• Preparing for emergencies: Red Cross
• The Deaf Society: Deaf Get Ready – Emergency Preparedness