West Coast Disaster Information Guide

West Coast households will soon receive an important piece of information in their mailbox.

The West Coast Disaster Information handout will be delivered across the West Coast from next week and will provide West Coasters with vital details about what to do to prepare for an emergency and what to expect in the event of an evacuation.

The flyer, funded through the Natural Disaster Resilience Grant Program (NDRGP), and designed by West Coast graphic designer Lea Walpole using information collated by West Coast Council, is designed for residents to place on their fridge for quick access in an emergency and is a first for the region.

“This project has allowed Council to develop detailed information to help our residents prepare for a variety of emergency situations,” West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers said.   “Never before have West Coast residents been provided with all this information in the one place, at the one time.”

The handout provides residents with tips to create an emergency plan, including an emergency kit checklist, and also includes maps of the larger West Coast communities.  Precious non-human lives were also taken into consideration during the development of the handout, with a section detailing how best to manage pets and livestock in an emergency situation.

Also included in the project was the purchase of tables and chairs, recovery kits, generators and tents for use at evacuation and recovery centres during and after an emergency situation.  Power supplies at two facilities were also upgraded to meet requirements for such centres.  Council employees also underwent training to enable them to assist and support other organisations in tasks such as setting up recovery centres and registration of individuals.

“Utilising the equipment purchased through the NDRHP funding, Council now has the capacity to establish portable recovery centres if the situation allows,” the Mayor said.   “

As a result of the training undertaken by Council staff and the development of the Disaster Information handout, Council is in a good position to be able to provide a service to the community to assist in recovery in the event of an emergency.

The Mayor urges West Coasters to read the handout, “We encourage everyone who receives the handout to have a good read and place it on their fridge for quick reference.  It’s not junk mail – this could help make an emergency situation less stressful and could ultimately save lives.”

The handout is also available at http://www.westcoast.tas.gov.au/emergencymanagement