Residents encouraged to step-up preparations ahead of wet and windy weekend
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Whitsunday Regional Council is encouraging Whitsunday communities to step-up cyclone preparations with the uncertainty surrounding Tropical Cyclone Owen currently located in the Gulf.
Mayor and Chair of the Whitsunday Disaster Management Group Andrew Willcox said that while it’s still too early to know how the weather system will impact the Whitsunday region, forecasts are at this stage anticipating some wet and windy weather for the east coast of Australia.
“We want to remind our residents and businesses not to be complacent and ensure you are prepared,” Mayor Willcox said.
“Council is taking the precautionary measure of removing selected shade sails across the region with the anticipated strong wind gusts expected over the weekend.”
Some of the measures people can take in preparation include:
- Trim any branches overhanging your house - Clear your property of loose material that could blow about, hold water and possible cause injury or damage. This is also important to prevent breeding grounds for mosquitoes and will help prevent Dengue Fever - Check the condition of your roof and repair any loose tiles, eaves, loose iron and roof screws - Fit shutters or metal screens to all glass areas - Have a cyclone emergency kit on hand - Ensure that home and contents insurance covers you for storm surges, flooding and cyclone damage - Undertake an audit of your outdoor furniture and consider what would need to be moved should a cyclone warning be issued - Boat owners to ensure their boats are secured during times of strong winds and keep up to date with advice issued by Maritime Safety Queensland - Residents are reminded that they can dispose of waste up to 2 cubic metres at Kelsey Creek Landfill, Cannonvale Transfer Station, Bowen landfill or Collinsville Transfer Station free of charge.
Each home should be fully prepared with an emergency kit that will ensure all persons can be self-reliant for food, water, cooking, medications and other essentials for a period of three days or more.
To keep up to date with information relating to current disaster events, residents are encouraged to ‘Like’ the Whitsunday Disaster and Emergency Information Facebook page and utilise our new Disaster Dashboard, your one-stop-shop for information such as our Emergency Action Guide, road conditions, evacuation maps, weather warnings and much more!
The Disaster Dashboard can be found here - http://disaster.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au/