Disaster Dashboard launched

The Armidale region will be better prepared for future disasters and weather events, with the Disaster Dashboard now available to be used by the community.

 Created by the NSW Government via Resilience NSW, the website is a one-stop shop for information, advice and alerts about emergencies such as drought, bushfires and floods.

Armidale Regional Council’s Community Recovery Officer Tom Bower said this is a crucial step in ensuring the region is prepared for future disasters.

“Emergency Service organisations and volunteers do an incredible job of keeping us safe, but they can only do so much,” he said.

“Being prepared and ready is a way that our community can do their bit to minimise the risk of future disasters.”

The resource also has a range of information for those still recovering from past events, including information about grant opportunities that are available to the community.

“This is an important aspect of the Disaster Dashboard as it places all the available assistance in one easily accessible location,” said Mr Bower.

“This eliminates confusion and makes the recovery process as streamlined as possible.”

Mr Bower was appointed as the Community Recovery Officer late last year, and is passionate about raising awareness about how to be better prepared for future disasters.

“One of my first actions was to register Council as a Get Ready Council, which is an awareness campaign that focuses on simple steps such as knowing your risk, implementing a plan for future events, and getting your home ready for when disaster strikes,” said Mr Bower.

“The resources from the Get Ready campaign are all available on the new Disaster Dashboard to ensure that helpful information is all in the one place.”

The Disaster Dashboard is funded by the NSW Government and can be found on the homepage of Council’s website or at www.armidale.disasterdashboards.com/recovery/community.

Published on 24 May 2021