Get Ready for summer: Plan now for seasonal hazards

17 December, 2021

Lithgow City Council is encouraging families, friends and neighbours to use the start of summer as the start of a conversation about being aware of and prepared for seasonal hazards.

“Aussie summers are iconic. But, regrettably, they can also be tragic,” Lithgow City Council’s General Manager, Craig Butler said. “Each year, communities across NSW experience bush fires, home fires, storms, floods, heatwaves, power outages and other emergencies. So the start of summer should also be the start of a conversation around being prepared for the multiple hazards communities across NSW face.”

Commissioner of Resilience NSW, Shane Fitzsimmons encouraged everyone to have a conversation around being prepared for emergency, whatever the hazard may be.

“Our emergency service organisations do an incredible job keeping us safe, but they can only do so much. Being aware and prepared is everyone’s responsibility, whether you’re at home, at work or away on holidays,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

Get Ready for summer now in five simple steps:

Know your risk. Think about the area you’re in or the location of your holiday destination and the types of disasters that could affect you. Plan now for what you will do. Sit down and talk with your family and plan for what you will do if a disaster affects your area or when you are away on holidays. Get your home ready. Prepare your home by doing general home maintenance and checking your insurance coverage. Be aware. Find out how to prepare, what to do if there is a disaster in your area or while you are away on holidays and connect with NSW emergency services or keep on top of news reports if travelling so you can stay informed. Look out for each other. Share information with your family, friends, neighbours and those who may need assistance.

Please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/prepare-for-a-disaster/be-ready-for-an-emergency-evacuation for further information.