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Community

30 December, 2021

Be Cyclone Aware this wet season

FAR North Queenslanders know that the wet season means a higher risk of cyclones.

By Isabella Guzman Gonzalez

Be Cyclone Aware this wet season - feature photo

So this holiday season, inform yourself on the dos and don’ts of keeping your home and family safe in case of an emergency. 

The Cairns Disaster Dashboard website is the best place to start. It has a compilation of information from a wide range of sources, including Council, the Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Ergon, Telstra and the Department of Transport and Main Roads which you can access through the Council’s website. 

In case there is a cyclone alert, the next thing you should prepare is a house emergency kit that will allow you to be prepared if there is a power or water outage. 

Some of the basics of the emergency kit are: 

• A battery-operated radio 

• Spare batteries 

• Candles, lighter and waterproof matches 

• Enough non-perishable food for 3 or 4 days 

• Portable gas stove 

• Can opener and utensils 

• First aid kit 

• Medications 

• Sanitary supplies 

• Change of clothes 

• Pet food, water, etc 

• Cash in case ATMs are not working 

• Personal documents and plastic bags to protect them 

Ensure to remove anything you have outdoors that strong winds may pick up, like outdoor furniture, barbecues, rubbish bins, etc. 

Remember to secure your vehicles as well. Inside your home, turn off power and gas if possible, place sandbags in areas that may be prone to flooding, cover your doors and windows, store water and make sure to wrap and protect valuable or sentimental items. 

There are many more ways to keep your home and yourself safe this wet season, so to find out more on how to prepare for natural disasters, visit: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/natural-disasters/cyclone

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