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IMPORTANT - Go to page 6 of the Yellow Pages phone directory and find the grid reference location of your home on the ACT Handy Map. Make a note of this and keep it handy. ACT Handy Map grid references will be provided via ACT media outlets and Canberra Connect during an emergency. Click on each of the following links to download your Home Emergency Plan for ACT Residents… Print a copy of each page for your use. * An All Hazards Guide Major emergencies are an unfortunate fact of life, and can come in many forms or types of hazard, including bushfire, storm, earthquake, pandemic, and explosion to name a few. The way we prepare for these events, can make the difference between them being an emergency that is managed without unnecessary loss, or a disaster that has catastrophic effects on life, property, and the environment in the ACT. History shows that to minimise the occurrence and impact of emergencies, we need to remove the common elements of disasters, by acknowledging:
This guide applies the philosophy of shared responsibility to all hazards, and provides information on how you can be better prepared. This means that all ACT Government Agencies, Support Organisations and communities have a role to play in preventing, preparing, responding to, and recovering from disasters. This guide provides:
For more information log onto www.esa.act.gov.au or call Canberra Connect 13 22 81 * ACT All Hazards Warning System The ACT All Hazards Warning System will provide clear and timely information and advice, about the potential for hazards to impact on life, property and the environment; and how you should prepare and respond to such an event. The Warning System has four levels that relate to the increasing likelihood of an emergency doing damage. The System also indicates when the threatening and damaging force (eg., fire, flood, storm, etc) has sufficiently reduced, to allow physical recovery to commence. Each level has some critical actions that you should consider, and messages generated by Emergency Services will provide additional information relevant to the specific emergency event. These messages will advise on the specific areas or location that will or are being threatened, and what actions you should undertake. What does each warning level mean? Level: Blue Possible threat Description: An event that threatens life and property in particular parts of the ACT is possible. Action Summary: Check Home Emergency Plan Special Needs Actions: Make Final Preparations Level: Yellow Likely Impact Description: An event that endangers life and property in particular parts of the ACT is likely. Action Summary: Make Final Preparations Special Needs Actions: Decide and Act Level: Orange Certain Impact Description: An event will threaten the lives and property in identified areas of the ACT Action Summary: Decide and Act Special Needs Actions: Shelter in a Safe Location Level: Red Immediate Impact Description: An event has, or will immediately impact on lives and property in identified areas of the ACT Action Summary: Shelter and Defend Special Needs Actions: Shelter in a Safe Location Level: All Clear Action Summary: All Warnings Cancelled Level: Green Description: All force of the event has now sufficiently reduced, and affected areas are sufficiently safe to allow physical recovery. Action Summary: Initiate Recovery Special Needs Actions: Initiate Recovery What actions should you take? If Emergency Services consider that homes are unlikely to withstand the force of an event, or are likely to become unliveable following it, then you will be advised to shelter at designated Community Assembly Sites, Community Evacuation Centres, or with family and friends outside of the impact area. Evacuate immediately if directed by Emergency Services personnel. In other instances, staying and defending your home, may be the best option for able-bodied people who have undertaken the necessary preparations, and only very young, very old, and people with special needs will be recommended to evacuate. People with special needs are encouraged to make preparations, and evacuate very early. The most critical actions you can take, are to follow information provided; follow your Home Emergency Plan; and if you do decide to evacuate, then DO IT EARLY to ensure that you are in a secure area before it arrives. Evacuation messages will include contact details for those who require support; safe travel routes; the location of Community Assembly Sites and Evacuation Centres; and any available transport. How will you receive All Hazards Warning System Information? It is important that you receive and understand messages relating to the nature and extent of the event, so that you can make informed decision. The ACT Emergency Services Authority has memoranda of understandings with local radio, television and print media Organisations, to broadcast and print warnings as required. A battery-operated radio is the most reliable way to receive information if the power fails. ORANGE - Certain Impact and RED - Immediate Impact warnings will be preceded by the Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) alert tone. (A sample of this sound can be heard on the ESA website). On receipt of information issued under the ACT All Hazards Warning System: check your Home Emergency Plan, and make final preparations; follow your communications arrangements; and decide and act early. For more information log onto www.esa.act.gov.au or call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 * ACT Evacuation Strategy In an evacuation, the aim is to ensure that people move safely and efficiently away from a location being threatened, to a safe place. The ACT Evacuation Strategy outlines the necessary principles, procedures and information required to support decision-making. The ACT Evacuation Strategy is underpinned by the ACT Emergencies Act 2004, which allows Emergency Services to restrict movement to an area, or direct to people to leave an area, due to unacceptable risks to life, property and the environment. The Strategy provides a flexible and adaptable approach to the management of evacuations, that is not possible through the development of fixed plans. To achieve this, the Strategy has the following components: • The ACT Community Safety - Evacuation Policy; • The ACT All Hazards Warning System; and • A public information plan. A considered Emergency Response Evacuation is one possible response during an emergency, and the Evacuation Strategy acknowledges that evacuation is not always the best response because:
Emergency Services will consider the nature, extent and development of an emergency event, to decide on the need to evacuate; the most appropriate travel routes; and suitable Community Assembly Sites and Community Evacuation Centres. If advised or directed by Emergency Services to not enter, or leave an area, then you should do so for your own safety. Your Evacuation Strategy If an evacuation is necessary, your objective is to move yourself, your loved ones, other people who you support, and your pets, to a suitable and safe location. Spending time to develop and test your Home Emergency Plan will help put together an efficient evacuation strategy. ACT EVACUATION STRATEGY The ACT Evacuation Strategy links to your own as follows: Component: Home Emergency Plan Description: Develop and test your home emergency plan, including:
Component: Warnings Description: Tune in to information about the timing and impact of an event broadcast via ACT media outlets. Component: Communicate Description: Communicate warning information and actions you are planning, to family, friends and neighbours, people who rely on you, and people who you rely on. Component: Informed Decisions Description: Listen to warnings, following your Home Emergency Plan, and make informed decisions about your actions. Do not evacuate if you do not know it is safe to do so. Component: Final Preparations: Blue - Possible; or Yellow - Likely Description: Make final preparations if the Warning Level is Blue - Possible, or Yellow - Likely. Follow your Home Emergency Plan and advice from Police and Emergency Services. People with special needs should consider leaving on Yellow - Likely. Component: Stay or Go Orange - Certain Description: Well-prepared and able-bodied people need to finalise the decision to Stay or go at Orange - Certain. All others should leave. If Emergency Services consider that homes will not provide safe refuge during or after an event, then you will be directed to leave the area - follow their instructions. Component: Shelter, or Shelter and Defend Red - Immediate Description: When the Warning Level is Red - Immediate, you should be either at a designated Community Evacuation Centre, or sheltering in your home - it is too late to evacuate, unless specifically advised to do so. During events such as a Bushfire, you should monitor conditions, and move outside to suppress spot fires starting on and around your home. For sudden events, such as a situation that requires you to shelter from toxic gases, defence involves sealing all doors, windows and vents, to prevent the gas from entering. Component: Green - Recover Description: When the status is Green - Recover, the situation is all clear, and you can return and begin recovery. Do not move back until advised to do so, as fallen powerlines and other damage may make the area unsafe, even though the worst of the event has passed. * Bushfires Bushfires are part of the ACT environment. Together we can live safely with bushfires. Here's what you can do to help… Prevent bushfire ignitions and losses Follow Fire Season restrictions and Total Fire Ban prohibitions; If buying a new home, find out if the area is likely to be threatened by bushfire - understand and accept risks and possible losses before you buy; Identify local risks when developing your Home Emergency Plan
Remove/reduce pathways for fire spread and ember entry to reduce risk Prepare for bushfires Prepare a Home Emergency Plan, Go and Stay Kits, and check insurance - consider bushfire if you live in an area likely to be threatened; Think about your evacuation strategy - people who evacuate at an inappropriate time, or who have special needs, face the greatest risk; Have some bushfire tools handy (shovel, drums and buckets for storing and carrying water, knapsack). Respond to bushfires Listen for information if you are aware of a bushfire - informed decisions save lives!; If you decide to Go (evacuate) then Go Early - people with special needs should consider leaving when the warning level is Yellow - Likely; If you are able-bodied, prepared, and you decide to Stay and Defend, then monitor conditions in and around your house, to avoid being trapped. For information, check out Bushfires and the Bush Capital available online at www.esa.act.gov.au or call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 * Storms and Floods Heavy rain and hail can cause flash flooding and property damage. Simple precautions will minimise loss. Here's what you can do to help... Prevent loss from storms and floods If buying a new home, find out if it is an area likely to be threatened by flood - understand and accept risks and possible losses before you buy Identify local risks when developing your Home Emergency Plan
Fix faults, and remove leaves, debris, and items that can cause localised flooding, injury or damage, to reduce risk. Prepare for storms and floods Prepare a Home Emergency Plan, Go and Stay Kits, and check insurance - consider flood if you live in an area likely to be threatened; If you live in a flood prone area, install high shelving, to store valuables; Storing poisons on high shelves, will reduce contamination of flood water. Respond to storms and floods Listen for information about storms and floods Shelter inside, away from windows, during a storm - include your pets Shelter vehicles, or cover with blankets, to minimise storm damage Disconnect electrical appliances, and consider taping or covering large windows, to prevent storm damage Do not use landline telephones, during a lightning storm Take pets, if you evacuate before a flood Keep children away from, and don't drive through flood water For more information log on to www.esa.act.gov.au or call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 * Home Fire Safety House fire ignitions and losses are often avoidable. We can better prevent and prepare for house fires. Here's what you can do to help… Prevent house fire ignitions and losses If buying a new home, make sure that electrical wiring is in good order - understand and accept risks and possible losses before you buy; Identify local risks when developing your Home Emergency Plan;
Prepare for house fire Prepare a Home Emergency Plan including:
Test your plan with all household members, ensuring that windows are open, and that keys are left in security doors and screens; Plan to assist young children or people with special needs to evacuate; Install and test smoke detectors - your local warning system. Respond to house fires At the first sign of smoke or fire, alert everyone inside the house, and get out quickly. Do not stop to collect pets, toys or items. Remember, ONCE OUT - STAY OUT Contact the fire brigade, and report the fire by mobile phone or from a neighbour's house by calling 000 Remember… smoke detectors save lives! For more information log on to www.esa.act.gov.au or call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 * Calling an Ambulance Prepare - Plan ahead Install reflective house numbers at least 75mm in height on your letterbox; Ensure there is all weather access to the inside and around your residence; Locate house telephones at sitting height, with emergency and key numbers clearly displayed; Record your medical history and current medications on the fridge door (see below); Maintain a home first aid kit, and complete a first-aid course, and keep these skills up-to-date; If you are going into the bush, leave details of your trip, and ensure you are adequately prepared for changing conditions. Respond - Calling for HELP In an emergency, dial 000 from any residential or public phone;
Talk slowly, and answer all questions as they are asked by the 000 operator or the ambulance call taker; Do not hang up until told to do so - follow instructions from the call taker. When the ambulance is on the way Keep the phone nearby, in case the call taker calls you back. Avoid making unnecessary calls; If possible, rest in a room that is close to the front door. Avoid retiring to a rear bedroom, which often makes stretcher access more difficult; Turn on the outside lights, if it is dark; Lock animals in a separate room; If possible, collect all your medications; Call 000 again, if the circumstances change. Emergency Medical Information Books (EMIB) are a great way to provide ambulance paramedics with rapid access to your medical details. An EMIB is available from the ACT Ambulance Service, thanks to the Rotary Club of Canberra City. ****************************** This Community Support Website is |
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Emergencies and the National Capital A Residents Guide In case of an Emergency: Dial 000 |
