During an Emergency

2: Source of truth

Be confident you are receiving the most up to date information or advice.

3: Know your warnings

Warnings will be issued on TasALERT when an emergency may impact you and your community. The warnings provide you with real time information on what is happening and what you should do. Remember, if you think you are at risk, do not wait for an official warning to act.

Understanding the Australian Warning System (AWS): Know your warnings – TasALERT

4: Act early

It is important to act early – leaving an area during a disaster can take time. People and pets can be hard to reach, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities need extra time to move. Roads can close and access to services may be cut. Start following your emergency plan and keep your emergency kit handy.

When should I evacuate?

In circumstances such as a bushfire or flood, it may become necessary for you to evacuate from your home. You should leave early, if possible, hours before the threat reaches your home and threatens your escape route.

Most people who die in bushfires do so because they leave just before the fire arrives and are overrun by the fire in the open, either in their car or on foot, are trapped by fallen trees and power lines, or crash due to poor visibility.

If emergency services have concerns regarding your wellbeing and safety, they may recommend that you evacuate. If you choose not to accept or act on these recommendations, and the situation becomes more critical, the Police have the authority to instruct you to evacuate.

How will I be notified to evacuate?

On days when extreme or catastrophic Fire Danger Ratings are forecast or Flood Advice Warnings have been issued, you should be maintaining situational awareness and be checking TasALERT and Weather Warnings regularly.

Affected members of the community may be notified by one or more of the following methods:

• A visit from the Police, Fire Service or SES.
• State Government Alerts – Emergency Alert is the national telephone warning system used by emergency services to send voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobile phones within a defined area about potential emergencies.
• ABC Radio is the national Emergency broadcaster, listen at 936 AM or stream online.

You should not rely on someone personally notifying you. You need to have triggers built into your Emergency Evacuation Plan to help you stay informed and up to date.

Where should I evacuate to?

When leaving, follow your emergency plan, get your emergency kit and lock up your home. If it is safe to do so, tell your neighbours that you have evacuated and where you can be contacted. Go somewhere safe, away from the emergency effected area.

• Your first option should be with family or friends who live in an area which is not at risk from the emergency.
• Your second option should be to find a hotel, motel, caravan park or other short-term accommodation.

If you are unable to arrange any of the above alternative accommodation, temporary short-term accommodation may be available at a designated evacuation centre. Once an evacuation centre has been activated, the location and other details will be promoted via Council website, social media and ABC Local Radio.

The Huon Valley Emergency Management Plan identifies the Huon Valley PCYC Building located in the Huonville Recreation Ground for use as an evacuation centre, if necessary. Pets may be accommodated at the Huonville Recreation Ground, horses and livestock may be accommodated at the Ranelagh Recreation Ground. However, pets and livestock are not always allowed at evacuation centres, so you need to consider what you will do with the animals in your care in your emergency plan, evacuation centres should be your place of last resort.

Never turn animals out on to the road to run free. This is dangerous for fire trucks and vehicles, and you may be legally responsible if they cause a crash.

If you evacuate to a relative’s or friend’s house, consider registering online through the Register Find Reunite program at Emergencies and disasters | Australian Red Cross to help others find you. This website is only activated during large emergencies.

What should I take when evacuating?

You should plan to be away from home for at least 72 hours. Ideally, you have pre planned your emergency kit with the items specific to your households needs, but at a minimum an emergency kit should include the following:

• Water (at least 5 litres per person)
• Essential medications
• First aid kit
• Emergency plan
• Protective clothing, warm clothing, comfortable shoes
• Non-perishable food
• Essential toiletries
• Important documents, cash and cards
• Battery operated radio and spare batteries
• Torch and spare batteries
• Mobile phone, charger, battery pack
• Bed linen, towels and something to sleep on

Identify and pack things that will help you re-establish your life if you lose everything. Copies of important documents to help identify yourself and personal items that hold special meaning to you and your loved ones.

When should I return home?

Do not return home until you have been told by Tas Police or your local emergency services that it is safe to do so. Even if the emergency has been controlled, there may be other safety issues that may affect your ability to return home.

Plan to return home as soon as it is safe to do so. Be aware that fire trucks, fallen trees, power poles and wires and damaged bridges may close some roads for several hours or days. Electricity workers may be working to restore power supplies to affected areas as quickly as possible and may block roads.

In some cases roadblocks will have been established. This is because the area you plan to enter is unsafe. Take advice from the authorities and avoid trying to re-enter unsafe areas.

For details on road closures:

Tasmanian Police information on road access and closures. Community Alerts – Tasmania Police

Listen to ABC Local Radio – listen at 936 AM or stream online.

More information