The Australian Cyclone Season runs from from the 1 November to 30 April each year, with Queensland residents accustomedย to regular annual cyclone warnings. While the majority of these cyclones won’t cross the coast and even less making it to Brisbane, there is still the need to be prepared. It is often the heavy winds and rain, with resulting flooding that presents the greatest risk to Brisbane families.ย ย Having a storm emergency plan and an emergency kit is essential if you call the beautiful city of Brisbane home.
Things that should go in an Cyclone Emergency Kit
- Torch
- Spare batteries
- Candles
- First aid kit (make sure it is fully stocked)
- Matches
- Battery operated charger
- Copies of important documents such as insurance, birth certificates, passports and prescriptions in a water proof document holder
- Battery operated radio
- Non-perishable food
- Utility knife/tool
- Sturdy gloves
- List of emergency contacts
- Bottled water
- Toilet paper
- Personal hygiene items and toiletry supplies
- Spare house and car keys
- Pet supplies
- Any special care items
- Change of clothing for each family member in waterproof bag
Other things to prepare you for a Queensland storm
- Ensure your car is filled with petrol
- Fill up any gas bottles for barbecues and other outdoor cooking appliances
- Charge all electronic devices
- Secure outdoor furniture and equipment
- Stock up pantry items, snacks and long life milk
- Have meal options available that do not require indoor cooking appliances
- Fill medication prescriptions and stock up on essential baby items such as formula, nappies and wipes
- Non-electronic entertainment for children, such as board games, colouring books
- Ensure your home is free of tripping hazards in case of power outage
- Consider filling a bathtub or similar with water if you are likely to lose power, as some homes also lose access to water without power
- Have pet carriers and leads/collars ready
- Pay attention to weather warnings and consider subscribing to updates for your area
- Check in on neighbours if safe to do so
- Collect sandbags from council approved locations if you may be at risk of flooding
- Raise furniture and household items if flooding likely.
To further prepare for the Queensland cyclone weather including all the related warning and council websites, check out thisย article:
Talking to kids about storm safetyย and getting prepared for storm season
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