Storms
Preparing for storms will help to minimise the damage and help you to recover from the impact after the event.
In an Emergency call 000
If you are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment call 106
For Flood Or Storm help
Phone SES on 132 500
For Loss of power
Electricity problems or fallen powerlines contact essential energy on 132 080
The BOM App
Staying informed about the weather made easy.
Live Traffic App
Know where the hazard reduction burns are.
Emergency+ App
Provide critical location details required by emergency services.
Hazards Near Me App
Emergency warnings and advice for fires and floods in NSW.
How is our community affected by storms?
The Spring/Summer storm season, which occurs from September to February, often brings a significant number of severe storms that sweep through the Orara Valley and its surrounding landscape.
Living in a rural area, we see storms causing the downfall of limbs and trees, as well as lightning strikes, power outages, hail damage, and strong winds that result in property damage.
PREPARE FOR STORMS
Prepare for storm season in advance
The optimal time to prepare your home for storm season is during the winter and early spring months (June-September). By taking proactive measures to secure and protect your property, you can enhance the safety of both yourself and your home.
Even if you are renting or just visiting, ensuring that the property is properly prepared will contribute to a safer environment. It is crucial to start early in order to be fully prepared before storm season typically arrives in late September.
Home maintenance suggestions BEFORE storm season
- Fit windows with shutters or metal screens for added protection during high winds.
- Arrange for a professional builder to check your building and identify measures to increase the structural security of your home to withstand high winds.
- Check the condition of the roof and arrange for the repair of loose tiles, eaves and roof screws.
- Clean gutters and downpipes so water can drain away as quickly as possible.
- Trim trees and overhanging branches. If your property has large trees, arrange for an arborist to check them.
- Identify loose items around your property and garden that could cause damage if blown around in high winds (such as garden furniture and toys).
Other general home preparations
Ensure your insurance is current & adequate
Ensure your home, contents and car insurance is current and provides adequate cover. Check your policy includes debris clean up and disposal costs.
Identify a safe room
Identify which room is the safest part of the house, in case you need to shelter at home during severe storm or cyclone (usually this is the smallest room with the least windows).
Know how to turn off utilities
Identify where and how to turn off mains supply for water, power and gas.
Purchase emergency essentials to have on hand, such as:
- Containers to store drinking water supplies
- Spare supply of fuel for use in your vehicle (ensure you store safely)
- Wide masking tape for windows
- Sandbags – hessian bags filled with sand to place over indoor drains to prevent sewerage backwash from flooding.
DURING A STORM
Stay Safe During a Storm
Listen out for Alerts & Updates
Local ABC radio
As a severe storm approaches
- When a severe storm approaches, make sure you have your mobile phone close by, and it has a fully-charged battery.
- Disconnect electrical appliances and all external TV/radio aerials.
- Shelter and secure your pets and animals but do not tie up pets outside.
- Turn off electricity and gas main supplies if instructed by authorities.
- Place your vehicles undercover or cover them with tarpaulins or blankets.
- Secure loose items (like trampolines).
- Place outdoor furniture inside or, if you have a swimming pool, submerge plastic outdoor furniture under the water to prevent it flying around in high winds.
- Fill buckets and bath with clean water in case the water supply becomes restricted (make sure you have water purification tablets to make water drinkable).
- Close windows with shutters or tape windows without shutters in a criss-crossing pattern using strong packing tape and draw curtains.
- Move wheelie bins inside or fill with water.
- Check all household members are safe and are sheltering in the safest room in the house (internal room, hallway, built-in wardrobe or cellar).
- Take your Household Emergency Kit with you while sheltering from the storm or cyclone.
- Keep listening to alerts and updates for further warnings and safety messages.
When the storm hits
- When a severe storm strikes stay inside, keep away from windows and remain in the strongest part of the house, which is usually the bathroom.
- If you are outdoors, find emergency shelter and do not stand under trees.
- Listen to your portable radio for storm updates.
- If driving, stop and park away from trees, power lines and creeks avoid using the landline telephone during the storm.
- Don't drive, walk, ride or swim through flood waters.
- Seek shelter in a 'hard-top' (metal-bodied) vehicle or solid building but avoid small open structures or fabric tents.
- If swimming, surfing etc., leave the water immediately.
RECOVERY FROM STORMS
After a Storm
- Keep listening to your local radio station for information, updates and advice
- Check your house or property for damage.
- Follow health and safety advice.
- Seek professional assessments from qualified assessors for any damaged structures, electrical items and insurance.
- Stay around your location. Sightseeing will hinder recovery efforts or put yourself and others at risk.
- Stay clear of creeks, drains, causeways, gutters, streams, fallen trees, power lines and any damaged buildings.
- Check to see if your neighbours need help.
- If you need assistance from the NSW SES because you have damage to your property or access to your property is blocked, call 132 500.
- In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero)
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Emotional Considerations
It is normal for people to have conflicting emotions as a result of returning home. Try to anticipate what conditions you may be confronted with and how you may react. Rehearsal of the scenario will allow you to feel more in control of the situation and less distressed. Some of these mixed feelings may include:
- Distress about the losses you've experienced - possessions, your home, garden, maybe even people or pets.
- Pleased for what did survive.
- Upset about the changes that you are faced with.
- Enthusiasm and motivation to get on with it and fix it all up.
- Feeling overwhelmed - of the hard work ahead and the disruption to daily life.
Identify Your Thoughts and Feelings
Notice these feelings, and label them. Are you are feeling anxious? Angry? Sad?
Pinpoint where in your body these feelings are located. Some common places that people notice feelings of worry or distress include:
– tight chest
– gritted teeth
– tense jaw
– butterflies in the stomach
– heart palpitations
– sweaty palms
– shortness of breath
If you are feeling anxious or upset:
– Slow down your breathing.
– Challenge negative thoughts and replace them with more helpful ones.
– Only do what you can.
– Try not to take your anger out on others.
Making Sense of What Happened
People often find themselves going back over the experience, thinking about it, trying to put some sense and order to the events, and working out what happened and why. It is natural to try to understand what happened, but try not to stress about things that are outside your control.
Connect with Community
…
