Emergency preparedness

• Ensure you have an emergency kit packed and ready.  There are a number of useful checklistsopens in a new window available which can help guide you.  Remember to pack for vulnerable people you may care for and any animals. 
• Scan important documents to a thumb drive or email them to yourself. 
• Know what disasters may impact you. Stay informed and keep up to date with alerts and current information through the Emergency WA websiteopens in a new window.
• Have you got an alternative water supply? Have you thought about what would happen if there is a power outage or phone services are not working?
• Ensure your property is clear of an debris, overgrown vegetation is slashed and any flammable material is stored away from the house.
• Make sure you and your family practice your emergency evacuation planopens in a new window regularly and allow for contingencies.  Often road closures and fallen power lines will hinder your usual access.
• Check that your home and contents insurance is up to date

Emergencies within the home

• Know where your gas, water and electricity can be turned off.
• Check your under sink hoses and replace them at least every five years.  
• Consider keeping a fire blanket in the kitchen and never leave stoves unattended. We offer our residents a subsidy scheme to assist them in purchasing home safety equipment for their home.
• Regularly service your gas heaters and ensure you keep clear any flammable materials 
• Keep a list of important numbers in an an easy to find place.

Firewise gardening

If you live in a bushfire-prone area, creating a fire resilient landscape can help protect your home against the threat of bushfire.

What is a Firewise Garden?

A firewise garden is designed and maintained to reduce the risk of bushfire impact on your home and other buildings on your property.

Firewise Design Principles

One of the best preparedness practices to keep you and your family safe in fire-prone areas is the integration of firewise garden design principles. Regardless of where you are located, or what type of garden you have, the below principles can help guide your firewise landscape design:

Landscape Design:

• Reduce availability and volume of fuel (including vegetation and combustible materials/objects). Move these away from your home/structures.
• Create deliberate breaks by installing zones using paths, driveways, access tracks, ponds, pool etc.
• Regular and planned maintenance is essential for achieving a successful firewise garden. Consider low-maintenance garden options with open spaces, lawn areas and plants that require less maintenance.
• Remove overhanging vegetation from your home/structures to reduce the potential for flame contact.
• Lower ember sources by the removal of fine fuels, seed pods, bark on tree trunks and rake leaves away from the base of trees.

Firewise Plant Selection:

Even though all plants may burn under the right conditions, there are some species that are more fire-retardant than others. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has developed a guide that includes flammability rating for plants that will assist in determining suitability and selection of firewise plants.

A Balanced Approach:

• Water conservation – install efficient irrigation, consider collecting rainwater and recycling greywater for an alternate water supply, use hydrozoning principles to group plants with similar water needs and use non-combustible wind breaks and shading to create cooler areas.
• Material selection – consider the use of locally sourced, repurposed and recycled low flammability materials. Avoid using timber-lined edging, raised timber or plastic garden beds that can easily burn. Use firewise, non-combustible mulch.
• Biodiversity – select native species with low-flammability characteristics that can also attract insects, birds and animals and provide a home for native bees.

Visit a Local Firewise Landscape

In 2023, the City collaborated with the Forever Project team and Naragebup (Rockingham Regional Environment Centre Naragebup) to install a firewise landscape for the local community. Visit the centre (open 10am – 3pm, Thursday to Sunday) and walk through the firewise garden to learn about the different fire resilient components. The site includes educational signage and information sheets to empower residents to create and install their own firewise landscapes as part of their bushfire preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness  - Animal Welfare

Having a good understanding of how you will manage your animals as part of your personal emergency survival plan may significantly improve outcomes for your animal(s) and yourself.

Some key considerations when emergency planning for your animals:

• practice your animal emergency plan as part of your personal emergency survival plan
• discuss your plan with neighbours, friends and family
• ensure that your animals are microchipped, registered and wear ID tags.
• insure your animals
• put together an animal emergency kit that can be easily relocated with your animal if necessary.

We a have produced a handy leaflet to help guide you to prepare for your pets ahead of any emergency.

Over 90% of WA is bushfire prone. By putting a bit of thought and planning ahead of the season you can prepare your family for an emergency.

• Developing a plan is the first step in keeping you and your family safe. Do your Bushfire Plan today with the help of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services' useful Bushfire Plan Appopens in a new windowopens in a new window and save yourself valuable time in an emergency.  
• Know where to get current information and keep up to date with alerts through the Emergency WA websiteopens in a new windowopens in a new window and continue to monitor conditions and follow advice.
• Prepare an emergency evacuation kitopens in a new windowopens in a new window before bushfire season and ensure the contents are regularly checked, accessible, and your family are aware of its location. Remember to include items for pets and vulnerable family members.
• Practice your evacuation plan and think about safe places to evacuate to. In emergencies, roads may be closed and your usual access routes diverted.
• Prepare your property by installing firebreaks and slashing any long, dry grass, clearing gutters, cutting overhanging branches and removing hazards from around the property.

Storms are the most common natural hazard in Australia.  While storms can happen at any time of the year, in Western Australia (south of Geraldton) they occur more frequently between May and October.

People who take action to prepare for severe stormsopens in a new windowopens in a new window before they happen are more likely to keep themselves, their families, their pets and their property safe.

Once the Bureau of Metereology (BOM)opens in a new windowopens in a new window issues a severe weather warning, DFES will provide alerts and updates through Eopens in a new windowopens in a new windowmergency Wopens in a new windowopens in a new windowAopens in a new windowopens in a new window.opens in a new windowopens in a new window

There are four alert levels to be aware of:

Call 132 500 for urgent property repairs that you cannot fix yourself.  Due to the high demand during a natural disaster people need to remain patient and be prepared to wait.

For life threatening emergencies call 000.