Kids schooled in disaster preparedness as storm season starts

With storm and bushfire season officially underway from tomorrow (November 1), now is the time to get ready. 

Andrew Allan (Rural Fire Service), Mayor Clare Stewart and Warren Kuskopf (Noosa SES) with Tewantin State School students for the launch of the Get Ready Noosa campaign.

Council’s Disaster Management team has been visiting local schools to educate kids on how to prepare families, pets, households and even neighbours for severe weather.

“You’re never too young to learn how to prepare for storms and bushfires when you live in Queensland,” Mayor Clare Stewart said.

“It’s been great to see the kids at Tewantin State School today take such a keen interest in disaster preparation. I’m confident they’ll be taking this important message home and sharing it with their families.”

Mayor Stewart said preparedness was an important part of disaster resilience.

“We can’t change the weather, but we’re becoming more resilient. Our residents are preparing earlier, planning better and supporting each other more. That’s what being resilient is all about,” she said.

“Queensland has more disasters than any other state in Australia and since 2019 Noosa has experienced floods and fires. As we continue to feel the impacts of climate change, the frequency and severity of these natural disasters is expected to increase.”

Council’s Disaster Resilience Officer, Ian Williams, urged residents to take three simple steps to ensure they are disaster-ready:

• Know your risk and make sure your insurance is up to date.
• Prepare your household or business by having an emergency action plan.
• Prepare your emergency evacuation kit.

“More than 60 per cent of Queenslanders now say they get ready ahead of disaster season and have an emergency plan in place, but we’re eager to see that even higher,” he said.

Council has produced a Noosa Emergency Acton Guide offering practical advice on what to do before, during and after a range of disasters.

“This detailed guide is also available digitally on Noosa Council’s Disaster Dashboard where you can also subscribe to Noosa Alert,” Mayor Stewart said.

“This simple step will keep anyone using a mobile device up-to-date on all severe weather events, ahead of time via text.”

Visit the Disaster Dashboard at disaster.noosa.qld.gov.au