Wollondilly residents have been impacted by a number of natural disasters over the years. Being prepared for severe weather is part and parcel of living here. Your first step to being ready is to find out what, when, and where a disaster might happen, how severe it could potentially be, and if you would be affected.

• Check the bushfire potential at your property using the NSW Rural Fire Service bush fire prone land mapping tool and find out more about your bushfire risk.
• Every storm event can be different, you can see areas that have been storm and flood impacted in the past in your local area at NSW State Emergency Service and find out more about your storm risk.

Emergency Plan

Emergencies can happen at any time. You can reduce the impact of emergencies by being prepared. Your emergency plan is tailored to you and covers the steps you need to take if you receive an emergency warning or are impacted by a disaster or emergency.

• The Australian Red Cross has a range of useful emergency management resources that can help you prepare including RediPlan. RediPlan has been designed to provide an easy-to-follow set of actions to help you plan for emergencies.
• Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP), is a conversation guide used by people living with disability to tailor emergency preparedness to their individual support needs.
• Don’t forget to plan for your pets in an emergency.
• Small businesses can check out the Get Ready Business: five step guide to preparing for disasters. for managing potential impacts to your business and livelihood.

Home Emergency Kits

A home emergency kit has items you may need if you have to evacuate your home in an emergency.

• Visit the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Get your Emergency Kit together page to know what to pack in your own kit.
• Visit the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Bush fire survival plan page to start making a plan. 

Wollondilly Emergency Management Guide

The Wollondilly Emergency Management Guide  is a useful resource to step residents through key areas of preparedness, including where to source information and what to do in a emergency situation.

Australian Warning System

Learn about the Australian Warning System and decide what you will do if you receive a warning.

Get Ready Animals

Planning how to take care of your animals before an emergency helps to keep everyone safe. Emergencies such as floods and bushfires can happen very quickly, ensure you make an Animal Emergency Plan

Check your roof

Keep your roof in good condition.

• Check for leaks and loose tiles, metal roof sheets, eaves and screws.

• Clear gutters, downpipes and drains regularly to prevent blockages.

Make your home safer

You may need to shelter in your home during a storm.

• Determine the best room in your house to shelter during a severe storm. This would usually be the smallest room, with the least windows.
• Ensure your house has a safety switch.
• Protect your devices and appliances with surge protectors and lightning conductors.
• Identify where and how to turn off the mains supply for water, power and gas.
• Maintain adequate home and contents insurance. Check your insurance policy is up to date.

If you live in an area prone to severe storms:

• install metal screens or shutters on windows for greater protection from high winds.
• get a licensed builder to check your building's structural integrity against high winds.

Outside your home

Try to maintain your yard and balcony before storm season.

• Trim trees and overhanging branches.
• Clean up debris and dispose of green waste regularly.
• Secure loose items in your yard, balcony and around your home. Items like garden furniture and toys can become a hazard in strong winds.
• Remove items from around your home that might collect water and attract mosquitos. Find more information on preventing bites and mosquito-borne diseases at NSW Health.

If you have a rainwater tank:

• keep the roof catchment clear of overhanging branches and remove vegetation surrounding the tank.
• install first-flush diverters, leaf stoppers on downpipes, and gutter guards to help keep roof dirt and debris out of your rainwater tank.
• make sure your tank is properly sealed against high winds.

If you live or work in a flood‐prone area there are few simple things you can do when a warning is issued to prepare for floods:

• Listen to your local radio station for information, updates and advice.
• Locate and check your Emergency Kit
• Check on your neighbours and make sure they are aware of the warning
• Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater
• Locate and get ready to activate your Home or Business emergency plan.
• Find out more information on how to prepare for a flood with NSW SES

Local flood Information

Council alongside SES have put together some important local information that will assist you in your preparations before and during a flood emergency.

Whether you live in your own home or you're a tenant, it's important to prepare your property before every bushfire season.

Complete as many of these tasks as possible to protect your home and surrounding properties.

On the roof

• Clean your gutters of debris.
• Install metal gutter guards.
• Repair damaged or missing tiles.
• Attach a fire sprinkler system to gutters.

Around the home

• Install fine metal mesh screens on windows and doors.
• Fit seals around doors and windows to eliminate gaps.
• Enclose the areas under the house.
• Repair or cover gaps in external walls.

Outside your house

• Keep lawns short and gardens maintained.
• Prune plants that overhang buildings.
• Clean up debris and dispose of green waste regularly.
• Remove flammable items such as leaves, sticks and firewood.
• Have hoses long enough to reach around the front and back of your house.
• Store gas bottles as far away from the house as possible with the outlet pointing away from the house.

If you have a rainwater tank

• Keep roof catchment clear of overhanging branches and remove vegetation surrounding the tank.
• Install first-flush diverters, leaf stoppers on downpipes, and gutter guards to help keep roof dirt and debris out of your rainwater tank.
• Make sure your rainwater tank is properly sealed to prevent vermin, like rodents and mosquitoes, from accessing it.
• If there is a bushfire nearby, disconnect the downpipes from your tank.

Further steps

• If you have a pool, tank or dam, put a Static Water Supply (SWS) sign on your property entrance. This helps firefighters know where they can access water if they need it.
• Maintain adequate levels of home and contents insurance. Check your insurance policy is up to date.

If you need help to prepare your property

The AIDER (Assist Infirm, Disabled and Elderly Residents) program is a service that can help with preparing your home for bushfire season if:

• you are unable to do it yourself and
• your property is on bushfire-prone land.

The program provides free support to:

• older people
• people with disability
• people receiving other assistance or community services.

For more information visit the NSW RFS AIDER webpage.

Your safety during a disaster should be your number one priority. Visit NSW Health for advice on how to stay healthy and safe during disasters, including food and medication safety.