Council Connections - Mayor's Message 15 January 2020

Disaster and Emergency Preparation

It is that time of year to remind our community to Be Ready. Being ready will make a world of difference to you and the people you care about during and after a disaster or emergency event.

To be ready you need to prepare your property and have your Emergency Kit ready. Emergency Kits need to include provisions for at least three days (but we recommend seven days given the unpredictable nature of our flooding) including food and bottled water, any medication you may need, provisions for pets and animals, a fully charged mobile phone with a SIM card, first aid kit, cash as ATM’s and EFTPOS may not be available for a number of days, a radio, toilet paper and torches. You can download your Emergency Kit checklist from Council’s website, ‘How to be Prepared’ page and build your kit so that you are prepared when the need arises.

Prepare your homes by removing items around the yard that could become flying debris in strong winds and securing outdoor furniture and garden items.

Residents in beach areas should familiarise themselves with the Storm Tide Evacuation Guide – available on Council’s website, Storm Tide Evacuation page – to determine whether their home may be at risk of inundation. Check out our Storm Surge video for some tips on what to do in the event that you need to evacuate.

People with homes in the red or orange zones should ensure they have a back-up plan to move to friends or family should the need arise.

For more information regarding Disaster Preparedness please visit Council’s website, Disaster and Emergency Information page, the Queensland Government Get Ready Queensland website, www.getready.qld.gov.au, or the Emergency Management Queensland website www.disaster.qld.gov.au.

Local Disaster Management Group

During a disaster event, the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) the organisation responsible for delivering the disaster management needs for the Hinchinbrook Shire, operates a Disaster Information Service to help provide more detailed information to both locals and their families outside of the Hinchinbrook Shire. This is achieved via the Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard, Council’s website and the Hinchinbrook Disaster Information Facebook page.

Please visit the Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard, disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au for accurate information regarding current conditions and updates, including local and state road conditions.

Local Area Wardens

The function of the Local Area Warden is to be the community liaison between the LDMG and the community. Local Area Wardens operate in isolated areas of the Shire and provide the LDMG with information regarding their respective localities enabling effective and meaningful decisions to be made.

All Local Area Wardens volunteer their time and often go above and beyond what is expected of them. Their assistance in disaster situations is truly invaluable and we would like to convey the community’s gratitude for everything that they do.

Take the time to find out who your Local Area Warden is and keep their contact details in a safe place. Local Area Warden contact information is available on the Hinchinbrook Shire Council website, Disaster and Emergency Information page and Electronic Community Noticeboards around the Shire.

Flood Height Comparison Chart

The Flood Height Comparison Chart lists significant heights at Ingham Pump Station and their probable effects around Ingham and downstream. It tells you where to expect flood water at different heights of the river. For instance, water will start flowing into Palm Creek at 9.6 metres. Water will start flowing onto the Anabranch Bridge at 8.99 metres.

If you don’t have a Flood Height Comparison Chart, please visit Council’s Main Office to collect one or visit Council’s website, Flood Information page to download a copy.

Need to print the Council Connections page? Click on the link below for the printable version. 

COUNCIL CONNECTIONS -  15 JANUARY 2020