Faith Lutheran College students recently toured Redland City Council’s Disaster Coordination Centre in Cleveland, where they were taught the importance of being prepared for a disaster event.
As part of the Disaster Resilience Schools Program, Council invited 84 Year 5 students from the college on a guided tour of the building that was used as the command centre during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred early last year.
Redland City Acting Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group Acting Chair Julie Talty said the students were given a presentation covering disaster preparedness and the role of Council during a disaster event.
“Being prepared for a disaster event is something we all should take seriously, and something we all can play a role in, no matter our age,” Cr Talty said.
“The students were provided with an information pack to take home to support and encourage further discussion with their families.”
Cr Talty said the cooler weather was a good time for families to prepare their house and household for the severe weather season later in the year.
“This time of the year is a good time to check the condition of your roof, clear out gutters and other drainage areas, and to do some clearing around the garden,” she said.
“Have a think about some of the trees and bushes on your property and whether they could pose a risk if they were to topple during a storm, or if they could further increase the risks during a bushfire.
“I encourage all Redlands Coast residents to prepare for this year’s early spring/summer bushfire and storm season by doing jobs around the house before the weather turns hot again.”
Some simple steps to take to prepare for summer threats:
- Clear debris from roofs and gutters
- Trim branches that overhang dwellings
- Remove overgrown vegetation
- Prepare an emergency kit
- Make a bushfire management plan for your household
For advice on reducing fire hazards on your property, go online to Council’s disaster plan page or visit the Queensland Fire Department website at fire.qld.gov.au.
Council maintains a dedicated Redland City Disaster Management website that provides practical information on preparing for, responding to and recovering from disaster.
Residents can also subscribe to Council’s free emergency notification messaging service, Redlands Coast Alerts, via the Redlands Coast Disaster Dashboard at disaster.redland.qld.gov.au.
During a disaster, the dashboard is continually updated with vital information on road closures, emergency contacts, Energex power outages, active evacuation centres and weather warnings.
