Get Ready

Insurance Resources

• Get Ready Queensland’s insurance resources
• Australian Government’s North Queensland Home Insurance for people living in North Queensland to compare cover options.
• Understand Insurance is an initiative of the Insurance Council of Australia and helps you make better decisions about your general insurance.
• Good Shepard offers affordable and simple insurance policies for people on low incomes.

A disaster can have serious impacts on our way of life and cause major money worries and, while we can’t prevent disasters from happening, we can prepare and protect ourselves and our families by making good money choices. If a disaster struck tomorrow, would you be financially ready? Could you afford to pay rent on top of the cost of rebuilding? Could you afford to leave your home for a week? Would a government grant be enough to repair or rebuild your home? The Money Ready Toolkit gives you an easy-to-follow plan to help get financially ready and back on your feet if you are affected by a disaster. Good Shepherd’s no-interest loans are available to people on low incomes and include recovery from natural disasters.

• ABC Far North — 106.7FM, 95.5FM, 720AM
• 4AM — 558AM, 91.3FM
• HIT FM — 97.9FM
• KIK-FM— 88.7FM, 87.3FM

Normal communication channels such as landlines, mobile phone networks and the internet, while often very robust, can fail during or immediately after a major disaster. With the advent of the NBN, our communications are changing. Below is some helpful information from NBN.

• NBN equipment during power outages
• NBN and medical alarms

If normal communications fail, the UHF Citizen’s Band radio network UHF-CB Channel 10 is designated as the alternative initial contact for use in a disaster event, or when standard communications such as landlines and mobiles have failed.

The Tablelands Local Disaster Management Group will make information available for the public on how best to react to the situation via media releases, updates on our website and our Facebook page. Subscribe to these sites and also register for the Early Warning Network to keep informed of potential disaster scenarios and public safety information.

Information on useful websites and contact points for key agencies are included in emergency contacts.

Phone, NBN & Social Media Tips

Mobile Phones

• If you haven’t already, purchase a phone charger that isn’t dependent on a power outlet. Solar power chargers, in-car chargers and power bank chargers are all reliable options. Make sure you charge your power bank.
• Back up important data, like contact information and photos, to your cloud.
• Compile a list of essential contact numbers to store in your phone and keep them close at hand, including local Police, Fire, SES, family, friends and Telstra’s fault lines (details below).
• Satellite phones are usually immune to damaged infrastructure and can operate in remote locations. If communications are critical you could consider a satellite phone.

Fixed Line Phones

• Remember, most modern cordless phones rely on electric power to operate, so you may lose the use of your landline during a power outage. Consider a phone with a battery backup function and keep spare batteries nearby.
• If you have NBN it’s important to remember your home phone now works through the modem, and if there’s a power outage, your phone line will also be down. Best to have a mobile phone handy, or a satellite phone for remote areas.
• Keep a spare plug-in phone handy. Your cordless phone is great, but using a plug-in phone connects you to the telephone exchange.

Social Media

• Set up an instant messaging group with family and friends. Agree in advance to update each other here during an emergency.
• Download emergency service apps. They will give up to date warnings and incident information issued by official agencies across Australia.
• Identify key local agency social media accounts and websites for real time information on what’s happening in your area.
• Subscribe to text and emails that will alert you to weather changes, road closures and local emergency services updates.
• Have a battery powered radio with spare batteries to listen to the emergency broadcaster in your area.

Network Issues

Telstra Outages provides up-to-date on outages and restoration timeframes in your area.

And if you have an issue with your service, make sure you report it. Telstra customers can report a fault by calling:

• Mobile phone 125 111
• Fixed line 132 203
• ADSL 133 933

All other customers should contact their service provider to log a fault.

Tips for Pet Owners

• Prepare a disaster plan and kit for each animal.
• Check with animal refuges, animal welfare groups, animal boarding facilities, vets, RSPCA and TRC on whether they can provide accommodation for your pets in the event of an evacuation. Add the contacts to your emergency contact list and make arrangements to board your pets at an animal boarding facility for the duration of the event.
• Contact hotels and motels outside of the threat area and check on their policies for accepting pets and any restrictions on size, species etc. Ask if pet policies can or will be waived during disaster events.
• Ask friends or relatives outside of the affected area to house and care for your pets. Preferably this should be the place that you self evacuate your family to.
• Be sure your pet has a current registration tag and an implanted microchip.
• If your dog normally wears a choker collar have a separate leather or nylon collar available for wear during disaster events. This is to ensure no injury is caused to your pet during stressful conditions.
• Keep your pet’s immunisation shots up to date and have all records available to take with you if you have to evacuate. Boarding facilities and emergency animal shelters will not take pets without immunisation records.
• In your family emergency kit have extra supplies of dry pet food, kitty litter, food, water feeders/containers and extra medication.
• Keep extra newspaper for your animals’ sanitary needs.
• Consider a muzzle for your dog, as the stress of disaster events can affect animals, leading to normally placid animals becoming aggressive.
• If your pet is on medication ensure you have an adequate supply to cover a disaster event.

Evacuating With Pets

• Public Evacuation Centres and Places of Refuge (often schools, halls or community centres) are not set up to cater for pets. If you will be evacuating your pet, consider safe relocation options e.g. investigate temporary animal shelters or safe refuge with family or friends.
• Consider taking your pet’s comfort items to reduce their anxiety, for example their bed and toys.
• Carry your pet’s grooming items, leashes, paper towels and disinfectant.

Leaving Pets Behind

• Never leave animals in vehicles.
• Place each pet in a separate room. Even pets that normally get on well together may become aggressive towards each other under the stress.
• Do not tie pets up if you have to evacuate. If there is a threat of flooding ensure they can escape to a place of safety. Leave chairs, tables, benches etc which will allow your pet to gain elevation.
• Leave their normal bedding with them as well as any favourite toys to help control any anxiety.
• Leave your pet in a small room preferably without windows. A room that is easy to clean such as a laundry, toilet or bathroom are most appropriate.
• Leave two or three days of dry food in a large heavy container that is difficult to knock over.
• Leave water in a sturdy container that is difficult to knock over. A tap left slowly dripping can replenish water supplies in a container and large dogs may be able to drink from a partially filled bathtub.
• Birds must eat daily to survive. Check with your vet on suitable food dispensers that regulate supply.
• Leave a notice in a prominent location advising emergency services personnel of which animals they are likely to encounter and in which rooms. Also leave the details of where you can be contacted.

After a Disaster

• Keep pets inside after a disaster event. If they must go outside keep dogs on the leash and cats in a pet carrier.
• Take care when returning. Your pets usual environment may have been severely damaged and the animal may be disorientated, frightened or aggressive.
• After the event, if you cannot return to your home, contact Tablelands Regional Council to find out what arrangements have been made to reunite pets with owners.
• If you have to leave the area following a disaster event take your pets with you, as they cannot survive without you. Keep them leashed and in close contact with you for a period after the event until they settle into their new surroundings and routine.
• The behaviour of pets can change remarkably after a disaster event. Be alert to changes and seek advice from a vet if necessary.

Pet Carriers

Purchase a pet carrier for each animal for use in disaster events. If you do not have a pet carrier small to medium animals can be carried in their cages, pillowcases or in secure boxes with air holes.

• Use pet carriers for dogs and cats. Be sure that they are large enough for your pet to stand up in, turn around and lie down. Make sure your pet is comfortable with the carrier by training them to enter and spend time in it.
• Carry birds, guinea pigs, mice etc in cages or pillowcases (tied firmly) or in secure boxes with small holes.
• Check with your local pet store for a small tank to transport your fish in with attached battery operated aerator. If you have no other option put your fish into a large wide necked jar, two-thirds filled, with a secure lid and aerate by gently blowing through a straw. Remove the lid when stationary to allow for some air saturation.
• Frogs need a small covered tub with 2.5cm of water in the bottom and air holes in the top.
• Snakes and lizards need to be put in a container with a secure lid and air holes, or sack/pillowcase.

Tips for Livestock Owners

• Develop a written disaster plan, including a list of resources (suppliers, trucks and trailers), evacuation sites, emergency phone numbers and contacts of who can help during an emergency.
• Decide where to take animals if evacuation is necessary, for example high ground or under sturdy cover. Have several sites in mind, in case your first choice is unavailable.
• Be aware that animals can sense danger and may get nervous or jittery before a storm or cyclone and may be easily spooked.
• Identify food and water sources that do not rely on electricity, which could be lost during an emergency.
• Familiarise yourself with several evacuation routes to your destination. Avoid routes likely to be travelled heavily by people.
• Photograph and identify brands and tattoos and inventory by age, sex, weight, and breed. Identify in a written list, which animals (such as breeding stock) are of the highest priority or most valuable, in the event only some of them can be saved.
• Keep vaccinations and boosters up-to-date. Record the dates, dosages and types of medications and health products the animals have received. Record dosing instructions and dietary requirements. Keep this information with the Disaster Plan.
• Secure loose items around the farm.
• In extreme circumstances, the best option may be to cut fences or leave gates open so that stock can escape danger (and be collected later).
• Consider acquiring back up power generators and backup fuel supplies. (Particularly useful for poultry farmers to provide continuous air-conditioning for stock and dairy farmers for cooling of milk).
• If possible, evacuate your livestock early to ensure their safety, protect your investment and ease your stress. Better safe than sorry.
• Avoid using public roads if possible.

After the Threat

• Check fences: be sure they are intact. Check pasture and fences for sharp objects that could injure livestock.
• Beware of fallen power lines.
• Check with relevant authorities regarding missing animals.
• Seek advice from Council or DAFF on the safe methods of animal disposal or burial.

Assisting Wildlife

Only rescue wildlife if it is necessary, because handling wildlife requires special care. If possible, leave it to trained handlers. To report injured or orphaned animals contact RSPCA on 1300 264 625.

• Wildlife often appear passive – this is a sign of stress and can change suddenly to aggression and panic.
• Feeding wildlife can create problems of nutritional deficiencies and dependency – seek professional help first.
• Lock pets away to avoid contact with wildlife as conflicts may lead to injury on both sides.
• Never put yourself at risk in an attempt to rescue wildlife.

Birds

• Cold wet birds should be wrapped in a dry towel and placed on a hot water bottle of some sort. Do not use hot air (e.g. a hair dryer). Once warmed, give 2-3 drops of honey/glucose for quick energy then call for advice or assistance.

Wallabies

• Wallabies will seek high ground. They are often found in backyards. Where possible lock up pets, open gates, drop fences and leave the animal alone. Wallabies are good swimmers and best left alone in water as attempting rescue will induce panic and drowning.

Snakes

• Snakes are usually seeking dry ground. Leave alone where possible. Do not attempt to remove. Contact RSPCA on 1300 264 625 for assistance.

Bats

• Bats should not be handled except by trained and vaccinated bat handlers. Due to damage to roost sites, both insect eating bats and flying foxes may be on the ground and close to residential areas. Avoid physical contact. If an animal is injured, cover with a box or heavy towel and contact RSPCA on 1300 264 625 for assistance.