home | nsw state emergency service - 132 500 · 2017. 2. 20. · make sure that your business...
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www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Better FloodSafe than Sorry
Protecting yourselffrom a flood
During a flash flood • Leaveearlyifthereisthepotentialforyourpropertyorbusiness
tobeimpactedbyflashflooding• NEVERenterorattempttotravelthroughfloodwater-thisisthe
maincauseofdeathduringfloods.Floodwatermaybedeeperorfasterflowingthanyouthinkandmaycontainhiddensnagsanddebris
• Keeplisteningtoyourlocalradiostationforfurtherinformation,updatesandadvice
• Inlife-threateningemergencies,call(Triplezero)• Ifdrivinginheavyrain;putyourhazardlightsonandpulloverto
thesideoftheroad.Keepclearofdrains,causeways,gutters,streams,creeksandlowpointsontheroad
• Ifoutdoors;stayawayfromdrains,causeways,gutters,streams,creeks,treesandpowerlines
DisasterRecoveryCentresareestablishedfollowingsomedisasters.Recoverycentresprovidearangeofwelfareservicesincludingfinancialassistance,personalsupport,organisingtemporaryaccommodationandprovidinginformationandreferrals.
Ifyouhavebeenaffectedbyfloodsandrequireassistance,contactDisasterWelfareServiceson1800018444.
After a flood – returning to your home or businessSevereweatherandflashfloodingcanresultindamagetopropertyandarangeofpotentialsafetyissues.Whenreturningtoyourproperty:
• Ensurethestructuralstabilityofyourpropertybeforeentering.Checkfordamagetowindows,wallsandtheroof.Beawareofpotentialcontaminantsincludingasbestos
• Makesuretheelectricityandgasareturnedoffbeforegoinginside.Useatorchtocarryoutinspectionsinsidebuildings
• Ifpowerpoints,electricalequipment,appliancesorelectricalhotwatersystemshavebeenexposedtofloodwaterorarewaterdamagedinanyway,theymustbeinspectedbyaqualifiedelectricianbeforeuse
• Gasappliancesandgasbottlesthathavebeenexposedtofloodwatershouldbeinspectedforsafetybeforeuse
• Wearsuitableprotectiveclothing,includingbootsandgloves,whencleaningup
• Nevereatfoodwhichhasbeenincontactwithfloodwater• Onlyusecleaneatingutensils,toothbrushes,towelsor
handkerchiefsFormoreinformationonpersonalandhouseholdsafetyafterafloodvisittheEmergencyManagementNSWwebsiteathttp://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/flood
Every family and business should put together an Emergency Kit.
FOR EMERGENCY HELP IN FLOODSAND STORMS CALL THE SES ON
132 500IN LIFE-THREATENING EMEGENCIES
CALL 000
SESwebsite www.ses.nsw.gov.au
RockdaleCityCouncil(businesshours) 0295621666
RockdaleCityCouncilwebsite www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au
BureauofMeteorologywebsite www.bom.gov.au
How the SES can help youTheSESisresponsibleforrespondingtofloodsinNSW.Thisincludesplanningforfloodsandeducatingpeopleabouthowtoprotectthemselvesandtheirproperty.
DuringflashfloodstheSESwillprovidefloodinformation,safetyadviceandmayprovideassistancewithpropertyprotectionandwaterremoval.Whereappropriate,theSESwillconductevacuationsandundertakefloodrescue.
Rockdale City Council Area
RockdaleArea
Top: Flooding at Subway Road BanksiaBottom: WolliCreekinfloodnearHendersonStreetTurrella
Prepare yourselfItisimportanttoprepareyourfamilyandpropertynowforthepossibilityoffloodingasflashfloodscanoccuratanytimeoftheyear.
Findoutaboutyourfloodriskandcheckyourinsurancepolicy.DevelopaFloodSafePlanandidentifyyourevacuationroute.
SomeotherbasicmeasuresyoucantakerightnowincludekeepingalistofemergencynumbersnearthetelephoneandassemblinganEmergencyKit.
YourEmergencyKitcontents:
• Aportableradiowithsparebatteries• Atorchwithsparebatteries• Afirstaidkit(withsuppliesnecessaryforyourhouseholdor
business)• Candlesandwaterproofmatches• Importantpapersincludingemergencycontactnumbers• Awaterproofbagforvaluables• AcopyofanyEmergencyPlansforyourhomeorbusiness
Whenfloodingislikely,placeinyourEmergencyKit:
• Importantpapers,mementoesandphotos• Agoodsupplyofrequiredmedications• Anyspecialrequirementsforbabiesandthedisabled,infirm
and/orelderly• Strongshoes• Suitablefoodanddrinks
IfyouownormanageabusinessinaflashfloodproneareayourbusinessshouldhaveaBusinessFloodSafePlan.TheSEShasaninteractive‘BusinessFloodSafeToolkit’availableontheSESwebsite.YoucanusethistoolkittodevelopyourBusinessFloodSafePlan.MakesurethatyourBusinessFloodSafePlaniscomplete,up-to-dateandkeptsomewherehandy.
TheSESalsohasaHomeFloodSafeToolkittohelphouseholdersinflashfloodproneareasprepareforfloods.ThistoolkitisavailablefromtheSESandwillhelpyoutodevelopalistofactionstobedonebefore,duringandafteraflood.
Better FloodSafe than Sorry
Are you at risk from floods?ManypartsoftheRockdaleCityCouncilareaaresubjecttoflooding(seemap).ThemajorityoffloodsaretheresultofflashfloodingalongtheCooksRiveranditstributaries,theseinclude:
• WolliCreek
• BardwellCreek
• MuddyCreek
• BonnieDoonChannel
LowlyingareasawayfromtheCooksRivercanalsoexperienceflashflooding,evenwhentheCooksRiverisnotinflood.SusceptibleareasincludethosesurroundingScarboroughPondsandthecreeksinSansSouci.NopartoftheRockdaleCityareacanbeconsideredfreefromflashfloodingassociatedwithsevereweather.
Flashfloodsresultfromveryheavyrainfallduringshortintensestormsandoccurwithlittleornowarning.Floodwaterrunsdownhillalongroads,throughgardensandmayenterhomesandbusinesses.Evenshallowwaterisverypowerfulandcancarrylargeamountsofdebris.Peopleareoftensweptawayafterenteringfloodwateronfootorinvehicles.Thisistheleadingcauseofdeathduringfloods.IntheRockdaleCityarea,particularlydangerouslocationsduringflashfloodingare:
• Basementcarparks
• Railunderpasses
FloodingintheRockdaleCityareahasoccurredmanytimesinthepast70years.Youorsomeoneyouknowislikelytohaveexperiencedaflashfloodinthisarea.Theseverityofflashfloodingvariessignificantly.Itisimportantto
Main flood-prone locations in the Rockdale City Council Area
When flash flooding is likelyTheBureauofMeteorology(BoM)issuesSevereThunderstormorSevereWeatherWarningswhenheavyrainfallorstormsarepredicted.Thisisawarningforweatherthatcancauseflashflooding.Flashfloodscanoccurwithlittleornowarning.Monitorweatherconditionsandplanearlyforwhatyouwilldo.
IntheRockdaleCityCouncilarea,veryheavyrainfalllastingevenafewminutescanproducesignificantflashflooding.Thedepthorarrivaltimeoffloodwaterisdifficulttopredictwithcertainty.
Duetothelife-threateningnatureofflashfloods,thesafestactionistoevacuatehomesandbusinessesbeforeflashfloodingbegins.Inhighlysusceptibleareasthismaymeanevacuatingbeforeheavyrainfallcommences.Failuretoevacuatemayresultinyoubecomingtrappedinsidethebuilding.Ifyoubecometrapped,itmaybesafertostayinsideandseekrefugeatthehighestpointofthebuildingthantoenterfloodwater.Takingrefugeinabuildingisnoguaranteeofsafety.Itisverydangerousandmayisolateyoufromrescueormedicaltreatment.Yoursafetydependsonthestructuralstabilityoftheindividualpropertyandotherfactors.Evacuatingearlyistheonlysafeactionifyouliveorworkinaflashfloodpronearea.
Makeearlypreparationstoplanyourevacuationandprotectyourproperty.Bealert,keepaneyeontheweatherandbepreparedtoactshouldfloodingoccur.
• Listentoyourlocalradiostationforinformation,updatesandadvice
• ActivateyourFloodSafePlan(seetheNSWSESwebsiteformoreinformation)
• LocateandcheckyourEmergencyKit(seethe‘Prepareyourself’sectionofthisguide)
• Locateimportantpapers,valuablesandmementoesandplacetheminyourEmergencyKit
• Checkifneighbours,friendsandfamilyintheareaareawareofpossibleflooding
• Ensureemployeesareabletogethomebeforeevacuationroutesclose
• Stackpossessions,records,stockorequipmentonbenchesandtables.Placetheelectricalitemsontop
• Relocatewastecontainers,chemicalsandpoisonswellabovefloorlevel
Neverenterorattempttotravelthroughfloodwater.Thisisthemajorcauseofdeathinflashfloods.Considerthelocationofyourhomeorbusinessandplanwhenyouneedtoevacuatesothatyoudonothavetoenterfloodwatertogettoasafeplace.Ifyouliveorworkoutsideaflashfloodproneareayoushouldavoidenteringfloodwaterorseekalternativerouteswhengoingaboutroutinetravel.
How you will be advised of a coming floodTheRockdaleCityCouncilareaisaffectedbyflashfloodshowever,specificweatherwarningsormonitoringandwarningofhighwaterlevelsincreeksintheareaarenotcurrentlypracticable.
TheBureauofMeteorology(BoM)issuesDetailedSevereThunderstorm,SevereWeatherWarningsandFloodWatchesfortheSydneyregionwhenheavyrainfallorstormsarepredicted.Warningswillbebroadcastoverlocalradiostationssuchas:
702 ABC Sydney AM 702
ThesewarningswillalsobeavailablealongwithadditionalweatherinformationontheBureauofMeteorologywebsitewww.bom.gov.au
Ifflashfloodingisimminent,theSESmayissueevacuationordersforspecificareaswithintheRockdaleCityCouncilarea.Thesewillbebroadcastovertheaboveradiostation.
Preparing to evacuateTheSESaimstokeeppeoplesafeandminimisetheriskstolifeandpropertyduringfloodssoitisimportantthatyoufollowevacuationadvice.Beingpreparedwillallowyoutorespondquicklyifyouneedtoevacuate.
• TakeyourEmergencyKitwithyou• Turnofftheelectricityandgasatthemainsbeforeyouleave.
Turnoffandsecureanygasbottles• Preparetotakeyourpetswithyou
When you evacuateDuetotheunpredictableandlife-threateningnatureofflashfloods,thesafestactionistoevacuatehomesandbusinessesbeforeflashfloodingbegins.Inhighlysusceptibleareasthismaymeanthatyoudecidetoevacuatebeforeheavyrainfallcommences.
TheNSWSESmayissueanevacuationwarning.Thismeansthatflashfloodingisimminentinyourareaandyoushouldfollowthesafetyadviceimmediately.Ifanevacuationwarningisissued,emergencyservicespersonnelmaydoorknocktoadviseresidentsandbusinessesofwhattodoandwheretogo.Theremaybeotherwaysthatyouwillbenotifiedifanevacuationisnecessary.Keeplisteningtotheradioandfollowanyinstructionsgivenbytheemergencyservices.
Ifanevacuationwarninghasbeenissued,theSESwilladvisewhenitissafetoreturntotheareaaftersevereweatherconditionsandfloodinghavepassed.
considerthatfuturefloodingmaybedifferenttowhatyouhaveexperienced.
Preparingforfloodingcanreducetheimpactonyourfamily,propertyandbusiness.
ContactRockdaleCityCouncilforfurtheradviceonhowfloodingcandirectlyaffectyourproperty.FurtherfloodinformationandpreparednessadviceisavailableontheCouncilwebsiteatwww.rockdale.nsw.gov.auandtheNSWSESwebsiteatwww.ses.nsw.gov.au