By Logan mayor Jon Raven
When a disaster strikes, it’s a relief to know the right people are ready to help.
Last week, council had an emergency.
It wasn’t real.
But our staff and our Local Disaster Management partners like Ambulance, Police, Fire, Queensland Health and Energex practised like it was.
This is something we do every year to prepare for the worst.
The scenarios usually involve a severe weather event or a breakdown of crucial infrastructure.
In last week’s practice run, we faced something a little different.
A combination of a cyber-attack, water outage, heatwave and bushfire.
All at once.
Over three intense days, council’s ability to think quickly, solve problems and work as a team was put to the test.
We know disasters don’t wait for a convenient time.
Whether it’s storms, flooding, bushfires or other emergencies, our community expects council to be ready when it counts.
That’s why we regularly work alongside emergency services and other agencies to test our plans and look for ways to improve.
Every time there’s a Christmas Day storm or a Cyclone like Alfred, we’re able to respond faster and protect our community better because we do this.
Of course, being prepared isn’t just important for council.
Now is a good time for us all to start thinking about how ready we are at home.
Do you have an emergency plan for your household? Do you know where you would go if you needed to evacuate? Do you have an emergency kit with essentials such as food, water, medications, batteries and important documents?
Recent years have shown that severe weather can happen at any time, and being prepared can make a big difference.
There are plenty of resources available to help residents get ready, including information on council’s Disaster Dashboard: disaster.logan.qld.gov.au
The more prepared we are, the safer and more resilient our community will be.
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