Flagstone State Community College’s fence was last Friday adorned with hundreds of lifelike cutouts depicting students’ preparation for severe weather events.
The display is part of a Queensland-first program delivered by Logan City Council and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) ahead of the upcoming storm season.
It is hoped the decorations would encourage residents to prepare their properties and families for extreme weather.
QRA CEO Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd) said the project was fantastic.
“What it’s doing is engaging the next generation in making sure they’re thinking about getting ready (for wild weather events) and talking to their parents about getting ready,” he said.
“They are the future.
“Wherever you are, whatever you’re up against, being able to call on resilience in the face of a challenge is incredibly powerful.”
According to the QRA, the best way for Logan residents to prepare their properties for wild weather was to:
- Trim trees to remove leaves and branches that are close to buildings,
- Check the roof and gutters are not blocked with leaf litter,
- Clear rubbish from around your home,
- Make sure windows can be sealed to stop water coming inside,
- Store chemicals and poisons up high,
- Check your insurance for correct severe weather coverage.
“Logan has had a number of different events over the last few years, and it ranges from fires to floods, to storms and even heat,” Mr Ellwood said.
“So, it is really important that people understand where they live and the risks they are living with or that may present.”
Mr Ellwood said locals could check the types of risks they faced in their area by visiting plan.getready.qld.gov.au.
“It helps you through a planning process, the sorts of things you need to do and then an emergency kit – it’s a one stop shop.”
During his role at QRA and as national and state response coordinator for the Australian Defence Force, Mr Ellwood has encountered hundreds of communities impacted by severe weather.
He said these weather events included both the Black Summer Fires and the south-east Queensland floods.
“I’ve met many impacted communities, individuals and families, and there is no doubt in my mind that those who did plan, those who did prepare, those who thought about what they would do, fared better because they had some control in what they were doing,” he said.
“It’s very hard to make good decisions when you’re under extreme pressure.”
He said preparation involved planning transportation, securing precious items, having an emergency kit with a torch and radio, as well as preparing food and medication.
“Every single individual and every family are different, so it’s important that they really think through their specific set of circumstances and tailor their plan to suit them,” Mr Ellwood said.
Executive manager of disaster response at Suncorp, Lilly Broodbank, agreed State Community College’s initiative was important.
“As one of Queensland’s largest insurers… Suncorp understands just how important it is for the community to prepare ahead of disaster season,” Ms Broodbank said.
“Disaster planning doesn’t just involve checking your insurance policy – it’s an opportunity for the entire family to get involved in and is particularly timely given the recent storms across the state.
“We encourage everyone to take the time… to get your disaster planning in place – it’s never too early to Get Ready for extreme weather.”
Visit disaster.logan.qld.gov.au for early warning alerts and essential information useful before, during and after disaster events.
