Surviving the floods: Red Cross volunteers share tips on preparing for disasters
Natural disasters are becoming more common in Australia. Having a plan in place and, importantly, sharing your plan with others can help during and after the emergency.
Red Cross Community Recovery Officer, James Wallace.
We know from our partner, Australian Red Cross, that at least 1 in 3 Australians will face a natural disaster in their lifetime. Being prepared can make these emergency situations less stressful and improve the speed of recovery.
Yet, when disaster strikes, what does ‘being prepared’ actually look like?
To find out, we spoke to three Red Cross volunteers and an Australia Post team member who were impacted by the unprecedented floods that occurred in northern NSW earlier this year.
Locals share their experiences
When the flooding emergency unfolded, James Wallace was living in the small town of Woodburn—which virtually disappeared underwater for a week. As a Community Recovery Officer with the Red Cross, he’d seen his fair share of emergency situations in the past. Yet, as he said, “I’ve seen floods before, but this time, it went far above what we had expected. I wasn’t prepared enough.”
Tina Cotroneo was living in Lismore and working in Ballina, and saw the ripple effects of the floods across local communities. As the Manager of the Ballina Post Office, she witnessed remarkable community spirit in the wake of the event.
And Natascha Wernick and Callum McKillan were in the remote town of Byrrill Creek, which became cut off from the world for almost two weeks when its bridges washed away. As Team Leader and Deputy, respectively, of the Byrrill Creek Community Resilience Team, they were both on the ground helping locals through this incredibly tough time.
While the floods affected James, Tina, Natascha and Callum in unique ways, they all shared similar advice for people who want to take a more proactive approach to preparing for disaster—and their words of wisdom align closely with the recommendations of the Red Cross.
Here’s what they recommended. As you’ll see, these preparations can take time, so the earlier you’re ready for flood or bushfire season, the better. And don’t forget, you can check your disaster readiness at any time by taking this short Red Cross quiz.
Postal Manager, Tina Cotroneo, inside Ballina Post Office.
1. Assess your risk: fight or flight?
While it’s fundamentally important to follow the advice issued by emergency services, you need to assess your own personal risk as well. For example, if you are unwell or rely on medical care, then you’d most likely choose to leave a lot earlier than others. Consider your unique situation and put plans in place so you don’t have to make a last-minute decision under immense pressure.
As James said, “Don’t start thinking about it on the day of the disaster. By having a plan months in advance, when you’re in a state of panic, it’s all done.” Callum agreed, saying, “Ask yourself if you’d fight or flight. If you’re going to stay, how will you support yourself? What risks does it present? Understand these risks and prepare for a one-to-two-week extended stay with no external help.”
2. Get to know your neighbours
How well do you know your neighbours? And the people in your community? Getting to know your neighbours is a vital step in any disaster preparedness plan, because you’ll all be relying on each other for help if or when disaster strikes. As Red Cross reminds us, neighbours are the ones most likely to help you in the event of a disaster—more so than police or emergency services.
The Red Cross Community Resilience Team model