Paul Bibby
Climate change is here, bringing with it an increase in extreme weather events and natural disasters such as fires and floods.
The message from the Red Cross is clear – be prepared.
And the organisation is holding a series of workshops across the Shire during emergency preparedness week (Sept 23-30)to help you be just that.
‘You may be thinking that it’s overwhelming and there’s no way to be ready – but in reality, it’s simple,’ Red Cross CEO Judy Slatyer said.
‘By thinking about how you might react in an emergency, and what you might need, you are on the way to preparing an emergency plan that’s right for you and your loved ones.
‘And planning out in your mind about how you would cope, means you’ll be less stressed if you ever have to face an emergency.’
With storm season upon us, the SES will be holding a flood, storm and tsunami awareness and preparation session on September 25 at the Byron Community Centre from 12.30-1.30pm.
‘The SES will assist people to know their risk and help to mitigate it,’ the community’s centre’s community programs manager, Cherie Bromley said.
‘They’ll talk through the different apps, mapping and new technologies to help people become aware of what’s going on and to reduce the impact of a disaster.’
The next day day, from 10.30-12.30, the Red Cross will hold a Recovery Basics workshop is for anyone who has lived through a disaster, supported someone in an emergency or who intends to volunteer in any future events.
It aims to increase community resilience and understand the physical and psychological impacts of a disaster.
Other disaster preparation workshops will be held across the Shire at the following times and locations:
Monday 23 Sept Byron Community Centre 12-1pm.
Wednesday 25 Sept Billinudgel Hotel 5-6pm.
Thursday 26 Sept Byron Community Centre 4-5pm
