As our community knows all too well, disaster can strike anytime, anywhere.
Sunshine Coast Council and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is partnering with Aveo Peregian Springs Retirement Country Club to ensure they are prepared for extreme weather events.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said last year’s Peregian fire ember storm (9 September 2019) was a moment in time the community would always remember.
Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with the QFES, has contacted aged care facilities and retirement villages to help them get disaster ready.
“Council and QFES Officers visited Aveo Peregian Springs, which caters for active retirees, in late October last year to present a seminar to residents and have continued to work closely with the community’s Emergency Management Working Group,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“Council provided three starter emergency kits to the working group to use as prizes and encourage as many members of their community as possible to start preparing.”
The kits included a radio and torch, first aid kit, whistle, pliers, gloves, lantern, power bank, planning resources and other items to assist in an emergency event.
It’s Get Ready Queensland Week and Sunshine Coast residents and businesses are encouraged to prepare their own kits ahead of the summer storm and bushfire season.
“When it comes to disasters, it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ and there’s no better time than now to get ready,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“Council will continue to partner with emergency services, the aged care sector and retirement community residents to ensure our senior citizens are well-cared for during a disaster.”
Aveo Peregian Springs Emergency Management Working Group Convener Peter Wright said the group was created following their experience with the bush fire that threatened their village in September last year.
“Fortunately, the fires were brought under control by the QFES,” Mr Wright said.
“However, we learnt a valuable lesson about being prepared for such emergencies in the future.
“We have had great support from the council’s Lynda Williams (Disaster Resilience Officer) and Julie Bruynius (Community Engagement Officer North Coast Region) from the QFES.
“We also have had valuable support from Aveo, which has committed funds for us to purchase equipment such as two-way radios and loud hailers.”
In mid-2019 council partnered with the Sunshine Coast District Disaster Management Group to hold an Aged Care in Disaster Management Forum, which focused on assisting aged care providers to plan for disasters.
Disaster preparedness sessions can be booked by contacting council, email SCC.DisasterManagement@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 5475 7272.
Looking for information about preparing for a disaster or seeking information during a disaster? Visit council’s Disaster Hub website.
This one-stop-shop includes information on preparing an emergency plan and kit, sandbagging, emergency warnings and road closure updates.
