Emergency Preparedness – Where to start?

Author: Candice   Date Posted:28 June 2025 

Emergency Preparedness – Where to start?

When emergencies like floods, fires, storms, or pandemics strike, having a well-thought-out plan can make all the difference. This is a clear, four-step approach to help you prepare effectively, ensuring your unique requirements are addressed.

Identify Your Strengths and Needs

Preparedness starts by understanding your daily life. Think about:

  • What you do (e.g., work, sports, hobbies),
  • Where you do it (home, workplace, community),
  • Who you do it with (family, friends, neighbours, carers, support workers).

Assess how you manage communication, personal care, health, assistive technology, transport, living arrangements, and social connections. This self-awareness helps highlight what will matter most during an emergency.

Understand Your Disaster Risks

Next, learn about the risks where you live—bushfires, floods, cyclones, heatwaves, or power outages, for example. Ask:

  • What hazards are common in my area?
  • How might these hazards affect me and those close to me?

Use reliable sources like the ABC Emergency website or local council dashboards to stay informed. Recognize your responsibility to act on warnings and be aware of what emergency services can (and cannot) provide during disasters.

Make a Personalised Emergency Plan

Plan for two key scenarios:

  • Shelter-in-place: How would you manage without power, essential services, or carers for several days?
  • Evacuation: Where would you go? How would you get there? How would you ensure accessibility and the continuity of your needs?

Build an emergency kit that includes not just general items (water, food, radio) but also:

  • Medications and prescriptions,
  • Assistive technology chargers and spare batteries,
  • Instructions for personal care for yourself and those who rely on you to provide care
  • Supplies for pets or assistance animals, pets & live stock

Tailor your plan so it “fits” your specific situation—because what works for one person might not work for another.

Share and Strengthen Your Plan

A plan is only as good as its communication. Discuss it with your support network—family, neighbours, carers, and friends. Together, identify and close any gaps. For example, if you live with a disability, who will check in on you if support workers are also affected by a disaster? If you rely on public transport, what transportation options exist if public services are down? Being proactive helps reduce stress during a crisis.

Final Thoughts

Preparedness is not a one-off task—it’s a process. Start small, focus on one area at a time, and review your plan regularly. By taking these steps, you’ll be more confident, resilient, and ready when emergencies happen.