It’s important to think about the area you live in, your circumstances and the types of disasters that could affect you.

Scroll further down on this page for information on preparing for floods or bush fires and to help you understand your risk. 

Ensure you have a current emergency plan in place which considers your risks, abilities, and resources, plus an emergency evacuation kit ready to go. 

Some resources include:

• Prepare an emergency kit or Emergency Go Box
• Download the Australian Red Cross Get Prepared App 
• Complete an Australian Red Cross Redi plan, go to redcross.org.au
• NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Home Emergency Plan 
• NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Bushfire Survival Plan
• Planning for your animals  
• Emergency planning for your business 
• Download the EmergencyPlus App (Australian Government) 
• Download a copy of the ‘Get Ready Central Coast Guide’

Prepare your property to best withstand emergency events with general maintenance and checks, and ensure that you are adequately insured.

Know in advance where to find critical information in the lead up to, or during, an emergency event, and download key emergency Apps. 

View our web page for emergency contacts and staying informed information for the Central Coast.

Don’t wait for an emergency to build community networks with neighbours.  Get to know each other now, share your plans with neighbours, friends and family and identify your community strengths and weaknesses to be able to plan for them in advance.  

• Identify those in your neighbourhood who may need help to prepare. If your neighbour’s house is at risk, yours is too! 
• Identify those who will need assistance in an emergency and plan for this 
• Identify what resources could be shared in your community before, during and after an emergency 
• Look out for each other in recovery, the stress of an emergency will impact on everyone differently 
• Remember everyone has something to offer in an emergency, help can come in many ways during a disaster 
• Create contact lists for your community so in an emergency communication will be much easier

Anyone living in low lying areas alongside waterways needs to understand the potential risk to their property from flooding and how to reduce that risk. If you live in one of these areas, you need to be prepared for flooding and know how to protect your home and family.

Being prepared for floods can save lives and property, but also helps us to recover from these events when they do occur.

Understand your risk of flooding.

Understand how flooding occurs on the Central Coast, your risk of flooding and how your property and surrounding streets are impacted at various water levels using Council’s flood mapping tools.  These tools can help you understand the potential flood impacts to your property and to identify escape routes and places to safely park your car during a flood:

• For residents on and around Tuggerah Lakes – Council had developed this user-friendly online Tuggerah Lakes flood mapping tool, which draws on current and predicted flood levels directly from the Bureau of Meteorology, and converts it into a visual display to show the extent of flooding.  You can search your property, and see the impacts of current water levels, minor, moderate, and major flood events.   
• For residents in other areas on the Coast – The region-wide online mapping tool, provides a range of flood information on a visual map. Please refer to the fact sheet on definitions of flood mapping layers for further details

Plan and prepare for floods

Prepare a plan for future flooding and have a ‘get ready to go’ kit ready to go in advance.  Ensure that your flood emergency plan considers what roads or routes may be closed, where you need to park your car, where you will go, and what supplies you may need and what to pack in your emergency kit.  

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) webpage (ses.nsw.gov.au) has further resources and information to help you prepare your home, for your pets and business for floods. 

For planning and development information related to flooding, go to our 'planning and development in flood zones' web page. 

Anyone living near a bushland area needs to understand the potential risk to their property from bushfire and how to reduce that risk. If you live in one of these areas, you need to be prepared for bush fires and know how to protect your home and family.

Know your risk and have a plan ready. Being prepared for bushfires can save lives and property, but also helps us to recover from these events when they do occur.

Go to NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) web page (rfs.nsw.gov.au) for information and resources, and to prepare a Bushfire Survival Plan.

View Council’s online mapping tool to identify Central Coast Bush fire prone land (2021).

Storms and severe weather can occur quickly, with the possibility of flash flooding, power outages, land slips, and closed roads from fallen trees, flood, or wash out.

Understand your risk, prepare a plan and your home. For information and resources, go to the NSW State Emergency Service website (ses.nsw.gov.au).

Heatwaves not only affect your daily activities, but can be a serious risk to your health and wellbeing. 

How to prepare for a heatwave: 

• Plan ahead for the heat 
• Consider possible ‘cool spots’ or places to go to escape the heat
• Get medical advice regarding how heat may affect your medications
• Prepare home and garden for summer heat
• Install insulation into walls and roof cavities as well as blinds, external to house on western walls 
• Plant strategic trees to block sun on the house and for cool garden refuges

For further information on preparing for heatwaves and hot weather, go to NSW Health

An ability to adapt and respond to emergency events or natural disasters builds resilience.  Learn how connected communities are key, and how you can build your resilience.