Here’s an interesting press release from down under.
Sydneysiders will be encouraged to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies in an important and emotive public education campaign launched today.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said Let’s Get Ready Sydney encourages people to think about how a major emergency in the CBD would affect them and provides advice on essential preparations everybody should make.
Bus stop advertising, a website and pocket guide asks questions such as who’ll pick up the kids from school and what would you do if there was no mobile phone reception.
The campaign has been developed in partnership with Emergency NSW and the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department and included consultation with senior representatives from the State’s emergency services, local residents and businesses.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said Let’s Get Ready Sydney is designed to encourage people to be prepared if a serious incident occurred.
“A serious emergency such as a fire, hazardous materials incident, flood, severe storm or transport accident, could cause significant disruption to the community and will require a coordinated and immediate response,” Ms Moore said.
“These incidents would have an impact on Sydneysiders and their families and friends and it’s important that people think about what to do if they are directly involved, or if regular transport arrangements or mobile phones are affected.”
“We all hope these incidents will never happen, but it is important that we are all prepared.”
“We want people to think about the localised effects of emergencies and the need to prepare a personal emergency plan and memorise or record contact details for families and friends.
Education and preparedness are the best tools that can be employed in case of a major emergency.
“Dealing with major emergency situations requires a partnership between government, business and the community,” Ms Moore said.
Let’s Get Ready Sydney encourages people to do four things:
1. Develop a personal emergency plan: This plan should be developed, reviewed and rehearsed with your family or close friends so you all know what to do, where to meet and how to communicate in an emergency. People should also create an ‘in case of emergency’ or ICE contact saved in your mobile phone address book under ‘ICE’ to quickly allow emergency services personnel to contact your next of kin.
2. Put together a Go Bag: This should be an easy to carry bag stored at home and at work including things like important documents, maps, phone numbers, insurance details, AM/FM radio, first aid kit, spare set of keys, coins, spare glasses/contact lens etc.
3. In an emergency, authorities may give you specific directions to stay where you are or evacuate. It is important that you know how to respond and are familiar with your work place evacuation points. Be prepared to walk.
4. Should a major emergency or incident take place, authorities will broadcast a 1800 emergency hotline number to call for information. Also tune in to radio and TV stations for updates and information or click on www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.
City of Sydney staff will be handing out Pocket Guides at CBD railway stations this week and spare copies are available at City of Sydney Neighbourhood Services Centres at Town Hall, Kings Cross, Glebe, Surry Hills and Erskineville.
Let’s Get Ready Sydney has been developed by the City of Sydney in partnership with the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department and Emergency NSW under the ‘Working Together to Manage Emergencies’ local grants scheme.
