MEMBER for Lismore, and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, Janelle Saffin is urging residents of the Lismore electorate to prepare for the increased risk of storms as the storm season officially begins.
“The period between September and April is when storms, strong winds and heavy rain tend to be more frequent and the Bureau of Meteorology has indicated an increased risk of extreme storms, at least for the start of the season.
“Over recent weeks NSW has already been battered by windy conditions with 1200 volunteers responding to more than 2000 events.
“Storm activity can be checked using the Hazards Near Me app, alongside existing flood and fire alerts.
To prepare for storms, residents are advised to:
- Secure loose items outside, trim trees and branches away from properties, clean your gutters and move your cars from underneath trees.
- If you are caught out in a storm, seek shelter indoors. Do not shelter under trees and stay away from powerlines.
- Prepare an emergency plan for storms and floods.
- Download the Hazards Near Me app and set your watch zones.
- If you need assistance from the NSW SES, call 132 500. If it’s an emergency, call Triple 0.
For more information on how to get ready ahead of this year’s storm season, visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au.
“This is the time of year when we keep a watch on weather warnings to see when and where the storm activity is happening, and doing what we need to stay safe like deciding when it is safe to drive home from work.
“I would like to thank our hardworking SES volunteers for all they do to support our communities over the course of the storm season.
“We can help them by having our homes prepared for storms and staying informed of the severe weather warnings.”
