Residents urged to ‘Get Ready’ for annual wet season

Storm surge and flood risk for coastal communities will be the focus of the 2023 Get Ready Emergency Services Day to be held at Holloways Beach this weekend.

The Cairns Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) is inviting people to a community fun day at Syd and Jane Granville Park on Cassia St, Holloways Beach, on Saturday 7 October from 10am to 3pm.

The event, being held on the eve of Get Ready Week (9-15 October), is an opportunity for residents to talk to emergency services personnel about what they need to know for their emergency plans for the wet season.

The day includes helpful, practical advice for residents and showcases the region’s first responders, with fire trucks, aviation fire, and ambulance vehicles and crews on site.

There will also be disaster preparation workshops, family fun activities and food available.

Cairns LDMG Deputy Chair, Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan, said now was the time for residents to finalise their emergency plans.

“We are bringing the annual Get Ready Emergency Services Day event to the community to ensure everyone ‘knows their zone’ this wet season,” she said.

“Every wet season, the communities between Machans Beach and Yorkeys Knob are susceptible to flooding from the Barron River during significant weather events.

“These communities are also at risk of storm surge, which can occur if a cyclone is impending, so it is important for everyone to know their zone and have in place a household emergency plan.”

The Cairns LDMG is encouraging the community to know your storm tide zone at the Cairns Disaster Dashboard.

Cairns LDMG Chair and Deputy Mayor Terry James said the Cairns Disaster Dashboard provided updates on road conditions, power outages, weather warnings, flood cameras and other emergency information.

“The dashboard is continuously updated during emergencies, providing crucial information on road closures, flooding, weather warnings and power outages,” Cr James.

“It serves as the go-to place for disaster-related information and is a valuable resource to help residents and families prepare for the wet season.”

Residents are reminded they can also go straight to the Dashboard from Council’s My Cairns app. Click the menu button on the top left of the home screen and then tap ‘Disaster information’.

The Cairns Disaster Dashboard also contains a link to register for the Cairns Alert emergency messaging service which delivers advice via email, SMS, and voice message.

Registering for Cairns Alert is quick and easy, taking less than a minute to complete. Residents can sign up through Council's website (www.cairns.qld.gov.au/cairnsalert).

Cr James said household preparedness was vital as the official cyclone season approached.

"Every household should have their emergency kit stocked and a well-established evacuation plan," he advised.

"Council's detailed information on areas at risk from storm surge helps the public to make potentially life-saving decisions.

“I urge everyone to start their preparations now, while the skies are still clear, so they can be prepared for whatever nature throws at us.”

Cairns residents are also encouraged to:

• Sign up for Council’s Cairns Alert emergency messaging service to receive critical emergency information, such as evacuation advice, via text message.
• Bookmark the Cairns Disaster Dashboard, which collates real time information from Council, the Bureau of Meteorology, road closures, power and phone outages, and includes storm surge zones and evacuation routes, and the location of shelters if they are needed.
• Follow the Cairns Disaster Centre Facebook page for information and advice before, during and after any weather emergency.