Coomera Fire Season is upon us!
Queensland is facing devastation as over 90 bushfires are currently burning Queensland and 60 in New South Wales. The Queensland Premier has declared this a disaster and Authorities have stated: “The fire danger has never been this bad this early in spring”. With the Gold Coast, Brisbane & Sunshine Coast having a significant number of those bushfires, including the destruction of 5500 Hectares of bushland, 200 registered evacuees, Hundreds of animals seeking shelter or being rehomed, around 17 houses & buildings destroyed, a further 67 damaged, there is no sign these fires are going to let up any time soon. The Queensland Government, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) & The Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) have united together to educate, update and notify residents on the latest news and the many available resources, plans and information they have made available.
How to prepare?
Fire Season: September – December each year.
The QFES & GCCC websites recommend the following to ensure the residents are prepared:
Ensure your emergency plan is up-to-date and your emergency kit is ready, should you decide to ‘go early’.
Stock up on supplies: Bottled water, non-perishable foods, batteries, torches, clothing & a first aid kit.
Ensure Identification, documents, insurance documents are copied and stored in a dry and safe place for easy access.
Ensure a minimum of two exit routes is mapped out in case one becomes unviable.
Ensure anything that could accelerate the fire is safely disposed of.
Ensure your pets are inside and or easily accessible.
Listen to the radio and news to ensure you are staying up to date on the events.
Follow the instructions and warnings announced by Fire, Police or local authorities.
Protecting your property & belongings:
Property Owners (Owner Occupiers and Investors) are at the risk of damage or loss to their residencies, business and land. Several Owners in the past 14 days have faced the devastating reality of losing their homes, possessions and belongings. Ensuring your prepared and covered for such events is something that all homeowners should strongly consider.
Knowing that any house could potentially fall victim to these fires or other natural disasters is a large motivator for Property Owners, Investors and Tenants to protect their homes, possessions and other personal belongings. House Insurance, Landlord Insurance and Contents Insurance are key factors for ensuring that your home is covered.
It is recommended that the policyholder investigates the policy, due to most house insurance policies don’t cover natural disaster events/damages if you are living or own in a high-risk area. Alternatively, you can purchase supplemental policies to cover a specific type of natural disaster. Keeping in mind the impacts of a natural disaster may affect the types of expenses you can claim.
Wildlife:
5500 Hectares being burnt and people evacuating, it leaves the question of what happens to the wildlife? The GCCC, RSPCA, Australia Zoo, Local residents, Authorities, and other animal rescue organisations have also united to help save numerous amounts of wildlife from the fires. Hundreds of animals have been surrendered to the wildlife trauma centre and the local showgrounds, to date 100’s of animals including dogs, cats, horses, chickens, koalas, kangaroos, birds have all been surrender or rescued. With the organisations asking for the community to help, foster, donate food and bedding.
Below are two images of a Mother and Joey Koala, Darren Ward a brave Jimboomba Police Officer saved the koala pair from one of the Gold Coast Hinterland Fires earlier this week. RSPCA’s Michael Beatty later updated us on the Koala pair saying “There was singeing to the fur and singeing to the ears … but the baby seemed quite well protected,” They are currently being treated at the Queensland Wildlife Hospital.” ABC News, Reporter Shelley Lloyd.
Who to Contact:
• Emergencies: 000
• Gold Coast Disasters Hotline: 1800 606 000
• Alerts & Information: qld.gov.au/alerts
• If you find an injured animal/wildlife: 1300 animal
• If the animal is deceased: 07 5667 5976
• City of the Gold Coast: cityofgoldcoast.com.au
• After Hours Emergency: 1300 637 000
• General Enquiries: 1300 465 326
• Energex Emergency: 13 19 16
• Energex General: 13 12 53
• Energex Loss of Power: 13 62 62
Available resources:
Gold Coast Emergency Contacts List: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/emergency-contact-list.pdf
Gold Coast City Council Management Disaster Plan Kit: http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/disaster-management-community-disaster-guide.pdf
Natural Disaster Checklist: https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/dealing-disasters/prepare-for-disasters/emergency-kit
Household Emergency plan Kit: https://getready.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/01_Prepare_your_emergency_plan.pdf Fire Safety Management Tool for Owner/Occupiers: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/buildingsafety/documents/FSMT.pdf
Commissioners Open Letter: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/Documents/Commissioner-Open-Letter.pdf
