Australian Red Cross survey: How South Australians are not prepared for emergencies

23 September 2019

Published by https://www.ntnews.com.au


AUSTRALIA – Many Australians are leaving themselves underprepared if a severe weather-related emergency hits including bushfires as we approach the warmer months, an alarming new report has found.

Data obtained from the Australian Red Cross by News Corp shows around one in three people have stored important documents in a safe place, while just 25 per cent have taken steps to protect sentimental items.

One in five people have identified someone local who could help in an emergency and have put an emergency kit together and around 10 per cent have written an emergency plan.

South Australia is slightly above the national average for taking steps to protect assets and writing an emergency plan.

Twenty eight per cent of South Australians have stored important documents, compared to the national average of 32 per cent.

When protecting their assets, 28 per cent have taken the necessary steps, compared to the national average of 25 per cent.

In SA, 14 per cent have identified someone who could help them — the national average is 19 per cent — and 13 per cent have put an emergency kit together compared to the national average (18 per cent).

The research comes as the Bureau of Meteorology say that many areas of Australia are facing early season bushfires, hotter temperatures and below average rain in the months ahead.

Red Cross National Manager Emergency Services Andrew Coghlan said the data confirms Australians of all ages are acutely aware of the potential toll of disasters compared with events as extreme and unsettling as a terror attack.

He said the survey was a timely reminder of the simple steps people can take to reduce the impacts of an emergency.

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“We still need to take more action as our survey shows only 19 per cent have identified someone local who could help in an emergency and only one-in-three have stored important documents in a safe place,” Mr Coghlan said.

“Parents with children under 18 top the country and are more likely to have taken actual steps to prepare, like putting an emergency kit together or writing a plan.

“Red Cross wants to see millions of Australians prepared for a disaster, because being prepared can reduce your stress and help you cope better afterwards.”

The results also found more than half of Australians also say severe weather-related emergencies are more disruptive than terrorist attacks.

Victoria State Emergency Service’s chief officer of operations Tim Wiebusch said

emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility and everyone has a role to play.

“Those who are prepared for an emergency are better equipped to face the challenges when an emergency arrives, and recover better afterwards,” he said.

Mr Wiebusch urged the public to take steps to protect what’s important to them and review their insurance cover.

“Know your local risks and talk to your family about what you would do if faced with an emergency,” he said.

From today, the Australian Red Cross is running its annual Emergency Preparation Week urging all Australians to be prepared.

YOUR ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY CHECKLIST

1. Torches.

2. Make sure you have some cash for basic needs.

3. Bottled water.

4. Non-perishable food.

5. First-aid kit.

6. Blankets/protective clothing.

7. Pet essentials.

8. Scans or copies if important documents including passports, wills, land titles, insurance papers.

9. Toys/comfort items for children.

10. Set yourself an annual reminder to check your survive and recover kit.

Source: Red Cross

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