October 28, 2013
The State Emergency Service is urging residents to assist emergency volunteers by taking responsibility for their own recovery following natural disasters.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Lee Johnson said State Emergency Service volunteers were there to help in an emergency, but there were things residents could do to help themselves and lighten the load for volunteers.
“SES volunteers spend countless hours each year helping residents prepare and recover from natural disasters,” Mr Johnson said.
“However, recovery and preparation is a community responsibility. SES volunteers are there to assist those who cannot help themselves, and respond to emergencies where it would be unsafe for a resident to take action.
“There are plenty of things you can do before, during and after a disaster to become more resilient and recover quickly, such as having a kit ready in case you lose power or making sure there is no debris in a yard that could become dangerous during a storm.
“If you do a little, we all accomplish a lot.”
Mr Johnson said residents should call 13-25-00 if they needed assistance from the SES, but should prepare to be more self-reliant.
“During a natural disaster the SES get hundreds of calls for assistance, some of which include situations which are dangerous for residents,” he said.
“Obviously these tasks take priority over more minor issues like leaking roofs.
“It may take SES volunteers between 24-48 hours to attend to a task if they have received a large amount of jobs or those jobs are of a higher priority.”
Mr Johnson said residents should call 13-25-00 for emergency assistance from the SES during floods or storms, but dial Triple Zero if the situation was life threatening.
- For further information and tips on how to Get Ready, and to register for a personalised step-by-step plan, visit the State Government’s Get Ready website
