It’s time to Get Ready Mackay!

Next week is Get Ready Mackay week (October 9 to 15), when council calls on all residents to stock up their emergency kits, familiarise themselves with council’s Emergency Action Guide and get their emergency evacuation plans in place.

Deputy Mayor Karen May said whether it’s bushfires, floods, cyclones or heatwaves, history has shown that our best defence when it comes to disaster is preparation.

“We are asking residents to make a plan and discuss it with their family, so they have the ‘five knows’ covered,” Cr May said.

“Residents should know when to go, where to go, how to move and what to take. We’re also asking them to get to know their neighbours who can be lifesavers in an emergency,” she said.

“The last thing you want to do in a disaster is to have to put a plan in place last minute when you’re stressed and not thinking clearly.”

Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out on council’s Facebook page for tips and tricks on how to get prepared for disaster season.

You can also visit council’s Emergency Dashboard and opt in to receive text messages and email notifications of emergency alerts and weather warnings in our region.

Staff from council’s Emergency Management team will have a stand at the Mackay Senior’s Expo on Tuesday, October 10, from 9am to noon at the Mackay Showgrounds.

They will be available to provide advice about getting prepared for the disaster season and will have hard-copy versions of council’s Emergency Action Guide for residents to take home.

They will also be at the IGA West Mackay store on Wednesday, October 11, from 3pm to 6pm, and at Bunnings Paget on Friday, October 13, from 10am to 2pm, where residents can stop and talk about what to place in their emergency kit.

Throughout October, residents will also be able grab a Get Ready shopping list from the front of any Mackay region Woolworths store to help them be prepared.

For more information visit www.mackay.qld.gov.au/getreadymackay.