The weather never takes a holiday. Will you have your plan ready in the event of a flood, fire or storm? The best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property is to have a plan in place.
Murrindindi Shire Council encourages all residents to be proactive in their emergency preparedness by developing a clear emergency plan, having a contact list and staying informed through reliable local channels.
Spending 10 minutes today to create a plan can help you act quickly and effectively during an emergency. Talk to the people in your household about potential emergency scenarios and outline clear instructions for everyone to follow.
Make sure to include:
• where you will go
• how you will contact each other
• essential items (e.g. medications, important documents, emergency kit)
In the event of an emergency, knowing the right authority to contact is crucial to accessing appropriate and timely help. Research your area and keep a list of agencies in an easy to access place. Some useful contacts include:
• Emergency services, such as Police, Fire and Ambulance: 000
• State Emergency Service (SES) for floods, storms and earthquakes: 132 500
• VicEmergency Hotline for bushfire information: 1800 226 226
Emergencies can happen at any time, and being prepared includes knowing where to go for accurate information. Local broadcasters play a key role in providing accurate and timely emergency advice and warnings. Make sure you have access to a battery or car powered radio to listen to UGFM and ABC Radio. You can follow both of these sources on Facebook. Find a list of local
Emergency Contacts and Broadcasters.
You can download the VicEmergency app on your mobile or tablet device for updates on conditions in your area. For more information and how to download the app, visit
How residents can prepare for fire.
Council also encourages residents to stay connected with their local Emergency Service Agencies like SES and CFA, which offer support and information tailored to the specific needs of local communities. You can find state agency and local branch pages on most social media platforms. Find
your local SES branch and
your local CFA branch.
For more information about safety and emergencies visit
Safety and Emergencies.
Murrindindi Shire Council’s Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher stated, “Emergencies can escalate quickly and having a plan is essential. Being prepared helps protect you, your loved ones, and your property while also easing the burden on emergency responders who are volunteers - many of whom are our own neighbours and community members. Take the time to create a plan and discuss with your household how to access reliable alerts and information, and who to contact. Staying informed saves lives.”
UGFM President, Station Manager and Radio Host and Alexandra SES Unit Controller Peter Weeks commented “Understanding how to plan and stay safe during emergencies benefits everyone, including emergency service responders. In an emergency, our services often face overwhelming demand, requiring us to prioritise while ensuring our own safety in challenging conditions. We urge everyone to have a plan to protect themselves and their loved ones, as there may be times when we are delayed depending on the number of jobs and their priorities. Time is your greatest asset.
To prepare, have an emergency kit that includes essentials like food, water, medications, and first aid supplies. Know where any items are that you might need to take if you need to leave quickly. Maintain a water supply to ensure you and your pets stay hydrated. If you have a backup generator, store spare fuel in a safe location away from buildings and your house.
Identifying your communication channels and knowing how to receive emergency warnings and monitor weather conditions is critical. In a life-threatening event, call 000. For flood or storm assistance, call SES at 132 500. Consider getting a battery-powered or solar-powered radio and test it every couple of months. If you prefer not to buy a radio, you can stream most radio stations from your phone if a connection is available, or preset one of your car’s radio stations to your local designated broadcaster, such as UGFM and ABC Radio. If possible, have a charged CB radio or satellite phone on hand, as it can be very useful if mobile communications are lost. For more information on emergency preparedness, assistance in creating a plan, and more, visit ses.vic.gov.au
Check in with your neighbours and friends, share this information, and encourage them to do the same. Together, we can build safer communities."