MidCoast Council's campaign to have every household in the council area bushfire ready has reached the half way point and it is checklist time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council's five step Get Ready series aimed at is aimed at ensuring every home has a bushfire survival plan and is prepared for bushfire danger season.
The previous two steps helped householders identify the bushfire risk for their property, and put together a bushfire survival plan - so that everyone in the home knows what they will do and where they will go in a bushfire emergency.
The third step comes with a list - a list of things to do to prepare your home and your yard before a bushfire threatens. And if you're on a farm or large property - there's a checklist for you too.
"A well prepared home is easier to defend against fire, and it's safer for you and for our volunteer firefighters," MidCoast Council's Mayor David West said.
"Get started by heading to midcoast.nsw.gov.au/getready and find the 'Step 3' information plus the Bushfire Survival Plan document. You'll find the NSW RFS Get ready videos there - for preparing your home, your yard and your rural property. The Plan has a checklist for preparing your home and yard."
If you can't physically do the work yourself, ask your family, friends or engage a service to help you. And if you have limited support from these sources, then the NSW RFS's AIDER service may be able to help you.
There's information at rfs.nsw.gov.au or you can call 8741 4955 or email aider@rfs.nsw.gov.au.
"We want to make sure everyone's home is as well prepared as possible each fire season," Mayor West said.
It's a fact that many homes are under-insured for bushfire, and can't be rebuilt for the amount they are insured for.
"This week, pull out your home insurance policy and review it. Check your insurance policy, and talk to your insurer if you think this might be the case."
Place a copy of your insurance documents in the emergency kit, or make sure you have the "Know Risk" insurance tracker app on your phone to keep track of your policies.
Once you've ticked off the jobs in the Bushfire Survival Plan Step 3, you'll be well prepared at the start of fire season.
"Revisit the list every few weeks, to make sure you stay on top of those home maintenance jobs that make your home safer against fire."
There's two more steps to Get Ready for bushfire season, with more tips to come over the coming weeks to help residents to be prepared.
If you are still recovering from last year's bushfires, please visit midcoast.nsw.gov.au/recovery or call 7955 7543. If reminders of the bushfires are causing issues for you, please call the Mental Healthline on 1800 011 511.