Every home will soon receive a Get Ready MidCoast bushfire survival plan in the mail, as MidCoast Council works towards getting our region bushfire ready.
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Council is into the fourth of its five step online Get Ready series, with this week's focus on being aware of bushfire alerts and what they mean.
"The first way to keep updated is to watch for the NSW RFS Fire Danger Ratings, which are issued daily and are specific for your area," mayor David West said.
"Roadside Fire Danger ratings signs are located throughout the Mid Coast, or you can check the fire information each day at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au
"As the fire danger ratings increase, you should be following your bushfire safety plan. At severe and extreme ratings, the safest option is to leave early - don't wait to see what happens.
"At a catastrophic fire danger rating, your only option is to leave early. No homes are built to withstand fires in catastrophic conditions and it is not safe to stay and defend your home."
During a bushfire, the RFS will issue alerts, which give you an indication of the level of threat from a fire. The Advice alert means a fire has started, and there is no immediate danger. You should stay up to date in case the situation changes.
The Watch and Act alert means there is a heightened level of threat and conditions are changing. You need to start enacting your bushfire survival plan.
The Emergency Warning alert is the highest level of bushfire alert. You may be in danger and need to take action now.
"The RFS says you should not wait for an alert - some fires start and spread so quickly there may not be any time for a warning. Remember, leaving early is the safest option for your survival," Mayor West said.
"Downloading the fires near me app to your phone is one of the best ways to make sure you know when a fire starts, you can set to be alerted when a fire starts near you."
Otherwise, stay aware at the RFS website, via the RFS information phone line 1800 679 737 or via the NSW RFS social media sites.
During a fire emergency, you should tune into the emergency radio broadcaster, ABC 95.5FM.
A five week campaign is underway to guide Mid Coast householders through the five steps to Get Ready.
"We want every home on the MidCoast to have a bushfire survival plan this year, so make sure you, your family and your neighbours Get Ready following the steps on your household copy of the Get Ready plan, our website at midcoast.nsw.gov.au/getready and the NSW RFS recommendations."
If you are still recovering from last year's bushfires, please visit midcoast.nsw.gov.au/bushfirerecovery or call 7955 7777. If reminders of the bushfires are causing issues for you, please call the Mental Healthline on 1800 011 511.
Fire season 2019
From October 26, 2019 more than 3124 incident calls were made, equating to 35 calls per day.
During the peak of the fires in November, 150 homes, nine facilities and 303 outbuildings were destroyed, with 68 homes, 16 facilities and 139 outbuildings damaged.
A total of 2325 homes, facilities and outbuildings in the path of the fires were saved.
Sadly, one person died in November as a result of the fires across the region.
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