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Emergency Dashboard

Disaster Management

During a Disaster

In the event of a disaster or emergency, it is important to stay calm.  Follow your prepared emergency plan and, if possible, visit our Disaster Dashboard or tune into local radio to stay informed and promptly follow instructions from authorities.

Stay Informed

Emergency Dashboard

Council has developed a public-facing platform that acts as a one-stop shop for essential information about the local area in times of disaster. By providing easy access to up-to-date information (e.g. road closures, weather updates, school closures, emergency warnings, etc.), this dashboard provides situational awareness to the North Burnett Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) and general community and serves as a tool for critical decision-making for the LDMG.

Visit the Emergency Dashboard at emergency.northburnett.qld.gov.au

Radio Stations

ABC Wide Bay is the region’s Emergency Radio Station.  It is vital that you tune in, in the event of an emergency.

  • 855 kHz AM Wide Bay & Burnett 
  • 100.1 mHz FM Wide Bay

Warnings and Alerts

Council utilises a suite of communication methods to issue warnings and alerts to the community, including:

  • Disaster Dashboard;
  • social media;
  • radio and TV updates;
  • media releases;
  • face-to-face (i.e. door knocking); and,
  • Emergency Alerts

Emergency Alert System

Emergency Alert is the national telephone-based emergency warning system capable of sending warning messages to fixed line telephones (i.e. landlines) and mobile phones.

The Emergency Alert system provides emergency service organisations and our Local Disaster Management Group with an effective way to warn communities in the event of an emergency, such as bushfire and extreme weather events.  For more information, please visit the Australian Government Emergency Alert website.

Stay Informed
Service Number
All Emergency Calls
(including Police, Fire, Ambulance and for reporting fallen powerlines)
000
North Burnett Local Disaster Management Group
 Local Disaster Coordination Centre (only activated during declared emergencies)
1300 696 272
State Emergency Service (SES)
Tarping/Branches down
13 25 00
Queensland Police Service – Police Link (Non life-threatening calls) 13 14 44
Queensland Ambulance Service (Non life-threatening calls) 13 12 33
North Burnett Regional Council
(includes Emergency After Hours)
1300 696 272
Ergon Energy
Loss of Supply and Emergencies
13 16 70
Telstra 13 22 03
Optus 13 13 44
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service (07) 4150 2863
Department of Transport and Main Roads
(Road Closures)
13 19 40
Translating and Interpreting Service 13 14 50

 

Shelter and Evacuation Options

Prior to each cyclone season, Townsville residents need to develop a Household Emergency Plan that includes evacuation and shelter considerations based on their circumstances and exposure to risk.

Consider your shelter and evacuation options

  • Shelter in Place – If you live in a well-constructed home located outside of an evacuation zone, your best option is to plan and prepare to shelter in place in your home with your family, friends and pets. It is important you identify the strongest, most protected part of your home to shelter in. This is usually the smallest room in the house with the least number of windows and external walls.
  • Evacuate to Shelter in a Safer Place – If you are potentially at risk, your best option is to prearrange your evacuation so you can shelter in a safer place with friends or family. Consider commercial accommodation or shelter options in your community as a last resort.

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether you should shelter in place (i.e. at home or at work) or evacuate to a safer location. Certain events may come with additional risks that require you to evacuate.

The following are some handy rules of thumb depending on your situation and the type of disaster or emergency:

  • Riverine flooding – stay with friends in high places;
  • Bushfire – if you are going to leave, leave early;
  • Hazardous material accident – stay upwind or stay inside;
  • Dam release – get out and move to higher ground quickly.

Types of evacuation

There are several types of evacuation that may occur depending on the type of disaster or emergency, including:

  • Self-evacuation: No formal authority required, you can choose to self-evacuate at any time if you don’t feel safe. But please let someone know that you are evacuating and where you are going.
  • Voluntary evacuation: The Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) in consultation with the District Disaster Coordinator will ask people in a particular area to voluntarily evacuate if there is a threat developing. This lets people know they are in a potential danger area and allows them ample time to make a considered decision about whether to leave.
  • Directed evacuation: The District Disaster Coordinator will issue a directed (mandatory) evacuation order when there is a definitive threat to life. You are legally bound to follow this direction and leave.

    All people in the areas defined in the directed evacuation order must follow given directions. The District Disaster Coordinator has the power to enforce the order. This power may be delegated to authorised officers in the field who will conduct the evacuation. Do not ignore this advice – the decision to issue an evacuation notice is not taken lightly.

    At this stage, Council will advise what evacuation centres will be opened.

Shelters and Evacuation Centres

Council has agreement to use a number of buildings throughout the North Burnett region within its disaster management processes and plans as pre- and/or post-impact centres.

Tips for when you evacuate:

  • Ensure you turn off electricity, gas and water and that your property is locked and secure.
  • Tie a light coloured cloth to your front door, letterbox, fence or other highly visible area. This will inform emergency services you have already evacuated and they do not need to expend valuable time checking.
  • Notify a family member or friend outside of the threat area that you have evacuated and where you are going. Get this person to advise other family and friends.
  • Make arrangements for your pets.
  • Remember to take your emergency kit with you.

 

Plans and Other Resources

Council is committed to educating staff and residents about these natural dangers and has developed a number of resources with various tips on preparing for disaster events. Included on this page are links to available resources from expert agencies, as well as information on what services we can provide to help you get “disaster ready”.

North Burnett Region Disaster Management Plan

The North Burnett Region Disaster Management Plan forms the basis and guidelines for the Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery activities of the joint agencies within the North Burnett Region.  The Plan is used when responding to a disaster that has impacted or has the potential to seriously impact upon the communities and infrastructure in the regional area.

Whilst as a community we may not be able to prevent disasters from occurring, we can prepare our community and enhance its resilience to the adverse impact of any threat. The Plan comprises two parts: a Main Plan with support plans for each of the six major towns in the North Burnett; and a Disaster Operating Manual comprising a number of Sub Plans and Operational Checklists.

Hard copies of the document are available to view at Council’s Customer Service Centres.

MAIN PLAN

Main Plan
Biggenden Disaster Support Group Plan
Eidsvold Disaster Support Group Plan
Gayndah Disaster Support Group Plan
Monto Disaster Support Group Plan
Mt Perry Disaster Support Group Plan
Mundubbera Disaster Support Group Plan

DISASTER OPERATING MANUAL

Sub Plan 1 – Business and Governance
Sub Plan 2 – Activation and Coordination
Sub Plan 3 – Community Disaster Education and Awareness
Sub Plan 4 – Public Information and Warnings
Sub Plan 5 – Evacuation and Evacuation Centre Management
Sub Plan 6 – Public Health
Sub Plan 7 – Resupply Plan
Sub Plan 8 – Impact Assessment
Sub Plan 9 – Recovery Plan
Sub Plan 10 – Bushfire Management and Response
Sub Plan 11 – Pandemic Management and Response
Sub Plan 12 – Dam Failure
Sub Plan 13 – Emergency Animal and Plant Disease
Risk Assessment
Risk Register

DISASTER MANAGEMENT LINKS

North Burnett Regional Council Disaster Management Plan 2016
Flood Mitigation Study
Get Ready North Burnett Guide
Other Languages

Guide to Subscribing to the Emergency Management Dashboard

 Subscribe to the Emergency Management Dashboard in a few simple steps! You can opt in to receive emergency alerts, information and updates from the Emergency Dashboard via text message.

For instructions, view these documents:

Click here to find out how to register and subscribe to emergency notifications. 

Click here to find out how to register your business on the Dashboard to appear on the interactive map. 

 

North Burnett Disaster Proof Your Business

Disaster Proof Your Business! 
A guide for business continuity during disaster events.

Queensland is the most disaster-prone state in Australia having experienced more than 90 natural disasters in the past decade alone. Operating in the North Burnett Region requires consideration and planning to ensure your business can continue operating during a wide range of potential disasters.

NBRC Disaster Proof Your Business

Assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)

Itinerant Traveller Disaster Guide
When you’re travelling through the Naturally Beautiful, North Burnett we hope you enjoy the beautiful sights, people and produce.  But what would you do if there was a severe weather event?  Do you know where to go for information?
 
We want your time travelling through North Burnett and the Burnett River Catchment to be safe.  That’s why North Burnett and Bundaberg Regional Councils have produced the Itinerant Traveller ‘Guide to Severe Weather in the Burnett River Catchment’.
 
This guide covers our major severe weather risks, emergency contacts, where to find more information and how to prepare to evacuate.   We know many of our itinerant travellers do not speak English as a first language.  Below you will find the Be Prepared Guide in nine (9) different languages to help you prepare for the unexpected.
 
This project is proudly funding by the Queensland Government through Get Ready Queensland Funding.
 
 
Download a Harvest Worker Guide: