Why do you need an emergency plan?

Most people know that an emergency plan is recommended. However, taking the time to consider why we need a plan can make the process of developing one more meaningful and effective.

Before considering the who, what and how, understanding that an emergency plan is the best way to reduce your vulnerability to the impacts of emergencies and make recovery easier is an important step. Read more about why your emergency plan is important below. 

Know Your Risk

Knowing the risks you are likely to be impacted by is an important part of developing an emergency plan. Taking some time to understand the factors that contribute to your overall risk can help make this task easier. Consider the below and discuss each point with your household to better understand your individual risk equation.

Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability

• Hazards: It’s important to consider the type of hazards you are most likely to be exposed to and prepare for these accordingly. Stanley is unlikely to experience widespread flooding, however Rutherglen is. No town in Indigo Shire will experience a tsunami, however we are all at risk of bushfire. A truck accident impacting road access and power supply is possible in any of our towns. Hazards are varied and unpredictable, while we cannot prepare for every situation, taking the time to consider the likelihood of such events and how we might respond will reduce the risk of negative impacts.

• Exposure: Exposure is the likelihood of being impacted by the hazards identified above. We have some ability to reduce exposure by clearing around our house before bushfire season or securing outdoor items prior to a storm. The best way to reduce exposure is to move out of the area when possible. Being aware of fire danger ratings and emergency warnings is crucial to reducing your exposure.

• Vulnerability: This is the area we have the MOST control over. By reducing our vulnerability, we can dramatically decrease the risk of an emergency. The most important action to reduce vulnerability is to have a well thought out written plan, that takes into account different scenarios (i.e. not everyone is at home, a road is closed etc.) It’s important to remember that our vulnerability can change, consider situations such as:
  • A parent being home alone with young children
  • Elderly family members visiting
  • Road access being limited
  • A family member being unwell or with limited mobility (i.e. broken leg)

Shared Responsibility

There is a significant number of emergency agencies, tiers of government departments and registered volunteers who all play an important role in emergencies. However, these agencies are just one part of emergency management.

Individuals and communities have an important role to play as well. These responsibilities are set out clearly in the State Emergency Management Plan. Put simply, we expect that the CFA will respond to a fire event; we expect that the government will provide funding to support recovery after a significant emergency; we expect that a local council will provide information about local activities and support. 

It is also expected that individuals will:

• Find out about and stay aware of potential risks in their environment
• Take protective measures including taking out insurance
• Develop personal/family emergency plans to improve their safety and wellbeing during emergencies
• Keep plans current and ready to implement immediately
• After an emergency, they will review and improve plans 
• In the event of an emergency, be as self-reliant as possible
• Act on emergency information and warnings and implement their plans as required to protect themselves, their families, neighbours and their local community, in particular protecting people who are most vulnerable
• Meet their own recovery needs wherever possible