Emergency planning
When an emergency occurs, having a plan can make it easier to make decisions and take action quickly. Emergency planning helps households understand their risks, identify their options and prepare for a range of possible situations.
Every household is different. A good emergency plan considers the needs of family members, pets, visitors and anyone who may need additional support. Planning ahead also allows households to identify safer places, evacuation options and important actions to take before an emergency impacts the area.
The resources below are designed to help households develop emergency plans and prepare for bushfires and other hazards. The earlier you start planning, the more options you are likely to have when conditions become challenging.
Resources
Bushfire Preparation Toolkit
Emergency WA - Plan
Be Safe and Leave Early
Phone Tree
Pillowcase Workshop
WhatsApp Street Groups
Shelter in Place
Birdie's Tree (Information and resources to help young children and families grow through severe weather, disasters and disruptive events.)
Emergency Planning Videos:
Plan and Connect
Check Your Insurances
Contact the Shire's Emergency Management Team to organise a personalised chat with your household, street or community group: (08) 9290 6696 (9 am to 4 pm, Mon to Fri) or email.
Emergency kits and important documents
During an emergency you may have limited time to act. Having an emergency kit prepared and important documents stored safely can help reduce stress and make it easier to respond if you need to leave quickly.
Emergency kits should contain essential items such as medications, clothing, food, water, chargers, first aid supplies and other household-specific needs. Important documents should be stored in a location that is easy to access and protected from loss or damage.
The below resources include practical resources to help residents prepare emergency kits, identify critical documents and explore digital storage options that can improve access to important information during emergencies.
Resources
Emergency Kit List and Important Documents
Important Documents
Contact the Shire's Emergency Management Team to organise a personalised chat with your household, street or community group: (08) 9290 6696 (9 am to 4 pm, Mon to Fri) or email.
Pets
Pets are an important part of many households and should be included in emergency planning. Emergencies can be stressful for animals, particularly if evacuation is required or access to normal food, shelter or veterinary care is disrupted.
Planning ahead can help ensure pets remain safe and reduce the likelihood of delays during an emergency. Consider what animals will need, where they can be relocated, and what supplies should be included in your emergency kit.
The below resources provide information to help pet owners prepare for emergencies, create animal emergency plans and identify practical actions that can be taken before, during and after an incident.
Resources
Animal Emergency Plan
Emergency Kit Information for Pets (coming soon)
Animal Welfare Webinars:
Pets and Bushfires, what do we know?
Horses and Bushfires, what do we know?
Hello Neighbour
Strong communities are built on strong connections. Knowing your neighbours and developing local support networks can improve preparedness, increase access to information and strengthen community resilience before, during and after emergencies.
The Hello Neighbour initiative encourages community members to connect with the people around them, start conversations about preparedness and identify opportunities to support each other during difficult times.
Simple actions, such as sharing contact details, checking on neighbours and discussing emergency plans, can make a significant difference when emergencies occur. The resources below provide practical tools to help start those conversations and build stronger neighbourhood connections.
Resources
Hello Neighbour Information
Hello Neighbour Postcards
Get in contact with the Shire's Emergency Management Team to organise a street or group chat, (08) 9290 6696 (9 am to 4 pm, Mon to Fri) or email. After-hours call, (08) 9290 6666
For emergencies, phone Triple Zero (000).
WhatsApp & phone trees
Community communication networks can help residents share information, stay connected and support one another during emergencies. Informal communication groups may complement official information sources and help strengthen local resilience.
Phone trees and messaging groups can provide a simple way for neighbours to check in with one another, confirm welfare and share important updates. They are most effective when established before an emergency occurs and supported by clear expectations and respectful communication.
The resources below provide guidance on establishing local communication networks and explains how they can support community preparedness activities.
Resources
Phone Tree
WhatsApp Street Groups
Be Hazard Ready
Be Hazard Ready encourages residents to take practical steps to prepare for a range of hazards, including bushfire, storms and other emergencies. The program recognises that preparedness looks different for every household and community.
Through local engagement activities, information sessions and community-led initiatives, Be Hazard Ready helps residents build knowledge, improve preparedness and strengthen community resilience.
Whether you are new to the area or have lived in the district for many years, there are opportunities to learn more about local risks, connect with neighbours and improve your readiness for emergencies.
Resources
DFES Be Hazard Ready Campaign (coming soon)
Community activities
Building community resilience does not always happen in a classroom or training session. Community activities create opportunities for residents to connect, share experiences and learn practical preparedness skills in an informal and engaging way.
The Shire supports a range of activities designed to encourage conversations about preparedness, increase awareness of local hazards and strengthen community networks. Activities may include workshops, presentations, community events and locally developed initiatives.
Stay up to date with upcoming and past activities on the Shire events calendar. Community groups interested in hosting preparedness or resilience-building activities within their neighbourhoods can reach out the Shire's Emergency Management Team, (08) 9290 6696 (9 am to 4 pm, Mon to Fri) or email.