It seems that every other day there is a weather warning released by the Bureau of Meteorology.
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No doubt many people take the warning with a grain of salt, after all they are often followed by little more than a some dark clouds, a rumble in the sky and a few raindrops.
Clearly, determining the weather is not an exact science and as such it is not surprising that people can tend to become dismissive of warnings.
But we all need to be careful not to dismiss the warnings out of hand. As the old adage goes “it is better to be safe, than sorry”.
Preparing form a storm is not only about putting the car in the garage and heading indoors. In fact, ensuring that you are well prepared for rough weather conditions is about keeping things in order at all time – after all it is apparent that these events are unpredictable and you never no when that weather warning will be accurate.
With the warm weather of late there is always the possibility of an afternoon summer storm. With this in mind it is important to ensure that you are ready for such an occurrence.
The State Emergency Services (SES) offers several tips to ensure you are storm ready. These include:
- Maintain your yard and balcony. Secure or store items that could blow around in strong winds. Remember even the heavier items such as trampolines can be picked up in strong winds
- Clean your gutters, downpipes and drains regularly to prevent blockages
- Trim trees and branches that could potentially fall on your home or property
- Fix any damage to your roof, including broken or missing tiles
- Check your insurance policy is current and adequate. Consider things like the type of cover (building insurance for home owners and mortgagees, contents insurance, however, is applicable for everyone)
- Make a Home Emergency Plan for your family that outlines what you would do in an emergency
- Prepare an emergency kit with essential items in case you lose power or need to leave home in an emergency
- Listen and look out for weather warnings in the media
If you want to know more about the SES, to become a volunteer or in need of assistance contact 1800 201 000 or go to www.ses.nsw.gov.au