Aussies urged to prepare at-home emergency disaster kits

Aussies are urged to ensure they have this one small but lifesaving item at home ready for disaster season this summer.

Christmas season means shopping — gifts, stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, food – but there’s one crucial item we might be forgetting to buy.

Batteries.

Batteries should be at the top of your shopping list right now and not just to make sure the kid’s toys work come Christmas morning.

As bushfires, cyclones and floods rage across the country, a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services representative has urged Aussies to prepare a prepacked disaster kit.

Fire and Emergency Services representatives have urged Aussies to prepare a prepacked disaster kit. Picture: iStock

“The thick smoky haze and fast-approaching flames many communities are dealing with right now are a stark reminder that Australia isn’t always the ‘Lucky Country’,” he said.

“Taking the time to plan really could save your life and the lives of your family. Our advice is be prepared and make sure your emergency preparedness kits are checked annually.”

Each household is advised to write a list of “necessary items” for an emergency kit, relevant to their household needs.

This could include mobile phones, house and car keys, as well as pet carriers and valuables.

Australia has battled a range of intense natural disasters this year including more than 150,000 bush fire alerts and numerous floods, as hundreds have been evacuated in Queensland due to heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Queensland has been battered by damaging winds and driving rain in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Queensland Police

Bushfires recently swept through Perth’s north. Picture: Supplied / AFP / Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Experts tip that batteries are a vital part of any home emergency kit because they’re key to staying connected to the world.

“If you find yourself sheltering in your home without power, you’ll need to keep across all local updates. Having a means of lighting and some charging capability is imperative,” explained a product manager from Battery World, Australia’s leading manufacturer and supplier of batteries.

“Enough spare batteries for three days is advisable,” he said, adding “Portable battery-operated AM/FM radio with spare batteries (AA/AAA) and waterproof torches with extra batteries are also a good idea.”

Aussies should remain vigilant of any impending disasters in their area and adhere to warnings issued by government authorities.

Not sure what to pack in an emergency kit? Queensland Fire and Emergency Services recommends the following:

Emergency kit supplies

•Powered items

•Torch (battery or wind-up)

•Portable phone charger and cable

•Battery powered radio

•Extra batteries

•Solar powered generator

Food & water items

•Water for three days (10 litres per person)

•Non-perishable food for three days

•Can opener, cutlery & plates

Medical & personal items

•First aid kit

•Medications and prescriptions

•Warm protective clothing and shoes

•Sturdy gloves

•Toiletries (for example toilet paper, sanitiser, face masks, toothpaste, soap, baby nappies)

Important documents

•Emergency phone numbers

•Passports and identification

•Cash

•Insurance papers and property deeds

•Birth and marriage certificates

•Photographs and keepsakes

•Store your important documents in sealed plastic bags or keep a digital copy on a USB or secure online storage.

Pet supplies

•Food and water

•Toys

•Bedding

•Medication

Disaster kits should always be stored in easily accessible areas and all households should agree on a safe place to gather in the case of an emergency.