Inside the shipping containers keeping Territorians safe from natural disasters

A major restocking operation is refilling several 20-foot shipping containers. See why this will be critical when disasters strike.

The Territory is restocking multiple 20-foot shipping containers with enough essential supplies for 2000 people in preparation for any upcoming natural disasters.

The Territory’s critical first line of defence to natural disasters is being replenished in a mammoth essential supplies delivery program.

Territory Families Minister Kate Worden said multiple 20-foot shipping containers were being restocked with essential supplies this week.

Ms Worden said the disaster storage could provide essentials for up to 1000 people in Darwin, 500 Alice Springs residents, 300 in Katherine and 100 in Tennant Creek.

She said for the first time a container would also be deployed to Gove with enough supplies to support 100 people.

Ms Worden said the containers were now being refilled with bedding, nappies, washing machines, torches, toiletries, disposable cutlery, and fans.

“These supplies are a crucial first line of defence to help us support Territorians impacted by natural disasters,” Ms Worden said.

The Territory is restocking multiple 20-foot shipping containers with enough essential supplies for 2000 people in preparation for any upcoming natural disasters.

Ms Worden said the evacuation of up to 700 Territorians from Kalkarindji, Dagaragu and Nitjpurru communities during the Victoria Daly floods demonstrated the vital role these centres provided.

Territory Families housing emergency officer Leanna Jeffries said it was “eye-opening” to see how much preparation was part of disaster readiness.

“It is really amazing to see the how much stuff there is in these containers and just how essential these everyday items that we take for granted would be in an emergency,” Ms Jeffries said.

The restocking project has been supported by the Corrections and Justice departments, and the Red Cross, with the Welfare Group also collaborating with St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, 54 Reasons, Foodbank, EASA, Chaplaincy NT, United Muslims NT, TeamHealth and regional Aboriginal corporations

Originally published as Inside the shipping containers keeping Territorians safe from natural disasters