Get Storm Ready: Ausgrid urges households and businesses to prepare now
Weather experts are advising that seasonal outlooks indicate above-average temperatures and warmer ocean conditions, which could see more severe weather across eastern NSW during spring and summer.
Ausgrid’s General Manager of Safety, Matthew Sweeting said preparation before severe weather arrives is one of the most effective ways people can protect themselves, their families and their businesses.
“With the weather being so variable and unpredictable, we’re encouraging people to get storm ready now, so they are prepared for when it does happen,” Mr Sweeting said.
“Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms can damage electrical infrastructure, bring down trees and powerlines, and disrupt homes and businesses but there are simple steps everyone can take to prepare their home or business.
"A few simple steps taken now, such as securing loose outdoor items, checking your property for hazards and ensuring you have emergency supplies on hand, can make a significant difference when a storm hits,” he said.
Top 5 things to do now:
- Tidy up loose items like garden furniture, trampolines and building materials
- Identify and prune trees that could come down in a storm
- Keep a battery-operated torch, radio and spare batteries handy
- Keep your house weatherproof - replace broken roof tiles, keep gutters clean and fix leaks so water cannot access electrical systems and appliances
- Know the location of your fuse box or mains switch and make sure it’s covered.
“It’s also a good time to think about pulling together an emergency kit in case the storms cause a power outage at your home.
“To make it easy, we created a checklist, so we’d encourage everyone to download it, print it and keep it handy to ensure your family is safe, comfortable and informed while our crews work hard to get the power back on,” he said.
Following storms, customers should remain vigilant and treat all powerlines as live and dangerous, avoid fallen wires and damaged electrical equipment, and never drive across downed powerlines.
“If you see a fallen powerline, always assume it is live and stay at least eight metres, or two car lengths away and report it immediately by calling 13 13 88.
"By preparing early, staying informed and understanding the risks around damaged electrical infrastructure, we can all play a role in keeping our communities safe."
For more information, visit Ausgrid’s Storm safety website or www.ausgrid.com.au/stormsafety