Evacuate Now

‘Evacuate now’ means that the District Disaster Coordinator has ordered an evacuation due to an imminent danger.

Use your own vehicle or carpool with neighbours to get out of the threatened area. Try to use one car per household if possible. Roads may become congested.

If you do not have your own vehicle and have not made other arrangements, council will organise transport out of the threatened area. Local media will advise of these arrangements. Listen to local ABC or commercial radio for community information.

Remember the following:

• Unplug appliances and turn off
  • gas at the bottle
  • electricity at the mains
  • water at the meter.
• Secure and lock all windows, doors and cyclone shutters – and don’t forget to lock the front door before leaving.
• Ensure neighbours are aware of alert.
• Stay calm. Sufficient time will be given for you to safely evacuate. Expect road traffic to be heavy. Travel times may be four times as long. Ensure your car has a full tank of petrol and you have water for the journey.
• Take your emergency and evacuation kits with you, including important documents.
• Wear long sleeved shirts, long pants and sturdy shoes so you can be protected as much as possible.
• Call your out-of-town contact to let them know where you are going.
• Allow for the special needs of infants, the aged and people with disabilities.
• Collect family members or go to your agreed meeting place.
• If you go to an evacuation centre, register your details with the Red Cross at the registration desk.
• Even if you evacuate to a friend or relative’s house, consider registering with the local evacuation centre to help others find you or self-register on the National Registration and Enquiry system.