THE Port Macquarie State Emergency Service (SES) branch hosted a free Get Ready for Emergencies Family Fun Day on Sunday, 19 April.
Featuring a host of emergency service agencies, the event held at Kangaroo Park on the North Shore served to help the community better prepare for floods, storms, bushfires, and periods of isolation during ferry outages.
SES Port Macquarie Unit Commander Katie Blake said, “The North Shore faces unique challenges during severe weather and ferry outages.
“This event is about giving residents the knowledge, confidence and connections they need to stay safe.”
The local SES was joined at the event by representatives from the North Shore Rural Fire Brigade, Port Macquarie Marine Rescue, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Essential Energy, Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club, flood warning researchers from Macquarie University, and the Northside Progress Association.
A range of workshops and demonstrations took place on the day, providing information on home emergency kits, flood mapping and inundation, sandbagging, gutter cleaning, seasonal property preparation, and emergency information apps and communication tools.
Many in-depth conversations were held between the emergency service representatives and the 30 or so residents in attendance.
New and long-term residents also took the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from one another.
Children in attendance engaged with interactive displays which helped them understand the need for emergency preparedness, local risks, evacuation planning and the disaster recovery process.
By Bill HARROW
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