What can you do to be prepared?

You

Have a personal emergency plan.  Your personal emergency plan should include:

• information on what type of emergencies and their likely impact on you;
• who you need to contact (if able, note mobile phone system not be functional) if you cannot get home at the normal time:
• contengiencies that need to be exercised should you not be able to get home (who does what e.g. who will pick up the children from school);
• likely responses that you are able to action;
• identification of exits and evacuation points;
• identification of meeting point.

You could also have a personal emergency pack containing:

• essential medications;
• a light raincoat or jacket;
• water bottle & energy bars
• am/fm radio (with batteries that are checked on regular basis)
• Alternatively the headphones for mobile phone which act as an antenna to your phone and may still allow fm radio capability even if the mobile network is down.
• important documents (such as ID, Maps, contact numbers)
• spare set of keys (home/office/car);
• Coins and cash; and
• comfortable shoes.

Know your building assembly area and the Brisbane Secure Emergency Support Sites that may be activated (either one or combination of four).

If able have your wallet or purse, keys and mobile phone, travel pass and water bottle handy to grab if you are evacuated.  Have a pair of comfortable shoes at work so you can change quickly if needed. This is useful for fire drills and more typical building evacuations.

Work out how far you can walk and if you can walk home.  In the event of a major emergency you may be asked to walk for some distance to reach public transport.  If you cannot walk to transport, special arrangements will be put in place, but these may be delayed until crowds reduce.

Know what is expected of you under the Brisbane CBD Emergency Plan (key terms of evacuate, shelter-in-place and business-as-usual).

Your family

Have a family emergency plan.  Your family emergency plan should include:

• what your children will do if you cannot get home, or if you are delayed.  Having arrangements for your children will reduce your concerns in what may be a stressful event.  Consider alternative arrangement for collection of children from schools, e.g. children remain at school or go to friend’s house in unaffected area.

Your building

Encourage fellow workers to take part in emergency drills and identify routes to safety sites.  Regularly check fire exits for rubbish and ensure emergency signs are in place.  Ensure your building has strategies in place to assist in an emergency such as a sign to the Brisbane Secure Emergency Support Sites that may be activated (either one or combination of four).

Ensure new workers understand their response and role in the Brisbane CBD Emergency Plan.  Incorporate information into an orientation package and encourage adoption of individual and family plans as well as the personal emergency pack.