Act Safe
Look after children and pets
Check on family and neighbours
Tie down or put away anything that could blow or wash away.
Check your emergency kit is ready to go.
If you choose to leave, leave early.
Keep indoors. During storms, stay away from windows and unplug electrical items where you can.
Prepare for possible power, water or internet cuts.
If you evacuate
Follow the advice from SES and Tasmania Police.
Go to friends or family in a safer place or an evacuation centre.
Take your pets and your emergency kit.
Help prevent damage
Turn off your home’s electricity, gas and water at the mains.
Put plastic bags of sand or mud in toilets and over bath and sink plugholes.
Stay home unless it is unsafe to do so
Do not go sightseeing
If you do need to go out, watch out for hazards.
Water over roads.
Damaged power-lines.
Landslides or erosion.
Damaged roads.
Sewage or chemical hazards.
Damaged trees & roofing iron.
Drive slowly, turn on your headlights, turn away from floodwaters.
Keep up to date with warnings and other key information
- TasALERT.com for key information and warnings during events
Download the TasALERT app to get warnings straight to your phone. - ABC local radio
- National Relay Service
- Bureau of Meteorology
More information
Know when to leave
- When emergency services advise you to evacuate
- If your home could flood – it is in a flood prone area. Note if there is flash flooding, emergency services may not have time to warn you.
- If your home is damaged and/or you are not safe
- If you rely on services or everyday support. You should think about leaving very early
- Depending where you live and your home situation
- If being cut off or losing power/internet is a problem.
There is support for people with disability to prepare for emergencies.
What to take if you need to leave home in an emergency
Have your emergency kit ready to go.
Where to go and how to get there
Most people will go to family or friends if they need to evacuate, or perhaps a hotel or similar. Evacuation centres are
- For people who have nowhere else to go or
- A place to get information before moving on.
To find out which evacuation centre to go to during an emergency
Plan your evacuation route using
- Information from TasALERT
- flood maps, and
- any available information at the time if your usual route may be cut.
If you need help to evacuate due to disability or lack of transport, it is even more important you have a plan. There is support for people with disability to prepare for emergencies. If you need to evacuate but cannot and are in danger, ring 000.
What you will need if you stay at home in an emergency such as a severe storm or flood in surrounding places
- Battery powered radio and torch, spare batteries
- First aid kit
- Important information such as your emergency plan and important contact details
- Water and food for up to 3 days
- Blankets or other ways of keeping warm if the power goes off
- Anything else you need everyday
Include these in your emergency kit.
If your road access is cut
Flood mapping online or in your local flood guide can give you an idea of which routes may be safer.
- If you may need help or isolation is a problem, leave early before routes are cut.
- Consider if there are alternative routes.
- Make sure you have enough supplies of food, water and medicine for a few days.
If power, internet or water is cut
- Your emergency kit should include what you need, such as a battery powered torch
- Keep your phone charged as much as possible.
- Fill up containers of drinking water.
- If you rely on power/ internet for everyday life, what is your backup plan?
- If internet is cut, it is good to have some cash as electronic payment will not work.
More information
- Get ready for emergencies (Download PDF)
- Be ready for storms and floods
- Local community flood guides
Follow your emergency plan and keep your emergency kit handy.