Immediately after the event Ensure that family, friends and neighbours are safe and well. Rest if you need it - it is important that you are well rested before operating vehicles or machinery. Refrain from driving unless absolutely necessary. Be careful of fallen power lines. Begin to clean up your property if it is safe to do so. Listen to your radio for health warnings and news updates. Be patient. Electricity, water and essential services will often take time to restore after a major event. Remember that workers have families and properties clean up as well. Make a preliminary list of damaged property and the degree of damage to each. If possible, photograph items or video tape them for comparison with pre-disaster records. Identify which items are missing. If you did not have a pre-disaster inventory list try to make one as soon as possible after the event to identify what items may be missing.

Download the Living in the North Guide

Health and Safety Issues

Recovery Factsheets

• The Food Act and You after a Disaster

• If the water supply is affected

• Food Premises Affected by Flooding / Power Outage

Counter Disaster Plan (Public Health Sub-Plan)

Environmental Health Services, through the use of a Public Health Sub-Plan (which is an integral part of the overall disaster management plan), can provide appropriate timely environmental and public health services to disaster affected people in the Townsville region.

Townsville City Council is responsible for assisting emergency services (such as police, fire, ambulance etc) in the event of a disaster, with support from the State Government Emergency Services Department.

The State Counter Disaster Organisation Act 1975 requires local governments to prepare a local counter disaster plan to deal with all counter disaster measures within its area. Such plans should embrace the comprehensive approach to disaster management addressing the key components of prevention, preparation, response, and recovery.

Queensland is a disaster prone state, with records showing that storms, cyclones, and flooding are more regular events than other states. Many of these events can have significant impact on communities and the environment. In addition to natural disasters, communities have become increasingly dependent on lifelines such as electricity, gas, water supply, sewerage and telecommunications. Any breakdown of these services can result in loss of life, human suffering, economic cost, or harm to the environment.

Disasters are costly in terms of loss of life, human suffering, and economic cost. Effective disaster management arrangements at local government level offer the potential to significantly reduce these costs and save lives.

Through the development of the Public Health Sub-Plan, Environmental Health Services section of Council addresses the public health needs of the affected community by ensuring that the following are provided in the case of a disaster:

• Adequate Safe Food and Portable Water
• Adequate Shelter and Ablutions
• Adequate Protection from Disease
• Control of Vermin and Disease Transmitting Vectors