Storm safety

Storm events may include torrential rain, strong winds, large hail stones and lightning. Damage can range from un-roofing buildings, damaging trees, power lines and even our road network.  Australia’s greatest costs, in terms of insured losses, are caused by storms.

During a storm event, there can be widespread damage across the municipality affecting many people.  During these times, when notifying Council of your concerns, it would be appreciated if you could be patient when waiting to talk to an officer, as there is generally a high volume of calls seeking assistance.

During a large storm event, there may be many situations or homes requiring assistance, therefore calls will be prioritised and we will do our best to get to them all as soon as we can.  For life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.  You will be asked if you need police, fire or ambulance services.

For non-life threatening emergency assistance as a result of flood or storm damage to your property, call 132 500 for the State Emergency Service (SES).

Temporary building repairs may be undertaken to reduce further storm damage.  It is the homeowners’ responsibility to make arrangements for permanent repairs to your property.  It is advisable to contact your insurance company as soon as possible following a storm that has caused damage to your property.

Council will be clearing roads and paths to make them safe, which could take some time, depending on the size of the storm and the extent of damage across the municipality.  We will then return to clear the nature strips and parks as soon as possible; this may be several days or weeks later. 

Storms and you

You can keep informed of storm warnings via the Vic Emergency App or website or on radio and TV Broadcasts:

  • ABC Local 104.3 FM
  • 3MA 97.9 FM
  • Easymix 1467 AM
  • Star 99.5 FM
  • ABC Local 102.1 FM

The SES and Bureau of Meteorology can only provide a general warning about potential storms and cannot accurately predict when or where they will hit.

What to do about storms

Before:

  • Check that loose items such as outdoor furniture, umbrellas and trampolines are property secured
  • If it is safe to do so, check gutters , down pipes and drains to ensure they are not blocked
  • Park your car away from trees, and if possible under cover
  • If you’re a farmer, move your machinery, stock and feed to higher ground

During:

  • Stay indoors and away from windows
  • If outdoors, shelter away from drains
  • Be prepared for power outages
  • Floodwater is dangerous – never drive, walk or ride through floodwaters
  • Floodwater can be toxic – never play or swim in floodwaters

After:

  • Check your home and property for damage
  • Keep clear of damaged buildings, powerlines and trees
  • Be aware of road hazards such as floodwaters, debris and damaged roads
  • Do not drive through affected areas unless it is absolutely necessary
  • If your home or vehicle is damaged, contact your insurance company as soon as possible and request them to inspect the damage

Council recommends that residents keep a copy of emergency contacts handy in case of a storm. Please see the Emergency Contact Information page for a list of emergency services numbers and other handy information.

For more information about preparing your home and family for a storm emergency, visit https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready/stormsafe.

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