Storms can happen anywhere, at any time of year and are often accompanied by strong winds, large hailstones and lightning.
What to do before the storm
Ensure you do the following before a severe storm arrives:
- Check that loose items such as outdoor settings, umbrellas and trampolines are safely secured.
- If it is safe to do so, check gutters, downpipes and drains are not blocked.
- Park your car undercover and away from trees.
- Be alert to the dangers of thunderstorm asthma. Always carry your blue reliever with you. Know the signs of worsening asthma and the asthma first aid steps. If you know you are sensitive to pollen, you may wish to stay inside on high pollen and windy days, and during and after a thunderstorm. However, this may not always help and you must remain alert to the signs your asthma is worsening. For more information visit the Better Health Channel.
What to do during the storm
Ensure you do the following during a severe storm:
Stay indoors and away from windows.
- If outdoors, shelter away from drains, gutters, creeks and waterways.
- Be prepared for power outages.
- Floodwater is dangerous – never drive, walk or ride through floodwater.
- Floodwater is toxic – never play or swim in floodwater.
What to do after the storm
Ensure you do the following after a severe storm:
- Check your home and property for damage.
- Keep clear of damaged buildings, power lines and trees.
- Be aware of road hazards such as floodwater, debris and damaged roads or bridges.
- Do not drive through affected areas unless it is necessary.
VICSES have developed some important information that can help you learn more about what you can do to prepare your home for storms.
How do storm warning systems work?
How can I prepare my home for storms?
What should I do if a storm happens?
What is an emergency plan and what should it include?
What should I put in my emergency kit?
For more information visit www.ses.vic.gov.au
VicEmergency app
The VicEmergency app aligns with the VicEmergency website to provide a centralised location for Victorians to access timely emergency information and warnings.
The app includes warnings and incident notifications for fire, flood, storm, earthquake, tsunami, weather warnings, shark sightings, beach closures and more.
In order to receive location specific app alerts when warnings are issued or incidents occur, you need to set up your watch zones.
You can download VicEmergency from the App Store or Google Play.
For app support, please visit the VicEmergency Knowledge Base.
