The peak body representing councils in Greater Western Sydney is urging residents to both prepare for — and stay safe in — any potential disaster or crisis by downloading a free easy-to-use ‘Get Prepared’ app on their mobile phones.
Co-created by the Australian Red Cross and insurer NRMA, the ‘Get Prepared’ app helps you connect with key support people, accomplish simple tasks to make your loved ones safer, and protect the things that matter most to you.
Western Sydney has in recent years been impacted by extreme weather events, including floods and fires, and extreme heat.
“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in an emergency like a bushfire or a flood,” said the President of Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WRSOC), Councillor Barry Calvert.
“Emergencies can strike at anytime, anywhere and without warning.
“The good news is, it's easy to protect yourself, the people you love and the things you value most in such an emergency.
“Research shows that the more people prepare for a disaster, the faster they recover.
“So, take control and download the ‘Get Prepared’ app now.
“The app helps you prepare for the unexpected and be better prepared for emergencies by completing an emergency plan.”
“The ‘Get Prepared’ app is a free and easy to use one-stop tool to help you prepare for any type of emergency.”
Using the app, residents can:
- establish a quick and easy network of support with three key contacts
- review the risks relevant to where they live
- create checklists of actions to make an emergency plan, and
- save the emergency plan as a PDF file to be printed and shared with others.
To download your ‘Get Prepared’ app, visit https://www.redcross.org.au/prepare/
“During this year’s Australian Red Cross Emergency Ready Week (18 – 24 September) especially, WSROC will be partnering with councils across Greater Western Sydney to help create a city that is connected, inclusive and resilient,” said Councillor Calvert.
The Greater Western Sydney region stretches over 8,948 km2, ranging from densely populated metropolitan areas, to farmlands, and the World Heritage Area of the Blue Mountains.
“Extreme weather events and the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened challenges for Greater Western Sydney communities, as the recent terrible floods and bushfires have shown,” said Councillor Calvert.
“During severe heatwaves, too, people in Greater Sydney have experienced as much as a 13 percent increase in mortality (excess deaths), according to NSW Health research.”
Western Sydney is typically 6 - 10°C hotter than the rest of Sydney during extreme heat events.
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