MOREE Plains Shire Council, with the support of Namoi-Gwydir Rural Fire Service and the NSW SES North Western Zone, will host a free Recovery and Resilience Day from 10am until 2pm at Jellicoe Park on Saturday, September 21.
The event will bring together emergency service organisations, as well as government and non-government organisations, and connect communities with the organisations that not only respond to emergencies and disasters, but also help communities prepare and recover from possible emergencies.
The fun-filled, family-friendly day will include emergency vehicle displays, information stalls, free grab-and-go bags and giveaways.
Community members will also have the opportunity to take off their shoes and walk across the Big Map, a giant aerial floor map of the Gwydir Catchment.
Council will launch its readiness campaign and will distribute free grab-and-go bags to the community.
The waterproof bags contain vital information regarding who to contact in an emergency, as well as information about agencies designated to assist with recovery.
The bags provide safe storage for important documents, as well as checklists as to what to include.
Moree Plains Shire Council community recovery officer, Sandy McNaughton, encourages the community to drop by Jellicoe Park on September 21.
“Anticipating a disaster and ensuring communities are in the best possible position for recovery should be the new normal,” Ms McNaughton said.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have to look far to see that weather events are becoming more frequent and larger in scale.
“Providing the community with the opportunity to engage with emergency management and recovery services is an important way to identify risks, as well as discuss ways we can better prepare our livelihoods, infrastructure, homes and businesses for events that may occur in the future.
“In this way, the focus is firmly on building the community’s capacity to recover from future disasters,” she said.
Recovery and Resilience Day coincides with the NSW Rural Fire Service Get Ready Weekend.
As the bushfire season approaches, it’s crucial for residents and landowners to be aware of their risk and take steps to protect homes and properties.
There will be plenty of information, as well as free barbeque provided by Moree Lions Club, a jumping castle and free entertainment.
“Don’t wait for a disaster to happen before you think about what you need to do, use September to ‘Get Ready’ and be prepared for emergency events,” Ms McNaughton said.
“Our best protection against any natural disaster is to be well prepared by understanding the risks we face.”
The Moree SES unit will be on-site, displaying vehicles and emergency equipment.
North-western zone commander, superintendent Paul Perusic, in Moree on Monday to officially launch the SES storm season campaign, said one vehicle in particular was fully set-up to handle all types of situations.
“The truck has specifically been kitted out to respond to storm jobs,” Mr Perusic said.
“All compartments have up-to-date and current gear, including tarps, power tools, chainsaws, ladders, stop-go signs and a generator and lighting – everything needed for emergency situations.”
Recovery and Resilience Day
When: Saturday, September 21
Where: Jellicoe Park, Moree
Time: 10am until 2pm
Enquiries: Sandy McNaughton (0429 596312)
