What to do during an emergency
What to do during an emergency
- In life threatening situations, call 000.
- Follow your emergency plan.
- Get your emergency kit.
- Follow the Port Stephens Emergency Dashboard for updates.
- Look out for each other — make sure you are safe before assisting others.
- Remember the safety of your pets and animals.
- Listen to local radio for information from officials and follow their instructions.
- Leave early, or stay put until you are ordered to evacuate or all is safe.
Evacuation information
When deciding whether to stay or leave, it’s important to follow any emergency warnings. You may receive an evacuation warning or order:
- from emergency services, including police, RFS or SES
- through media or official emergency service websites
- through a government-issued emergency alert to your mobile phone.
If you have time and it’s safe to do so, lock doors and windows, unplug appliances and turn off power, gas and water.
Where to go during an emergency
If you cannot return to your home during an emergency, you should:
- go to the house of a friend or family member if it is safe, or
- go to your nearest Neighbourhood Safer Place as a last resort.
During an emergency:
The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is the lead emergency agency for bushfires — find out what to do during a bushfire.
If you see a fire unattended, call Triple Zero (000). If you are deaf or have a speech or hearing impairment, call 106.
Key actions during bushfires:
- Be aware — understand the alert levels and monitor conditions
- Check Fires Near Me for current incidents or call the Bushfire Information Line on 1800 679 737
- Keep an eye on the Port Stephens Emergency Dashboard and Live Traffic NSW for road closures.
- Check social media including NSW RFS Facebook and NSW RFS Twitter
Our role:
- During a fire, our role is to assist the emergency agencies such as the NSW RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue.
- We work closely with the NSW RFS to reduce the risk of fire to our community — find out about Asset Protection Zones, Hazard Reduction Burns and Fire Trails.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is the lead emergency agency for floods — find out what to do during a flood.
Call NSW SES on 132 500 if you:
- are trapped by floodwaters
- need assistance when floodwater is threatening your property
- require resupply of essential supplies if your property is isolated.
Key actions during a flood:
- Be aware — know the official warnings and be aware of your situation.
- Be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
- Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater — if it's flooded, forget it.
- Keep an eye on the Port Stephens Emergency Dashboard and Live Traffic NSW for road closures.
- Use sandbags to protect your home or businesses.
- If you live in a rural area, download our Flood Emergency Planning FAQs, see SES FloodSafe site or download the Rural Properties FloodSafe Guide.
Our role:
- During a flood, our role is to assist the emergency agencies such as the SES and NSW Police.
- After a flood, we lead the clean up and coordinate repairs to public assets like roads, parks, drainage and trees.
What we're doing to reduce flood risk:
- We investigate the risk of flooding and prepare for future floods through land use planning, development control and flood mitigation works.
- While we can't predict exactly when, where or how bad the next flood will be, we can estimate the likelihood of different sizes of floods and their consequences so we can plan ahead.
- We are constantly working on updating and improving our understanding on flood risk in Port Stephens through the NSW Government's Floodplain Management Program.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is the lead emergency agency for storms — find out what to do during a storm.
Call NSW SES on 132 500 if you:
- are trapped by floodwaters
- need assistance when floodwater is threatening your property
- require resupply of essential supplies if your property is isolated.
Key actions during storms:
- Be aware — look out for natural signs of a storm. The Bureau of Meteorology will issue Severe Weather Warnings and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.
- Stay indoors, clear of windows.
- If outdoors, seek secure shelter away from drains, waterways, trees and power lines.
- Keep an eye on the Port Stephens Emergency Dashboard and Live Traffic NSW for road closures.
- Never drive, ride or walk through floodwater.
- If driving, put your hazard lights on and pull over to the side of the road keeping clear of waterways, trees and power lines.
Our role:
- Before a storm, we investigate the risk of storm damage and prepare for future weather events. Although we can't predict exactly when, where or how big the next storm will be, we can estimate the likelihood of their consequences so we can plan ahead.
- During a storm, our role is to assist the emergency agencies such as the SES and NSW Police.
- After a storm, we lead the clean up and coordinate repairs to public assets such as roads, parks, drainage and trees.