Get Ready for disasters

1. Overview

Each year, communities across NSW experience a range of emergencies including bushfires, home fires, floods, storms, heatwaves and power outages.

This year we’ve seen an unparalleled number of events impacting large areas of NSW happen in quick succession, highlighting the importance of being prepared for all hazards.

Our emergency service organisations do an incredible job keeping us safe, but they can only do so much.

Being aware and prepared is everyone’s responsibility.

2. Get Ready in five simple steps

1. Know your risk - think about the area you’re in and the types of disasters that could affect you
2. Plan now for what you will do - sit down and talk with your family and plan for what you will do if a disaster affects your area
3. Get your home ready - prepare your home by doing general home maintenance and checking your insurance coverage
4. Be aware - find out how to prepare, what to do if there is a disaster in your area and connect with NSW emergency services to stay informed
5. Look out for each other - share information with your family, friends, neighbours and those who may need assistance

3. Prepare for bushfire

Follow Monaro Team Rural Fire Service and your local RFS brigade’s Facebook page for information as it becomes available. You can also visit www.rfs.nsw.gov.au for more information.

4. Understanding what to expect: Evacuation Centres

In an emergency or disaster, some people will need to access an evacuation centre. The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is the agency responsible for managing evacuation centres. They have prepared a short video to help people understand how an evacuation centre operates and what to expect. 

5. Reporting a bush fire hazard

If you are concerned about bush fire hazards on your property, or the property adjacent to you, the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) can provide advice regarding preparing your property against bush fires and what you have to do in the event of a bush fire.

This advice is free and can be arranged by contacting your local NSW RFS Fire Control Centre and speaking with one of our officers.

The NSW RFS is responsible for inspecting bush fire hazards, providing advice and if necessary, issuing notices to all landowners and managers to reduce hazards.

If you believe there is a bush fire hazard near your property, you can make a formal complaint by

• Contacting your local Fire Control Centre, in person, via email, mail, fax or  phone or
• Filling in the below online Bush Fire Hazard Complaint Form.

The NSW RFS will arrange for an inspection of the site to determine if a bush fire hazard exists. The landowner or the manager of the land will be notified separately of the results. Privacy legislation prevents the disclosure of your details.

If a hazard does exist the NSW RFS can issue a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Notice, requesting the hazard be removed. This Notice can be issued to private and public landowners. If the Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Notice is not complied with, the NSW RFS will remove the hazard, and may pursue the cost from the landowner.

If you are a private land owner and wish to report a bush fire hazard, please do so by following the form link on the RFS Website.

Please do not use the bush fire hazard form to report fires or to request immediate information on fires, road closures or other incidents. To report fires or other emergencies call 000 (triple zero).