Bayside residents have been encouraged to make practical plans for storms, floods, power outages and other emergencies during Emergency Ready Week, which runs from 14 to 20 September.
Free Plan & Pack workshops at Kogarah and Mascot are designed to help households think through what they would do if normal services were disrupted and what they should have ready before an emergency occurs.
What residents are being asked to prepare
The workshops cover the types of emergencies and severe weather that may affect Bayside, how an emergency can disrupt daily life and where residents can find support.
Participants are shown how to create a household emergency plan, stay connected with neighbours and community services, and prepare an emergency kit or grab bag with essential items.
Council says the sessions are suitable for people of different ages and levels of experience, with practical guidance intended to make emergency planning easier to start at home.
Where the workshops are being held
The first Plan & Pack workshop was held at Kogarah Senior Centre on Monday 14 September. A second session is scheduled for Friday 18 September at Mascot Library.
Emergency-preparedness information has also been incorporated into English-language sessions at Bayside libraries during the week, helping make the information accessible to more residents.
Why planning ahead matters
An emergency plan can help household members know how they will communicate, where they will go and what they need if power, transport or other services are interrupted. A prepared kit can also reduce the need to find essential items after an emergency has already begun.
Emergency Ready Week is intended as a prompt to prepare before severe weather or another disruption occurs. Residents who could not attend a workshop can still use the week to discuss a household plan, check important contacts and review the supplies they would need at home or if they had to leave quickly.