Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Volunteers and ACT Emergency Service Agency staff attend to jobs as quickly as possible.
Canberra has already seen its fair share of storms this summer. And with more stormy weather predicted, it’s important to know how and where to get help if you need it.
Here’s how to prepare your house for a storm, and what you can do if one affects you or your property.
Keep across the weather forecast
Visit the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website for weather updates, and the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACTESA) website ACT ESA website and social media for the latest advice.
It’s important to note that a thunderstorm forecast is different to a severe thunderstorm warning.
- A thunderstorm forecast indicates the possibility of storms throughout the forecasting period.
- A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a storm is imminent or impacting an area.
What to do during a thunderstorm
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Keep clear of flooded creeks, rivers and stormwater drains.
- Don’t walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water
- Stay indoors away from windows and keep children and pets indoors.
Get urgent help if needed
- For help during storms and floods, ring the ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) on 132 500
- Only call Triple Zero (000) if the incident is life-threatening.
- If your situation changes and you no longer need help, please call back to cancel your request, so resources can be directed elsewhere.
It can sometimes take a while to get through to the ACTSES when there are many calls for help.
Similarly, it can take some time for crews to attend to smaller jobs like a leaking roof, or water that has subsided. Please be patient during this time.
The ACTSES only makes temporary repairs to homes damaged in storms or floods.
If you have permanent damage to your home, you will need to contact your insurance provider to resolve the problem.
If you’ve lost power
Report power outages to Evoenergy.
If you have a live power line that has come down and is damaged on the ground, do not go near it. Call Evoenergy.
The latest updates on power outages can be found on the Evoenergy website or on their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Alternatively, you can call the Evoenergy hotline on 13 10 93.
Access emergency accommodation
If you need emergency accommodation, please contact OneLink on 1800 176 468 or via info@onelink.org.au.
OneLink provides information and connections for support services in the ACT. This includes services for people at risk of homelessness due to their homes being uninhabitable.
Find emergency food relief support
If you, or someone you know is experiencing hardship and cannot feed yourself or your family, support is available.
Volunteering ACT coordinates information about where to get food relief services including meals and local food pantries.
Find more information on the Volunteering ACT website.
For further information please contact the Community Info Hub on 02 6248 7988.
Dispose of spoiled food
If you have lost power and have food that has spoiled, simply dispose of it in your home compost or your general waste (landfill) bin.
Remember that you can also remove any recyclable packaging and place it in your recycling bin.
Dealing with fallen trees
Do you know what to do if a tree presents a serious and immediate safety risk?
- Call 000 if a tree is causing an immediate threat to life
- For assistance with a fallen tree following a storm event, call the SES on 13 25 00
- If a tree is touching or has fallen on power lines or telephone wires, call Evoenergy on 13 10 93
- For trees on public land, you can submit a request online using Fix My Street or call Access Canberra.
If a tree on your property needs urgent attention, you still need permission from the ACT Government to remove it.
Contact an arborist immediately and call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to ask for ‘urgent circumstances authorisation for tree removal’.
To learn more visit https://bit.ly/4661opO.
Be storm ready – preparing your home
Ahead of time, remember to do all you can to prepare your home and family for any possible impacts of forecasted storms.
Complete or update your 20-minute Survival Plan.
Take some preventative actions around your home. These include:
- cleaning your gutters
- checking stormwater drains
- trimming overhanging branches.
To prepare for severe weather:
- move your car under cover and away from trees
- secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony
- secure any temporary repairs that are in place as a result of a previous storm
- stay vigilant and monitor conditions.
Remember, if you need urgent help
For assistance in a storm or flood, call the ACT State Emergency Service on 132 500.
In a life-threatening emergency call Triple-Zero (000).
You can find more information on storms on the ACT Emergency Services Agency website.
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter: