THE Tamborine Mountain Community Preparation Event brought together a number of organisations to better prepare local residents for the upcoming storm season.
Clare Wray said she hoped the day, held at Tamborine Mountain Sports Complex on Long Road, would make people think about what they need to do to prepare for emergencies.
“It is to see what services are available and what we can do for ourselves and for our homes for the storm season,” said Clare.
“We hope people get enough information to make people think, ‘I should have my grab bag ready to go, we should talk to the kids about what the evacuation plan is’.”
“Just to make a connection with someone in the rural firies or the SES that sparks something new and takes that tiny step further in resilience and preparation.”
Asked if she was ready if there was an emergency, Clare said, “not as ready as I’d like to be”.
She is, however prepared with a grab bag, evacuation plan and the gardens around her home clear and tidy.
During the day, Tamborine Mountain Rural Fire Service held a demonstration showing how bushfire travels and explaining response times and the importance of preparation.
Second Officer Kristi West urged people to take note of bushfire warnings rather than putting their own lives and those of emergency services at risk.
“If you get told to leave, please leave,” she said.
“If you get told to prepare to leave, please do it.”
“When there are bushfire warnings if they are telling you to leave they will tell you which roads to avoid, please do this.”
“We have resources we can call on but they may not be available or they may be delays if there are other fires where more houses are under threat.”
New residents Rahny and Matt Davies came along to get information about what to do in an emergency.
Although new to Tamborine Mountain, Matt grew up on Beechmont and says he has a good idea of what needs to be done from growing up on that plateau, however the couple hadn’t considered talking to their children about emergency situations.
“We want to tell them without scaring them – just tell them these things can happen but we have to be prepared,” said Matt.
Lina Roth said she feels prepared with a grab bag and also checks her generator regularly.
Local resident and Lions member Janis Bailey evacuated early when the storms hit in December 2023 and would do so again.
She said the event made her think about what preparations she should make, especially after they left essential medications behind when they evacuated last year .
“We will definitely be thinking about it more carefully next time,” she said.
Community Preparation will also be the theme of Tamborine Mountain Show to be held on March 15, 2025.
