9 Jan / 2020

State of Alert

 A State of Alert was declared for the ACT on Thu 2 Jan 2020.

ACT Emergency Services Commissioner Georgeina Whelan has been appointed the Emergency Controller.

BE PREPARED:  The ISCCC encourages all Canberrans to develop a Bushfire Survival Plan and discuss with family and friends what you would do in the event of a bushfire.  A carefully thought out plan could save your life, the lives of family members, your neighbours, your pets and farm animals and your home.

The ESA advises the State of Alert is about preparedness. There is no immediate threat to the Territory. As a community we must all be prepared ahead of more extreme weather conditions that are forecast for the ACT and our surrounding region in the coming days, especially Friday.

The State of Alert that has been put in place will ensure that ACT emergency services are able to be as responsive as possible to any risks of bushfire in the coming days.

For all updates in relation to the State of Alert, please visit the ESA website at esa.act.gov.au or follow ACT ESA on Facebook and Twitter.

HELPFUL GUIDES TO DEVELOPING A BUSHFIRE SURVIVAL PLAN can be found on the EMERGENCY SERVICES AGENCY (ESA) website at:
https://esa.act.gov.au/cbr-be-emergency-ready/resources-plans/bushfire-survival-plan
and on the RED CROSS website at:
https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/emergencies/looking-after-yourself/how-to-prepare-for-a-bushfire

STAY INFORMED VIA THE ESA
With bushfires currently in the surrounding region, it is important to keep up-to-date on the changing conditions via the ACT ESA WEBPAGE at https://esa.act.gov.au.  More frequent updates are provided on the ESA FACEBOOK and TWITTER sites.

STAY INFORMED WITH APPS you can download onto your phone.

To stay informed of fire activity in our region and around the country, we recommend:
FIRES NEAR ME: at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me  This app is constantly updated by NSW Rural Fire Service and will provide you with a map of fire activity. When you click on an icon shown on the map, you can read a brief description of the status of that fire.
ABC LISTEN APP: The official emergency broadcaster. Click on ‘Edit Stations’ in the top right-hand corner of the home page to select the station/s you want to listen to.

AIR QUALITY: With more smoke expected to descend upon Canberra at around 4:00pm on Wednesday 8 January you can monitor air quality at:
AIRRATER APP at https://airrater.org
For regular updates on Canberra’s air quality go to: https://www.health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/population-health/environmental-monitoring/monitoring-and-regulating-air
Don’t forget to check on elderly and vulnerable neighbours during these extreme weather events.

ROAD CLOSURES
Canberra: https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/roads-and-paths/act_public_road_closures
NSW: LIVE TRAFFIC APP or https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

WHEN TO PHONE 000
Emergency Services have asked that you only phone 000 if you can actually see FLAMES from a fire or have a life-threatening emergency.
Please do not phone 000 to report smoke.

OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES

P2/N95 MASKS FOR PEOPLE MOST AT RISK FROM SMOKE EXPOSURE
The ACT Government has announced that P2/N95 masks are being delivered to pharmacies and will be available for people at risk of the health impacts of exposure to the smoke from 7 January 2019. Masks will also be available through the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service for their clients.

The groups of particularly sensitive individuals who will be able to access these masks, if they choose, include:

  • People with existing chronic lung and heart conditions, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, and heart disease
  • All pregnant women, and
  • People over 65 years of age.

Each eligible person will receive two masks at the pharmacy.

ACT Health recommends that people with lung conditions, such as chronic obstructive airways disease, asthma or emphysema, and people with chronic heart conditions, should seek advice from their medical practitioner prior to using these masks.

For further information visit the ACT Health website at: https://health.act.gov.au/…/heavy-smoke-and-hot-conditions-…

In regards to retail sales of masks, some are available at Canberra pharmacies and hardware stores.