Keep up to date

Get the latest information including weather warnings, road closures, power outages, flood and bushfire warnings and damage through Council's social media channels which are constantly updated in any emergency.

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook

Stay informed

In an emergency, stay informed - know where to get emergency updates, weather alerts, advice, information and instructions.

See current emergency coverage

Listening and social media

In an emergency - listen to local radio (ABC 702AM or Central Coast 92.5FM) to keep up to date with the latest information.

Council uses its social media networks - Facebook and Twitter extensively during storm emergencies to keep our community up to date so make sure you follow these networks as well:

• Bureau of Meteorology
• Rural Fire Service  or phone 1800 679 737
• Fire and Rescue NSW
• Emergency NSW
• Live Traffic NSW or call 132 710
• State Emergency Services (SES) or call 132 500
• Power Outages or call Ausgrid on 13 13 88
• Transport alerts or call Transport Infoline on 131 500

Five steps to get ready

1. Know your risk

Think about where you live:

• What disasters could affect you?
• How would they impact you?
• Could access or escape from your home be affected?
• What is the risk to your workplace or children’s schools, could their access be impeded?
• How would flow on affects from a disaster affect you - power, communications loss, isolation?

2. Plan what you'll do

An emergency and evacuation plan will help you be organised and stay clam in a what can be a very stressful time. It will also ensure everyone in your household knows what to do if the worst happens. Take time and sit with family and discuss your risks and plans.

• Make a hard copy plan for what you would do in an emergency including emergency contacts. Ensure pets are included in your plans.
• Identify home and community safe places.
• Identify how you will contact people if mobile phone towers are down.
• Make an emergency evacuation kit to take if evacuating and an emergency survival kit in-case your property becomes isolated or without power and water.
• Make back up plans.

3. Get your home ready

You know your risks now get your home best prepared for them. Don’t wait for the emergency to happen. A well-maintained home will be easier to prepare for and defend in an emergency situation.

• Ensure general home maintenance is undertaken - especially roof, gutters and house seals
• Check your home and content insurances
• Trim trees and overhanging branches close to your home and clean your gardens

When warnings are issued:

• Clear items that could increase risk in the emergency
• Prepare your home for the emergency
• Ensure pets are safe and ready for evacuation
• Ensure you have cash, fuel in vehicles and charged phones and battery packs

4. Be aware

The most important thing in an emergency is to follow the instructions of local authorities and emergency services and remain calm.

• Ensure you know how to find out the information you need. This information is available online and on apps:

Fires New Me NSW
Floods near me NSW
Get Prepared (Red Cross)
BOM
ABC Listen
Emergency +
AED Locater
First Aid (Red Cross)

• Ensure you know how to keep informed through emergency broadcasts. The ABC is the official emergency broadcaster.

ABC Central Coast - 92.5 FM
ABC Sydney - 702 AM
ABC Newcastle - 1233 AM
ABC Listen App (Download and select ABC Central Coast station)

• Follow social media sites that will give regular updates RFS Central Coast, SES Wyong, SES Gosford, Central Coast Council, ABC Central Coast, Bureau of Meteorology.

• Keep family informed of your safety and whereabouts.

5. Look out for each other

Connected communities are stronger and more resilient communities. Communities who have strong connections are knowledgeable about their risks and vulnerabilities, are organised, will cope better when disasters occur and will recover faster.

Share information with family and friends about preparing for emergencies.

• Identify those in your neighbourhood who may need help to prepare
•  Identify those who will need assistance in an emergency and plan for this
• Identify what resources could be shared in your community before, during and after an emergency
• Look out for each other in recovery, the stress of an emergency will impact on everyone differently
 

Storm preparation

Below are three simple steps you can take to prepare you home for storms:

1. Clean

Clean out gutters and downpipes.

2. Secure

Secure or put away loose items in your yard or on your balcony.

3. Check

Check the roof is in good repair.

How to be FloodSafe

With increasing unpredictable and extreme weather patterns Central Coast residents are advised to be flood aware and, if close to areas that are prone to flooding, have a flood plan.

To learn more about floods in your local area, simple things you can do and to develop your own flood plan visit the SES FloodSafe site.

Storm Response

If your property has been damaged by floods or fallen trees from storm events, contact the SES on 132 500 for assistance. The SES is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Electrical Safety

Storms can damage the electricity network and interrupt power supply to homes and businesses. They can also cause considerable damage to buildings, trees and infrastructure, which may create hidden electrical hazards.

Ausgrid has online safety tips on how to be storm safe including preparation, during a storm and after a storm, what to do in a blackout and how to check power outages suburb by suburb and street by street.

Ausgrid Storm Safety

Recovery services

Disaster Welfare Services can provide relief grants to eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household items have been destroyed or damaged by a declared natural disaster. People with limited financial resources and no insurance may be eligible for assistance for essential household items and structural repairs to the home.
For details of other assistance schemes, please visit Emergency NSW or call State Disaster Welfare on 1800 018 444.

Power Outages

If your home or business has lost power, visit Ausgrid for updates or contact 13 13 88 for emergencies or 13 13 65 for enquiries.

Loss of Reception

If your home or business has lost television reception, visit the Australian Communications and Media Authority or call 1300 850 115 or email info@acma.gov.au.

Fallen trees and debris

Trees on public land that have fallen onto private property will be cut up and removed by Council as soon as practicable.

For trees on private property that have fallen onto public land, Council will only remove the material from public land if it presents a risk to the community. For dangerous trees on private land, call the SES on 132 500.
Report all incidents to Council on 1300 463 954 or via email at ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.

Water or sewerage emergencies

Storms can cause sewers to block or overflow into the environment because of the larger amount of water in the pipes needing to disburse. Large storms may also cause damage to water supplies.

Report all emergency incidents to Council on 1300 463 954 or for non emergency issues please use the customer portal.

Clean up services – green waste

If you have extra green waste following a storm, you may need to book a free kerbside collection through Council’s waste contractor or call 1300 126 278. Every residence on the Central Coast is entitled to six free collections a year and they reset on 1 February each year.