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Shelters and evacuation
CONSIDER YOUR SHELTER AND EVACUATION OPTIONS
During a disaster, you may need to evacuate your home for your safety. If you are advised to evacuate, we encourage you to stay with family or friends away from the disaster area. If you are unable to stay with family or friends, you may be able to stay in temporary short-term accommodation at an evacuation centre.
Your Emergency Plan should include evacuation and shelter considerations based on your circumstances and exposure to risk. Follow these key steps to determine your best sheltering option:
1. What is your risk?
• Consider the location of your home. • Consider the construction and condition of your home, caravan or temporary dwelling. • Consider your needs. Do you live alone, have pets or have special needs?
2. Consider your shelter options:
• Shelter in place – If you live in a well-constructed home located outside of the risk zone, your best option may be to shelter in your home. • Evacuate to shelter in a safer place - Prearrange your evacuation with friends or family first, consider emergency shelter options in your community as a last resort.
Please note: shelters such as places of refuge/emergency shelters and evacuation centres are intended as short term options, have very basic amenities and limited capacity
Evacuate to shelter in a safer place: If you are potentially at risk, your best option is to prearrange your evacuation so you can shelter in a safer place with friends or family. Consider commercial accommodation, evacuation centres or emergency shelter options in your community as a last resort.
PLANNING AHEAD
What alternative routes could you use if roads around your home / work / school / office were flooded or blocked? Where would you meet your loved ones if you were separated? How would you get your children from school or childcare? Where you would go if you had to evacuate? Ask about emergency evacuation plans at your school, workplace, childcare centre and other organisations. Ensure all household members know where, how and when to turn off the power, water and gas supplies in case of evacuation. Know where the power lines are on your property so you can ensure you avoid them if you have to evacuate.
If you are planning for a possible evacuation and time permits, there may be some extra precautionary measures you can take.
Grid-connected power systems
You can follow the 'shutdown procedure' when leaving your house. This should be marked on your inverter or meter box. A general guide to the procedure is as follows:
Turn off the solar supply mains switch (this is usually found in the meter box) Turn off the normal supply main switch (this is usually found in the meter box) Turn off the PV array isolator (this is usually found next to the inverter)
Stand-alone systems
Some stand-alone solar power systems may include battery storage that can also be disconnected. You can take the following steps to shut down your stand-alone solar system and battery storage:
Turn off the solar array Turn off the inverter Follow the battery shutdown procedures to isolate the battery bank Disable the generator from starting if it has auto start.
TIPS FOR WHEN YOU EVACUATE
Ensure you turn off power, gas and water and that your property is locked and secure.
Notify a family member or friend outside of the threat area that you have evacuated and where you
are going. Get this person to advise other family and friends.
Make and enact your animal evacuation plan for your pets and animals.
Remember to take your emergency kit with you.
