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Townsville City Council’s emergency kits are stocked, staff members are prepped and emergency response plans have been updated ahead of the upcoming high-risk weather season.

Now, Council is urging residents to do their part to make sure they’re prepared for all weather events during the next six months.

Townsville Mayor and Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (TLDMG) chairperson Jenny Hill said every Townsville resident should be in the process of planning for all hazards, spanning bush fires, heavy rain, flooding or cyclones.

“Council goes through a number of steps each year to ensure we’re well prepared ahead of the high-risk weather season, including testing our dam gates, reviewing and updating our emergency response plan and procedures, undertaking disaster exercises, doing stocktakes of our emergency kits and preparing all Council offices, depots and facilities for high-risk weather events,” Cr Hill said.

“A visit this week to the Local Disaster Coordination Centre by the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience gave us an opportunity to show how well-prepared Townsville is.

“What we need is for residents across the city to be just as prepared by making an emergency plan for yourself and your family, making an emergency kit that is stocked and ready to go, preparing your home for high-risk weather and planning for your pets’ wellbeing during an emergency.

“By preparing in advance, our community will be in the best position come high-risk weather season.”

Cr Hill said residents could head along to upcoming events to educate themselves on how to better prepare for high-risk weather season.

“In the coming weeks and months, we will be hosting community events like the Get Ready workshops and the Get Ready Townsville day,” she said.

“These events are the perfect place to learn more about how you and your family can be prepared and to pick up helpful tips and tricks.”