General News
5 September, 2022
NEW VEHICLE drives home life-saving messages
IT’S big, bold and driving a message that could save your life.
A newly commissioned Disaster Education Vehicle will add to Council’s ability to spread disaster preparedness messaging.
Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, Councillor Terry James, said the timing of the vehicle’s launch was fitting with the annual disaster/cyclone season fast approaching.
“The vehicle makes an obvious visual impact and complements Council disaster messaging found on other platforms, including Council’s website and the Cairns Disaster Dashboard,” Cr James said.
“The Bureau of Meteorology has reported a 70 per cent chance of La Nina forming again this wet season.
“If that prediction is correct, we can expect quite a wet summer and a higher likelihood of tropical cyclones forming.”
Cr James said that community complacency was a significant concern.
“It has been quite a long time since Cairns had been seriously impacted by a tropical cyclone, so many people may be new to the city and have never experienced a disaster of this type, while others may have grown complacent,” Cr James said.
“The Disaster Education Vehicle will be a useful tool to inform and remind people that just because we haven’t had a cyclone or major flooding event in years, we are still at risk and being prepared is vital for their safety and the safety of their friends and family.
“This vehicle is basically a mobile advertising device that can also be used to visit large community events and schools, and drive the importance of being disaster prepared home to a broader audience.”
Council received funding support from the State Government’s Get Ready Queensland initiative for this project.
Cr James also urged residents to familiarise themselves with the Cairns Disaster Dashboard.
The Cairns Disaster Dashboard at: www.disaster.cairns.qld.gov.au is a single point of reference for information and advice during a disaster.
It brings information from Council, the Bureau of Meteorology, emergency services, utilities such as Ergon and Telstra, road status updates, and traffic and flood cams, together in one place.
“The user-friendly online dashboard allows residents to keep themselves informed during a natural disaster,” Cr James said,
“During an emergency the dashboard is updated in real time with things like road closures, power outages and notifications of any shelters that may be opened,” Cr James said.
