GEELONG Regional Libraries (GRL) will host an online event to help people get their homes disaster\u00a0ready.<\/p>\n
The Disaster Preparedness at Home program is provided to help participants plan for an emergency\u00a0and is guided by the relevant emergency authorities and run by a dedicated, but not qualified in the\u00a0emergency field, Geelong Regional Libraries staff member.<\/p>\n
One of the GRL staff members who will run the online program on January 18, John Mitchell, said it\u00a0was hugely important to have a thought out plan that can be easily carried out if an emergency\u00a0situation ever arises.<\/p>\n
\u201cNatural disasters can threaten lives and property and the old adage \u2018failing to plan is planning to\u00a0fail\u2019 holds true here,\u201d Mr Mitchell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen confronted with a threat, our brains can respond instinctively, not logically, to a situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeveloping an emergency plan means you can think it all through beforehand and goes a\u00a0long way towards keeping ourselves, our families and our homes safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Mitchell encouraged people in disaster prone areas to attend the session.<\/p>\n
Those who live along the coast are recommended to have a plan in place to best protect their family and residence in the possible event of a bushfire as we enter the heart of summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith predictions that climate change will increase the severity and frequency of natural disasters,\u00a0and with the bushfire season upon us, I would definitely recommend that anyone who lives in a\u00a0disaster prone area develops an emergency plan and attends our online Disaster Preparedness at\u00a0Home session,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The program has been run a few times before and is often tailored to the specific circumstances of those who attend.<\/p>\n
Mr Mitchell said people often have a rough idea of what they would do, but it\u2019s\u00a0critical to have a clear process laid out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of positive feedback from the sessions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few people have said that they had an idea of how to react, but it is a good to have a logical process to go through so nothing important gets missed.\u201d<\/p>\n