What type of business do you own/manage?

Retail / Consumer Consumer includes the sale of consumable items to people including supermarkets etc. Retail stores are those that sell goods and/or services to customers through a shop front.

Agriculture

Agriculture The practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool and other products. Also includes the fishing industry.

Service and Utilities

Service and Utilities Services are those commodities which are not tangible. They include deeds done for payment where there is no individual material gain. Utilities include waste, gas, water, electricity and telecommunications.

Tourism / Hospitality

Tourism / Hospitality Tourism is the commercial organisation and operation of holidays and visits to places of interest. Hospitality is a broad category of fields which includes accommodation, event planning, theme parks, food and beverages and it focusses on customer satisfaction.

Health

Health The Health care industry provides goods and services to treat patients with curative, preventative, rehabilitative and/or palliative care

Transport, Logistics and Manufacturing

Transport, Logistics and Manufacturing Businesses that focus on the production, storage and transportation of goods.

Education

Education Schools, TAFEs, universities and other places where people are taught new skills and knowledge.

Construction and Mining

Construction and Mining Businesses that build and maintain infrastructure and property and extract natural resources.

Other

Other For all industries or businesses not previously described.

Clothes

Services eg. Hairdressers

Car YardsCar YardsContact your local council to find out flood and fire prone areas so you know where the best alternative locations are and what is the best route to move your stock without going through effected waters or bushland.

Supermarkets and other food stores

CropsCropsThere are many ways you can prepare your farm from the total devastation of crops during a natural disaster. Knowledge about disasters in your area is essential for you to be able to pre plan. Irrigation systems need to be up to date. Consider the additional issues that you may be able to envisage regarding dams and stored water in and around your crops.

LivestockLivestockThere are ways to prepare your property to minimise loss of livestock during natural disasters. This includes ensuring there are raised and cleared areas throughout the property that will allow animals a safe place to go. These could be near feed sheds which are stocked for emergency feed stations

FishingFishingThe commercial fishing industry may be particularly prone to flooding, severe storms and tsunami. Flooding can impact upon fish stocks and make steep river valleys a dangerous place to be whereas large waves generated by storms or tsunami can impact upon boats, moorings and potentially threaten the lives of fishermen on board.

ElectricityElectricityIn times of natural disasters there may be interruptions in electrical supply due to damage of lines or equipment. As an electrical provider, you should inform customers of any outages prior if possible and provide updates regarding reconnections. As an electrician, you will be contacted by businesses for advice and in the recovery stage to ensure electrical items and powerpoints are safe

Gas ProvidersGas ProvidersGas supplies can often be affected by fire and flood. Gas providers and gas fitters may be required to disconnect gas supplies before a fire approaches, repair pipe damage caused by floods or storms or ensure gas metres/regulators affected by floodwater or other contaminants are safe before gas can be re-connected in the affected areas. It is worth planning in advance for how to manage peak demands before and after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment and how to manage staff and customers in the event of a disaster.

WaterWaterUtilities such as drinking water may be in short supply due to increased usage by property owners or damage to water infrastructure during a bushfire, drought or heatwave. Water supplies can also be contaminated, require additional filtration, and in infrastructure damage during a large flood or tsunami. This may result in reductions in water pressure and limitations upon customers at critical peaks in demand. It is worth planning in advance for how to manage these peak demands before and after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment, and how to manage staff and customers in the event of a disaster.

WasteWasteWaste disposal depots should be built in areas that have reduced risk of natural disasters as they potentially pose a severe health risk through loose debris and rubbish. Pre-planning is the primary action to reduce risk by ensuring that waste disposal depots are not in natural disaster prone areas.

TelecommunicationsTelecommunicationsTelecommunications can be affected by severe storms, fire and floods. Phone lines can be affected by high winds and lightning strikes. Mobile communication towers may be impacted by fires and other infrastructure may be affected by floods or power outages. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to manage the limited supply of telecommunication services during and after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment and how to manage staff and customers in the event of a disaster.

Caravan Parks & Camping GroundsCaravan Parks & Camping GroundsCaravan parks and camping grounds are often situation in low-lyingareas, adjacent to bushland, rivers or coastal areas making them particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disaster including flood, storms, tsunami and/or bushfire. Park occupants may have constraints on their ability to respond to a disaster or may be visitors to the areas and therefore have little local knowledge of these disasters or a safe place to go. Many caravans and campers have mobile vans and sites which require some time to pack up and more prior to the impact of a disaster. Work with long-term residents and make an evacuation plan for your caravan park and have identified a site where occupants can move to if in danger of natural disasters.

Hotels / MotelsHotels / MotelsAs a hotel/motel manager, you have a duty of care for your staff and patrons. During a natural disaster, ensure that the safety of people is prioritised therefore, evacuation may be the most appropriate course of action. Bear in mind that your patrons may be intoxicated or visitors to the area and therefore have little awareness of these disasters and their impacts. Listen to the local radio to ensure that you can inform patrons of any road closures or if it is safe to travel. You may need to assess the threat and move yourself, staff and patrons to a safe place if need be.

Restaurants/Cafes/Bars & Licensed PremisesRestaurants/Cafes/Bars & Licensed PremisesAs a restaurant/café/bar manager, you have a duty of care for your staff and patrons. During a natural disaster, ensure that the safety of people is prioritised therefore, evacuation may be the most appropriate course of action. Bear in mind that your patrons may be intoxicated or visitors to the area and therefore have little awareness of these disasters and their impacts. Listen to the local radio to ensure that you can inform patrons of any road closures or if it is safe to travel. You may need to assess the threat and move yourself, staff and patrons to a safe place if need be.

Hospitals and Medical CentresHospitals and Medical CentresHospitals and medical centres play a vital role in disasters to manage the escalation in injuries, illness and casualties as a result of a disaster but also need to make provisions in the event that they are directly affected by a disaster. It is worth considering how hospitals or medical centres can manage both the immediate impacts of disasters such as power outages or evacuations especially upon patients with critical dependencies, and also the long term impacts of disasters such as mental health. It is also worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, manage the increased demands on health services during and after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment and how to manage staff and patients in the event of a disaster.

Nursing homes / HospicesNursing homes / HospicesNursing homes and hospices play a vital role in disasters to manage the elderly, ill and frail in a disaster but also need to make provisions in the event that they are directly affected by a disaster. It is worth considering how nursing homes and hospices can manage both the immediate impacts of disasters such as power outages or evacuations especially upon patients with critical dependencies or taking into account the impact of exposure, and also the long term impacts of disasters such as mental health. It is also worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, how to manage the increased demands on health services during and after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment and how to manage staff and transport patients as early as possible if a disaster is threatening you facility.

Chemists and Pharmaceutical SuppliersChemists and Pharmaceutical SuppliersChemists and Pharmaceutical suppliers often need to maintain the critical supply of medications and other medical supplies during a disaster, especially where supply chain could be affected or the outlet is directly affected by disasters such as floods or bushfires. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, how to manage the increased demands for medication and medical supplies during and after disasters, where to more or raise stock and equipment and how to manage staff and customers.

ManufacturingManufacturingManufacturing hubs can often be situated in low lying areas, adjacent to bushland, rivers or coastal areas making them particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters including flood, storm, tsunami and/or bushfire. Manufacturers often have stock and equipment stored at ground level which may be prone to flooding. It is worth planning in advance for how you intent to prepare for a potential disaster, manage the disruptions to supply during a disaster and the increase in demand after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage staff and customers.

Warehouses and StorageWarehouses and StorageWarehouses are often situated in low-lying areas, adjacent to bushland, rivers or coastal areas making them particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters including flood, storm, tsunami and/or bushfire. Warehouses often have stock and equipment stored at ground level which may be prone to flooding. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, manage the disruptions or supply during a disaster and the increase in demand after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage staff and customers.

Transport and DistributionTransport and DistributionTransport and distribution fleet vehicles can often drive through low-lying areas, adjacent to bushland, rivers or coastal areas making them particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters including flood, storm, tsunami and/or bushfire. Vehicles and facilities often have stock and equipment which may be prone to damage in a disaster. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, manage the disruptions to supply during a disaster and the increase in demand after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage staff and customers.

SchoolsSchoolsSchools directly and indirectly affect a range of people and facilities which they need to consider in a natural disaster. Disasters can have short and long term impacts upon students, teachers, facilities, support staff and parents/guardians including property damage, power outages, road closures and potential for evacuation. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to work together to manage the disruptions to school and maintain safety of people during a disaster and return to a safe school environment after disasters. Planning for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, where and how to move students to a safe place, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage parents that may seek to take unnecessary risks to be united with their children in a disaster.

TAFETAFETAFE directly and indirectly affect a range of people and facilities which they need to consider in a natural disaster. Disasters can have short and long term impacts upon students, teachers, facilities, support staff and parents/guardians including property damage, power outages, road closures and potential for evacuation. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to work together to manage the disruptions to TAFE and maintain safety of people during a disaster and return to a safe TAFE environment after disasters. Planning for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, where and how to move students to a safe place, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage parents that may seek to take unnecessary risks to be united with their children in a disaster.

UniversityUniversityUniversities directly and indirectly affect a range of people and facilities which they need to consider in a natural disaster. Disasters can have short and long term impacts upon students, teachers, facilities, support staff and parents/guardians including property damage, power outages, road closures and potential for evacuation. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to work together to manage the disruptions to campus and maintain safety of people during a disaster and return to a safe university environment after disasters. Planning for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, where and how to move students to a safe place, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage parents that may seek to take unnecessary risks to be united with their children in a disaster.

ConstructionConstructionConstruction sites can often be situated in low-lying areas, adjacent to bushland, rivers or coastal areas making them particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters including flood, storm, tsunami and/or bushfire. Construction sites often have expensive materials, tools and equipment stored at ground level, or exposed structures which may be prone to water, wind or fire damage. Disasters can also have short and long term impacts on operations and the safety of staff. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, manage the disruptions to operations during a disaster and the residual effects on your site after a disaster, where to more or raise materials and equipment, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage staff and clients.

MiningMiningMine sites can often be situated in low-lying areas, adjacent to bushland, rivers or coastal areas making them particularly vulnerable to a range of natural disasters including flood, storm, tsunami and/or bushfire. Mines often have expensive natural resources and equipment stored at ground level which may be prone to flooding or fire and this can also have short and long term impacts on operations and the safety of staff. There is also the potential for additional environmental impacts associated with runoff and erosion. It is worth planning in advance for how you intend to prepare for a potential disaster, how you manage the disruptions to supply during a disaster and the increase in demand after disasters, where to move or raise stock and equipment, adequate levels of insurance and how to manage staff and customers.