Emergency Management

Storms are common in most areas of New South Wales during storm season (from October to the end of April), but it is important to stay ready all year round.

Severe storms may cause major damage and may be accompanied by torrential rain, strong winds, large hailstones and lightning. Storms can cause flash flooding, unroof buildings and damage trees and power lines.

You can also be indirectly affected by storms even if your property is not damaged. If access to roads are cut or you have no power or telephone, you need to know what to do and where to turn to for help.

The SES (State Emergency Service) is responsible for dealing with storms in New South Wales. This includes planning for them and educating people about how to protect themselves and their property.

During a storm

During a storm SES volunteers are responsible for managing storm debris, providing access to homes and businesses, making temporary repairs to storm-damaged structures, giving storm-safety advice and rescuing people trapped or injured by storms. SES can be contacted on 132 500.

Mosman Council rangers and open space staff work to clear tree debris from the streets to keep them safe and to clear any hazards. Emergency teams need to be contacted if issues relate to power lines or hazards on private property.

If a tree has fallen or if there is tree debris on your property from a storm it is important to contact your home insurance provider. Alternatively, you can contact a tree contract service to assist with the clean-up.

Many homes in Mosman adjoin bushland areas and as such are classed as being part of the Bushfire Interface.

Bushfires can be devastating. If your home in is the Bushfire Interface then there is the potential for you to face real danger from bushfire, including the threat to you, your family and your home.

There are things that you can do to minimise the risk to you and your property. Use these links to be prepared in case of bushfire. Being aware of fire restrictions in your area will help you manage the threat of bushfire.

• NSW Rural Fire Service
• Fire and Rescue NSW
• Preparing your home
• Bushfire season – be prepared

Preparing your home

There are a few simple steps you can take to prepare your home before bushfire threatens, to reduce the threat of embers and bushfire affecting your home.

It is important to reduce the fuel around your home and property so if bushfire threatens there is as little fuel as possible to feed it. Clean up and remove leaves and twigs, keep grass short and cut back overhanging trees. If you have woodpiles, ensure that they are covered and kept well away from your home.

Make sure any fire hydrants near your home are easily located and not obstructed and ensure your garden hoses are long enough to reach the perimeter boundary. If you have a swimming pool or water tank, put a Static Water Supply sign on your fence and consider installing a portable pump. Contact your local fire station about a Static Water Supply sign.

Total Fire Bans

Bushfire is more likely to spread and cause damage on days when the weather is very hot, dry and windy. These are very high to extreme fire days. Total Fire Bans are declared on these days to reduce the risk of fires damaging or destroying life, property and the environment.

A Total Fire Ban means that no fire may be lit in the open in the affected areas during the time of the ban, even for those people who have gained a Fire Permit. The ban includes barbeques and incinerators which burn solid fuel, wood and charcoal. Restrictions apply to gas and electric barbeques.

With predictions of ongoing heatwaves, Council is reaching out to vulnerable community members who may require assistance on hot days, through access to cool spaces such as Mosman Square Seniors Centre. Be prepared and contact Community Care on 9978 4128. 

NSW Health also suggests having a heat plan in place for periods of intense weather. For information on staying healthy in the heat and supporting family, friends and neighbours visit health.nsw.gov.au/beattheheat

A Home Emergency Kit contains items that will assist you to respond better in any emergency.

Your Home Emergency Kit should contain:

• Portable radio with spare batteries
• Torch with spare batteries
• First aid kit (with supplies necessary for your household)
• Candles and waterproof matches
• Important papers including emergency contact numbers
• Copy of any Home Emergency Plans
• Waterproof bag for valuables

If you are required to leave your property, place in your Home Emergency Kit:

• A good supply of required medications
• Any special requirements for babies, the disabled, infirm and/or elderly
• Strong shoes
• Fresh food and drinks

Keep your Home Emergency Kit in a waterproof storage container.

On a regular basis, check (remember to check use-by dates on batteries and gloves) and re-stock items if you need to.

Also, keep a list of emergency numbers on your fridge.

Bushfire usage is also important as Council has statutory responsibilities in relation to fire hazard reduction in bushland areas under its control. A program of hazard reduction burns is annually prepared and submitted to the Mosman Manly District Bushfire Management Committee. All approved burns are then completed when weather conditions are suitable and dependant on the availability of the NSW Fire Brigade.

Mosman Council’s program is assembled on the basis of inspections undertaken with the NSW Fire Brigade and on weed removal locations where weed debris is piled for bush regeneration purposes and to reduce the fire hazard in those areas. This program has been extremely effective in the last couple of years with fire hazard reduction and ecological burns regularly and successfully carried out in bushland areas. Results have not only reduced the fire hazard in selected areas but fire has increased native plant species numbers in all bushland areas exposed to fire and in some cases has increased the actual biodiversity of plants in the bushland. An example of this is Curraghbeena Reserve where after a small ecological burn, Blood Root, a native plant not previously recorded at this site, has appeared in good numbers. Further the threatened plant Acacia terminalis sp. terminalis is responding extremely well to fire and now occurs at more bushland sites and in greater numbers.

Many native plant species found in Mosman rely on fire to germinate their seeds. Undoubtedly there is remnant native seed lying dormant in the soil in all bushland reserves in Mosman waiting for fire to start the germination process. The distinct lack of fire in bushland reserves in the urban areas of Mosman contributes to the mesic shift of some bushland areas in Mosman.

Council is actively participating in emergency management with a commitment to a safer community and as part of the broader emergency management arrangements for NSW. We meet with neighbour Councils, the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, National Parks and the combat agencies, Police, SES and Fire Brigade to plan for local emergencies.

The Mosman North Sydney Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) is responsible for local emergency management and planning. The committee is chaired by the Local Emergency Management Office (LEMO) from Mosman or North Sydney Council and is responsible for preparing and maintaining an emergency operations centre for use during an emergency.

For further information about Emergency Management Arrangements please contact Council’s Local Emergency Management Officer or the District Emergency Management Officer at the headquarters of the local Police District.