Be prepared, be safe, have peace of mind

Monday, 20 September 2021

This week, 20 to 27 September is Emergency Ready Week – a reminder for us all to download the free Get Prepared app and set some time aside to prepare for emergencies. 

Emergency Ready Week is an initiative of the Red Cross and insurer IAG and is supported by Resilient Sydney – a coalition of councils, including Penrith City Council, working to make our communities more resilient to shocks and stresses.  

Penrith Mayor, Karen McKeown OAM, said Council understands how hard it is to look beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, but said being prepared for all emergencies, bushfires, floods and sudden family crises is a great way to counter uncertainty and bring peace of mind. 

“We know that many people in our community are doing it tough,” Cr McKeown said. 

“Sadly, we also know that emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, but there are tools to help minimise the risk to your home and your loved ones.” 

The Get Prepared app is a simple and effective way to plan for emergency situations. It can be used to develop a plan so you know “what to do, where to go and who to tell”. 

“During our community engagement to develop Council’s Resilience Action Plan, residents told us that they need more information about how to prepare for emergencies,” Cr McKeown said.  “The Get Prepared app is the perfect way to get your household ready.”

The app includes tips on how to stay calm and identifies risks, meeting places and the people and organisations who can help. It can also be used to store important documents, medical information and pet plans. 

“In the space of 18 months, Penrith has experienced, extreme heat events, bushfires, floods, storms and of course the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cr McKeown said. 

“If you’re not prepared for an emergency, you have to make it up on the run, and that’s when disaster can strike. An emergency plan puts you in the best possible position to respond, adapt and recover.” 

“It’s also important to note in light of COVID-19, the current health orders state that in an emergency you can leave your home or Local Government Area to find safety and the support you need.” 

“I encourage everyone to tell their family, friends and neighbours about the Get Prepared app so we can prepare our community, because a prepared community is a resilient community.”  

Download the free Get Prepared app at penrith.city/emergencies

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Monday, 20 September 2021.