Harden Up Plan

Do you have an Emergency Kit?

Preparing an emergency kit is the first important step in getting ready. You should involve the whole household when preparing your kit.

Choose a suitable backpack, plastic storage box, or suitcase - something lightweight that's easy to wheel or carry. Store your Emergency Kit in an accessible location known to all household members, and include others in assembling your kit so they know what to do in an emergency.

You'll need to plan for a 72-hour period of isolation, so include enough food and water, medical and hygiene, emergency lighting, communication, clothing and footwear, and your important documents. Check and update the contents of your kit regularly.

Have you got adequate insurance?

Review your insurance values carefully, to avoid underinsurance. Whether it's home, contents, or life insurance, most Australians have insufficient cover.

A recent study by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) found that 21-81% of consumers were underinsured by 10% or more, in the event that they had to rebuild their home. Because the responsibility of estimating rebuilding costs rests with the homeowner, a correct estimate is imperative, but can present challenges.

Online calculators are available to assist with making sure your home insurance is adequate. However, talk to a builder in your area to check the calculation results are accurate. Be sure you take into account the continuous rise in building costs, and re-evaluate your insurance cover on an annual basis. The ASIC study found that while the CPI increased 17% between March 2000 and March 2005, building costs rose by 33%.

Don’t forget to also consider your content insurance. Review new purchases made by a household, and keep up-to-date with replacement costs.

Underinsurance is also a problem in life insurance. A study conducted for the Investment and Financial Services Association found that 60% of Australian families with dependent children don't have enough life insurance cover to look after their family for a year.

Have you cleared you home’s gutters and downpipes?

Gutter cleaning is an essential part of protecting your roof and property from extreme weather, debris build up and pest infestation. When it comes to bushfires, any debris that builds up on your roof or in gutters provides fuel for fires.

You should schedule regular maintenance every three months, before storm season and during autumn when most trees lose their leaves. Under most insurance policies, property owners are responsible for ensuring that their roof and gutters are correctly maintained.

Leaf guards are primarily used to keep gutters and downpipes clear of leaves for improved storm drainage, but have a secondary benefit of keeping bushfire fuel from accumulating.

During a hailstorm, gutters are even more susceptible to blockage and overflow because hail can't drain away like rainwater, although it will melt over time. Ensure a reputable professional, has installed your gutter, in accordance with Australian Building Codes AS3500.

Take care when scaling onto rooves, as they can be very slippery. Make sure someone is there to hold the ladder when you get off the roof.