Newsletter – Jan 2013

PREVIEW

Jan 2013 – Harden Up eNews

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Jan 2013

It's getting hot in here

Happy new year - what a start to 2013! As Australia faces a mammoth heat wave and Queensland prepares for a very hot day, the Bureau of Meteorology adds new colours to its temperature forecasting chart to extend temperature ranges to 54°C. Now is the time to review or even activate your personal resilience plan.

Current warnings

A trough located over central New South Wales is expected to move northwards into southern Queensland during Wednesday bringing hot, dry and gusty winds to Queensland. Follow the conversation on social media, but also make sure you keep checking official channels such as BOM's warning updates to avoid sharing spoof pix and messages like we saw during Superstorm Sandy.

Filter fatigued?

Feeling fatigued by the gazillion messages on various social media channels? Check out our fancy new Disaster Connect app, which brings together official updates, weather information, images, videos as well as conversations on the ground in one simple, easy to use spot. You can find key official Queensland disaster information here, along with community Facebook and social media sites of interest as we confront the current heat wave.

Disaster Connect around the world

Disaster Connect follows not only Queensland events, but keeps a close eye on what else is happening in other disaster areas. Find the latest social media stories on the NSW and Tassie Disaster Connect hubs.

This month's tip

LPG gas cylinder can be super helpful to cook meals when you lose power, but they can also cause terrible house fires and explosions during extreme heat and bushfire conditions. Here are some tips: check the date stamped on the side of the bottle (the valve must be checked and replaced every 10 years) and do not store the bottle inside the house. If you need to evacuate, never transport the gas bottle inside your car, always on the roof or trailer. For more tips and to share your own go here:

8,000 plans and counting

Are you on the map? As of today more than 8,000 Queenslanders have prepared a personal resilience plan. Together we’ve logged over 15,000 actions from cleaning gutters to checking insurance. Can we reach even more Queenslanders in 2013? Yes we can!

During a disaster - use the telephone for emergency calls only - Use social media, e-mail and text messaging to contact one another during disasters as these are less likely to experience network congestion.

Tell us your resilience tip and share it with your friends on Facebook.

Harden Up - Protecting Queensland is an initiative of Green Cross Australia.

Email	info@greencrossaustralia.org	Web	www.greencrossaustralia.org

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LINK

TEXT

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HARDEN UP E-NEWS -- Jan 2013
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FEATURED ARTICLE
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# It's getting hot in here
Happy new year - what a start to 2013! As Australia faces a mammoth heat wave and Queensland prepares for a very hot day, the Bureau of Meteorology adds new colours
- http://hardenup.org/prepare-yourself.aspx

NEWS ARTICLES
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# Current warnings
A trough located over central New South Wales is expected to move northwards into southern Queensland during Wednesday bringing hot, dry and gusty winds to Queensland. Follow the conversation on social media, but also make sure you keep checking official channels such as BOM's warning updates to avoid sharing spoof pix
- http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/

# Filter fatigued?
Feeling fatigued by the gazillion messages on various social media channels? Check out our fancy new Disaster Connect
- http://hardenup.org/news-media/harden-up/090113-media-release.aspx

# Disaster Connect around the world
Disaster Connect follows not only Queensland events, but keeps a close eye on what else is happening in other disaster areas. Find the latest social media stories on the NSW Tassie
- http://hardenup.org/weather-hub/tas-bushfires.aspx

# This month's tip
LPG gas cylinder can be super helpful to cook meals when you lose power, but they can also cause terrible house fires and explosions during extreme heat and bushfire conditions. Here are some tips: check the date stamped on the side of the bottle (the valve must be checked and replaced every 10 years) and do not store the bottle inside the house. If you need to evacuate, never transport the gas bottle inside your car, always on the roof or trailer. For more tips and to share your own go here:
- http://hardenup.org/prepare-yourself/practical-preparation-advice/property-and-assets/prepare-for-bushfires/take-precautions.aspx

# 8,000 plans and counting
Are you on the map? As of today more than 8,000 Queenslanders have prepared a personal resilience plan. Together we’ve logged over 15,000 actions from cleaning gutters to checking insurance. Can we reach even more Queenslanders in 2013? Yes we can!
- http://hardenup.org/prepare-yourself/involvement-map.aspx

TOP TIP
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During a disaster - use the telephone for emergency calls only - Use social media, e-mail and text messaging to contact one another during disasters as these are less likely to experience network congestion.

See all tips -- http://www.hardenup.org/prepare-yourself/harden-up-plan/tips-gallery.aspx

WHAT'S YOUR TIP?
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Tell us your resilience tip and share it with your friends on Facebook.
http://www.hardenup.org/prepare-yourself/harden-up-plan/share-a-tip.aspx

HARDEN UP
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Be Aware (Find out the facts)
http://www.hardenup.org/be-aware.aspx
Prepare Yourself (Make a plan)
http://www.hardenup.org/prepare-yourself/harden-up-plan/create-a-plan/your-location.aspx
Help Others (Get involved)
http://www.hardenup.org/help-others.aspx

CONNECT WITH US
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Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/GreenCrossAus
Twitter
http://twitter.com/GreenCrossAus
Email
info@greencrossaustralia.org

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Harden Up - Protecting Queensland is an initiative of Green Cross Australia.
Email: info@greencrossaustralia.org
Web: http://www.greencrossaustralia.org/

http://www.hardenup.org/