Things First-Time Renters and Homeowners Should Know Before the Next Storm Hits

Riding out a bad storm for the first time in your own place can hit a little different compared with living in the family home where property maintenance and storm prep might have been someone else’s responsibility. 

Then, a severe-weather warning might have simply meant cosying up indoors with torches and candles at the ready. Now that your name’s on the lease or mortgage, it could mean staring out the window, wondering if that massive tree in the garden looks a bit wobbly, hoping the gutters aren’t blocked and thinking about what else you probably could have done to prepare your home for stormy weather. 

But the thing is, trying to Google “how can I turn off my electricity?” once your property’s already started flooding isn’t a viable plan.¹ Between owner occupiers and renters, it may be difficult to decipher which responsibilities fall to an owner or landlord versus where they cross to a tenant taking control of the situation to prepare. 

"I know especially with renters, they tend to think that all home maintenance is the landlord's responsibility,” says Geoff Evans, retired fire-fighter and disaster recovery expert. 

“In actual fact, it often isn’t. The best way to think about it is, it's your home that's going to be damaged or destroyed regardless of who owns it." 

So, to help you stay safe and minimise the chaos if the weather turns, we’ve put together this first-time homeowner guide and renter’s cheat sheet, which outlines seven things worth knowing as a new tenant or homeowner before the next big storm arrives. 

[Note to Youi: Consider embedding This Is What NOT to Do in Severe Weather video here] 

First-time homeowner guide and renter’s cheat sheet

1. Know how to turn your utilities off   

Turning off your property’s power, gas and water if severe weather, such as a storm or flood, is forecast may help prevent you from getting hurt, or your property from being damaged.²

Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, for example, so flooding can result in safety risks such as electrocution or electric shock.³ So if there’s a risk that your property is likely to be flooded, turning off its main electrical switch is recommended.³ 

And, if a tree falls on your roof during a storm and bursts a water pipe inside your property, turning the water off at the mains may help to mitigate the damage to your house and belongings.⁴  

So, learning how to turn off utilities before an emergency situation occurs could help keep you safe and limit damage. Timing matters, though – Ausgrid warns against going near the main electrical switchboard in wet weather or if your property is already flooded.¹  

To turn your water off: If you live in a house, the shut-off valve for the water mains is typically located near the front hose tap or at the water meter near the property boundary.⁴ If you live in an apartment, the water meter may be in a utility cupboard on each floor.⁵  

To turn your electricity off: Turn off all switches, including the main switch, at your property’s electrical switchboard.⁶ You’ll usually find your electricity switchboard:⁷ 

On an outside wall or in the garage, hallway or laundry if you live in a freestanding house.  

In a car park, basement or in a cabinet on your level if you live in an apartment.⁷ 

To turn your gas off: Turn the gas supply service valve on your gas meter to off by rotating the handle to the horizontal position.⁶ If you live in a freestanding house, most gas meters are located outside⁸ – however if you’re in NSW you could also try looking under the kitchen sink or laundry cupboard.⁷  

If you live in an apartment, you’ll typically find the gas meter in the same location as the electricity meter.⁷  

And, if you have LPG cylinders at your place and need to evacuate during severe weather, Energy Safe Victoria recommends making sure these are closed at the valve on top of the cylinder.⁶ 

2. Locate the strongest room in the house 

If a severe storm or cyclone hits when you’re at home, government advice is to shelter in your property’s strongest room, where you’re more likely to be protected from any falling debris.^9,10 Identifying this room ahead of time is one component of making a severe weather emergency plan.¹¹   

Your home’s strongest room is likely to be on the lowest level to the ground, ideally where there are no windows, skylights or glass doors. Often this is an internal bathroom or laundry.^9,10   

3. Find out where to get sandbags from – and how to use them 

While sandbags may not stop floodwater completely, when done correctly, sandbagging can limit the amount of water that enters your home, potentially reducing the impact of a flood on your property.¹²  

Your local council may have a web page sharing sandbag locations, where you can pick up free bags, during flood and storm season. However, supply may be limited if demand is high, so it’s a good idea to be prepared to purchase and prepare your own sandbags ahead of a severe weather event which may result in flooding.¹²   

“It’s important to prioritise sandbagging,” says Geoff. “Wait until the flooding starts and you’ll risk either missing out on supplies or not getting the job done in time.” 

You can often buy sandbags from local hardware stores, garden centres or landscaping suppliers.^12,13 Most homes require fewer than 25 sandbags to be protected.¹³  

To fill a sandbag: 

• Only use sand – dirt will turn to mud¹⁴ 
• Only fill it until it’s two-thirds full¹³ 
• Don’t tie the top of the sandbag¹³ 

It’s recommended that you place sandbags: 

• Over floor wastes and drains in your laundry, shower and bathroom to prevent a backflow of grey water entering – you can place each sandbag in a plastic bag first to improve water resistance.¹²  
• As a wall across doorways, roller doors and brickwork vents – build the wall so it’s at least the expected height of the water.^{12, 13}  

When you’re building a sandbag wall, emergency services suggest:  

• Using a brickwork pattern, staggering the rows so that the joins in each row don’t line up with the row beneath¹³ 
• Making sure the unfilled part of each bag is covered by the next bag and tuck the flap under the bag at the end of each row¹³  
• Making the wall two rows wide if the wall is going to be more than five bags high¹³  
• Using a layer of plastic sheeting, if available, beneath the sandbags to act as a waterproofing membrane.¹² 

Whatever you do, Geoff says, don’t sandbag yourself in or out of your own property.  

“I’ve seen it happen!” he says. “Make sure you can come and go if you need to.” 

4. Make a plan for outdoor hazards 

Loose items outside can become dangerous, airborne projectiles during strong winds.¹⁵  

And while it may be relatively simple to bring smaller or wheelable items, such as potted plants, plastic chairs, rubbish bins and barbecues, indoors immediately before wild weather hits,¹⁶ securing larger items may require a bit more planning. 

If you own a trampoline: Some trampoline makers sell anchors to help keep a trampoline pinned to the ground in strong wind, although not all are designed for storm conditions, so it may help to check the manufacturer’s guidance.¹⁷ 

Alternatively you could check that you have the right equipment available to:¹⁸ 

• Remove the trampoline’s safety net, flip it upside down and add heavy loads of sandbags on top to help prevent it moving around 
• Dismantle the trampoline.¹⁸ 

If you have a large, heavy outdoor table: You might like to make sure you have ratchet straps, rated 200–500kg, available in case you need to anchor the table by its main structural frame when high winds are forecast.¹⁹ 

5. Learn how to spot a hazardous tree 

“During storms, a lot of damage is caused to people’s homes by trees,” says Geoff. 

“Learning how to inspect your trees to see if they’re healthy, and knowing what a rotting tree looks like, which limbs to lop off or when a tree needs to come down, can make a big difference." 

There can be warning signs before a storm hits that a tree might topple over. You may be able to identify whether a tree has potential to cause damage during a storm by:²⁰ 

• Looking down – On a windy day, check the base of the tree. If you can see movement or visible roots lifting, it’s a sign a tree might be a risk during severe weather. 
• Looking up – Keep an eye out for large, dead or hanging branches. These can be blown loose and carried a long way in strong winds.  
• Inspecting the junctions – Weak or damaged junctions where branches meet the main trunk could fail in a storm. Signs of damage include loose or darker-than-usual bark, or resin or sap on the bark or branch. Steep V-shaped junctions, or those with fallen bark between them, are also more likely to break during storms.  
• Looking for changes in leaf colour – A rapid shift to yellow or brown leaves, dead shoot tips or dead patches on large limbs may indicate the tree is sick, making it more vulnerable to storm damage.²⁰  

If you’re living in a house you own and spot a warning sign that a tree on your property is damaged, you could call an arborist for advice.²⁰  

If you’re a tenant, you can report any tree-related issues that may require maintenance to your landlord or rental agent.²¹ 

6. Find your local ABC radio frequency 

During a storm or other severe weather event, there can be a risk of losing power and mobile phone reception.²²  

If this happens, you can stay on top of the situation, as well as emergency and weather updates, by listening to ABC radio on a battery-operated radio²³ – one of the items the NSW Government suggests to include in your severe weather emergency kit.²⁴   

However, to tune in, you’ll need to know the local radio frequency to turn your radio to, ahead of time.  

7. Understand when to call the SES  

Across Australia, you can call 132 500 for emergency help in a flood or storm.²⁵ The State Emergency Service (SES) provides non-life-threatening emergency assistance during severe weather events.²⁶  

However, demand on your local SES can be huge during severe weather, so knowing when to contact them – and when not to – is important.²⁶  

“I’ve known people to call the SES for something like mould. Remember, the SES is an emergency service, so if it’s not an emergency, don’t call. There’s just not enough resources to go around,” says Geoff. 

You can call the SES if you’re seeking emergency help in a storm or flood and any of the following apply:²⁷ 

• A tree has fallen and caused structural damage to your home or vehicle 
• There’s damage to your roof or it’s leaking significantly 
• A tree or large branch has fallen and it’s preventing you from entering or leaving your home 
• Your property is flooded or is about to flood.²⁷ 

If none of those situations apply, you should consider:²⁷ 

• Contacting your insurer to make a claim or arrange repairs 
• Contacting a tradesperson – or your landlord if a property you’re renting is damaged²⁸ – to repair damage or remove debris, if required.²⁷ 

And if anyone’s life is in danger, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.²⁶ 

For more expert tips to help you plan for severe weather, including how to prepare your home for a storm and storm-prep tips specific to city dwellers, visit our you.prepared emergency content hub. 

And, to explore whether one of Youi’s home insurance options could be a good fit for you, you might like to consider starting a quote.  

The content in this article has been prepared based on current government and emergency services guidelines and expert advice provided at the time of publishing. This information is subject to change. Please be sure to check for the latest information and always consider your personal circumstances regarding home safety preparedness and response. 

Where you have increased your Youi insurance cover or reduced your excess within 72 hours (or other period noted on your policy schedule) of a flood, storm, hail or bushfire occurring, cover will be limited to the amount that was effective prior to the change. Loss, damage or legal liability caused by, resulting or arising from flood, storm, hail or bushfire during the first 72 hours (or other period noted on your policy schedule) of your policy first being purchased is excluded unless certain conditions are met. Refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement for full T&Cs. 

^1. Source: Ausgrid – Flood safety, n.d. 
^2. Source: NSW State Emergency Service – Prepare your home and property for flood and storm, n.d. 
^3. Source: SA Power Networks – Keeping safe during flooding, n.d. 
^4. Source: Qld Government – Water or electricity problems, September 2023 
^5. Source: Central Tablelands Water – How to Read Your Water Meter, 2010. 
^6. Source: Energy Safe Victoria – Floods and energy safety, March 2026 
^7. Source: Origin Energy – Find your meter, n.d. 
^8. Source: AusNet – Your gas meter, n.d. 
^9. Source: Harden Up – Identify the Strongest Room in Your Home, n.d. 
^10. Source: Qld Government – Home maintenance for extreme weather, February 2024 
^11. Source: NSW State Emergency Service – Storm, n.d. 
^12. Source: Qld Government – Sandbags and flood preparedness, August 2024 
^13. Source: Victoria State Emergency Service – Sandbagging, n.d. 
^14. Source: NSW State Emergency Service – Using sandbags to protect your home, n.d. 
^15. Source: Queensland State Emergency Service – Storm, July 2024 
^16. Source: Qld Government – Essential safety tips for Queensland’s severe thunderstorms, March 2026 
^17. Source: Springfree Trampolines – How to Anchor a Trampoline: A Step-By-Step Guide, n.d. 
^18. Source: Brisbane Times – What to do with your trampoline before the wind picks up, March 2025 
^19. Source: Keter – How to secure outdoor furniture from wind: a practical guide, August 2026 
^20. Source: The University of Melbourne – Worried about your trees after the windstorms? Here are 7 signs you might be at risk, September 2024       
^21. Source: Tenants’ Union of NSW – Repairs and maintenance, August 2025 
^22. Source: ABC News – Thousands without power and phone reception on Gold Coast as rain continues, March 2025 
^23. Source: NSW Government – Know the warnings, n.d. 
^24. Source: NSW Government – Prepare your emergency survival kit, n.d. 
^25. Source: Phoenix Australia – Australia-wide emergency services, n.d. 
^26. Source: Queensland State Emergency Service – SES assistance, December 2025 
^27. Source: Victoria State Emergency Service – Know what to do in an emergency situation, n.d. 
^28. Source: NSW Government – Rental property affected by a natural disaster, n.d.