How to Create a Severe Weather Emergency Plan

Climate change is making Australia’s weather more unpredictable and extreme.¹ So, even though some parts of the country may be more prone to severe storms or floods than others, ​it’s important to prepare for natural disasters wherever you live – even if you don’t think you’re at risk.^2,3

“The number one mistake I’ve seen over and over again is the ‘she’ll be right’ attitude,” says Geoff Evans, Co-founder of Disaster Relief Australia.

“Following on from that is not having an emergency plan at all.”

Why a severe weather emergency plan matters

Being prepared by making a severe weather emergency plan can not only reduce your risk during a disaster, but research shows it may also help you recover sooner if the worst does happen.⁴

“In the event of a major disaster, you will not have an emergency service sitting out in front of your house,” warns Geoff, who has attended some of Australia’s most devastating weather events, including Cyclone Debbie in 2017 and the recent floods in Taree, on the NSW Mid North Coast.

“If you look at the 2022 floods in Lismore, Northern Rivers, much of the community essentially evacuated itself. There is no response agency in Australia that could have coped with what was a biblical flood, or that had the adequate resources to deal with it,” he says.

That’s why having a clear plan for what you’re going to do and where you’re going to go during a weather emergency is paramount, Geoff stresses.

​​“I see this so many times – it’s the early hours of the morning; it’s pouring rain; people are tired and stressed and not thinking clearly,” he says

“But if you’re well prepared and you’ve thought through what’s going to occur, you’ll be able to respond to events, rather than just react to them.”

What exactly is a severe weather emergency plan?

A severe weather emergency plan outlines how you’ll respond if you, your family or any members of your household, and your home are impacted by an extreme weather event.⁵

A typical severe weather emergency plan should map out:

• The names and contact details of everyone in your household, and of neighbours and friends who can assist you during bad weather⁶
• What to pack in your emergency kit⁶
• Where the safest place to shelter in your home is⁷
• What will be your trigger to leave home⁶
• How you’ll evacuate if you need to, where you’ll go, the route you’ll take to get there and what you’ll take with you⁶
• How to keep any pets or animals safe⁵
• Which emergency services to contact if you need to⁶
• How you’ll stay informed about essential weather and safety updates⁶
• Your insurance details, including your policy number and insurer’s contact.⁶

How to make a severe weather emergency plan

With Geoff’s help, we’ve created a template to guide you through the recommended steps and actions.

“Fill it out, along with your family or household, and store it somewhere safe that you’ll all remember,” advises Geoff.

​​​Download your severe weather emergency plan template today.

There are also some state- and territory-specific planning tools you can use, some which are downloadable and some of which you can complete online. Select the relevant link below:

• New South Wales
• Australian Capital Territory
• Queensland
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Northern Territory
• Tasmania

What to put in your emergency storm preparation kit

Having an emergency kit is essential in case you need to evacuate or shelter at home during a severe storm or cyclone.⁹

Remember that extreme weather could cause your home to lose power, water and gas – sometimes for days.

Recommended items to have ready in your grab-and-go kit include:^{9, 10}

• First-aid kit
• Essential toiletries
• 10L of drinking water per person
• Non-perishable food for three days
• Essential kitchen utensils, including a can opener
• Protective equipment, such as thick gloves, face masks and safety glasses
• Important documents saved to a USB
• Torch with spare batteries
• Battery-powered radio with spare batteries
• Spare clothes and underwear for each family member
• Spare cash, in case electronic payment systems go down
• Emergency whistle and safety knife
• Sleeping bags or blankets
• A charged power bank
• Pet supplies, such as feeding bowls and non-perishable food
• Baby supplies, such as bottles, formula and nappies.^{9, 10}

Some important last-minute items to pack include:

• Phones, laptops, chargers and other devices
• External storage drives
• Personal valuables and cards, including your Medicare card
• Any medications you and your family take, plus prescriptions
• Perishable food.⁹

When to evacuate due to severe weather or a storm

“One of the toughest parts of any severe weather disaster is deciding when to leave,” says Geoff. “Going early can feel unnecessary or disruptive but if you wait too long, you may be putting yourself and your family at serious risk.

“That’s why it’s so important to set clear triggers for evacuation ahead of time in your severe weather emergency plan – so you’re not making that call under pressure, when emotions are high and conditions are rapidly deteriorating.

“That might be, for example, when you receive an SES warning, your access route is threatened or water levels have reached your front step.”

“But always act on official evacuation advice,” he stresses.

As a general rule, when emergency warnings suggest that flooding is likely to occur in your area, it’s best to leave low-lying homes well before any flooding begins.¹¹ The same applies if you could be affected by a storm surge or tide.¹¹

You can check with your local council if your home is in a storm tide evacuation area.¹¹

Stay informed about emergency warnings and updates

With your severe weather emergency plan in place, it’s important to monitor conditions closely so you can respond swiftly and appropriately to your specific situation.

The Australian Warning System (AWS) issues nationally consistent warnings about storms, floods and cyclones that can help you make an informed decision about if and when to evacuate.¹²

“However, one of the big issues I often see is warning fatigue,” says Geoff. “If you get alerts over and over, they’re very easy to ignore.

“That’s why it’s vital to understand what emergency warnings mean for you specifically, so you can decide when to start taking action, including when to evacuate,” he says.

Find more information on ​weather warnings and what they mean for you.

Weather warnings in your state or territory

The Bureau of Meteorology’s free Weather app can push weather warning notifications to your phone or tablet.¹³ You can also stay up to date with AWS warnings specific to your state or territory:

• NSW: Download the Hazards Near Me app
• ACT: Check out the Emergency Services Agency’s live incidents map
• Queensland: Visit your local government’s disaster dashboard
• Victoria: Head to the VicEmergency website
• SA: View the SES’s incidents and warnings map
• WA: Check out Emergency WA’s incident map
• NT: Stay across SecureNT’s alerts and warnings
• Tasmania: Visit TasALERT’s disaster dashboard.

If you lose power or internet connection, you can listen to ABC Radio on a battery-powered radio.¹⁴ Make sure your emergency plan includes the local radio frequency you need to tune in to, as well as details about who to contact in an emergency.⁶

Where to shelter at home during a storm or cyclone

Your severe weather emergency plan should also nominate where you and your family will take shelter during a destructive storm or cyclone – whether that’s somewhere such as a bathroom or an internal hallway, under a strong table, or in a cellar if you have one.¹⁵

Remember, though, planning to shelter at home isn’t recommended if your property is inside a storm tide zone, where, during a severe storm or cyclone, waters can reach areas that might otherwise have been safe.¹⁶

“If this is your situation, your focus should be on evacuating before any flooding starts in your area,” says Geoff.

How to choose an evacuation route during severe weather

Part of your emergency plan should involve familiarising yourself with any low-lying areas in and around your location that may flood, and planning a safer, more reliable route to travel.⁷

It’s also a good idea to ask your local council where you might need to go in the event of an evacuation.¹⁷

When severe weather is unfolding, you can use apps and websites for real-time updates about road and traffic conditions:

• NSW, ACT, Queensland, Victoria and SA: Visit the Live Traffic NSW website – use the “Interstate information” filter to view information for the other states and ACT.¹⁸
• WA: Check out the Main Roads Travel Map
• NT: Use the government’s Road Report road map
• Tasmania: Visit TasALERT for mapped road closures during a significant event.

“However, it’s important to familiarise yourself with your evacuation route well ahead of time,” recommends Geoff. “The first things that will go in any major disaster are power and communications, so you may not be able to use your phone to help you navigate.”

Don’t forget to plan for your animals and pets during severe weather

“In every disaster I’ve ever been to, people have placed themselves at risk to go back for their pets,” says Geoff. “It’s really important to consider your pets in your emergency plan – something as simple as having a cage or carrier in your garage if you’re in a flood-prone area can make a big difference.”

You could even create a separate severe weather emergency plan for your pets, which should ideally include:

• Their microchip number¹⁹
• Your vet’s contact details¹⁹
• A list of supplies to pack for them²⁰
• Where you’ll take them if you need to evacuate¹⁹
• How you’ll transport them.²⁰

If you have horses or other farm animals, you’ll need an emergency plan to keep them safe too. Know your risk and when you’ll leave with them – and remember, acting early in an emergency can help keep them safe while minimising stress and trauma for you.²¹

What if your household has unique concerns?

Different households may have different things to consider and contend with, and it’s important to factor these into your severe weather emergency plan.

What should I consider if I live in a high-rise apartment?

• Relevant evacuation information, such as where exit points are and whether you’ll need to navigate security doors or gates.​²⁰
• Rising flood waters might damage cars and garage doors in basement-level carparks.​²²
• Lifts may not be operational for an extended period of time.​²²

What if my children live elsewhere sometimes?

• Include arrangements for your kids if they might be in the care of another person or caregiver in a weather emergency.​​¹⁹
• Consider whether there’s an emergency plan in place at the other household. If there isn’t, your children might like to talk to their other parent or caregiver about creating one together.²³

I have specific health needs – how do I plan for an emergency?

• Include all relevant health-related information in your plan, such as any medications you’d need to stock up on.⁸
• Consider how your health needs may impact where you choose to shelter.⁵ For example, does your medical equipment require access to power? Would climbing stairs if the lift in your apartment building fails be an issue?^{11, 22}
• List your neighbour’s contact details in your emergency plan and discuss your plan with them too – they may be able to help you during bad weather.​​⁶

For more expert tips to help you get ready for severe weather events, visit our you.prepared emergency content hub.

Geoff Evans

Geoff Evans is a disaster resilience and recovery leader with over 20 years of experience attending some of Australia’s most devastating natural disasters. A former firefighter, Geoff co-founded Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) in 2016 and served as CEO until 2024. Under his leadership, DRA became a national force in disaster operations and was named 2023 Australian Charity of the Year. Today, Geoff advises communities, governments and organisations. Youi is proud to partner with him in the creation of this severe weather preparedness content.

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: Climate Council – Climate whiplash: wild swings between weather extremes, February 2024
2 Source: Climate Council – Climate risk map of Australia, April 2025
3 Source: Australian Government – Being prepared for a natural disaster
4 Source: Vic State Emergency Service – Flood
5 Source: NSW Government – Prepare your home and property for flood and storm
6 Source: ACT Emergency Services Agency – Be Emergency Ready by planning to survive
7 Source: NSW Government – Storm
8 Source: NSW Government – Put together an emergency kit
9 Source: Qld Government – Emergency kit: essentials, all times
10 Source: NSW Government – During a flood
11 Source: Qld Government – Cyclones and severe storms
12 Source: Australian Government – Australian Warning System
13 Source: The Bureau of Meteorology – BOM Weather app
14 Source: ABC Emergency – How to listen to ABC Radio in an emergency
15 Source: James Cook University Australia – Personal Cyclone Preparedness and 16 Safety Procedures
16 Source: Qld Government – Storm surge
17 Source: Qld Government – Flood
18 Source: NSW Government – Check road and traffic conditions with Live Traffic NSW
19 Source: NSW State Emergency Service – My Emergency Plan
20 Source: NSW Government – Plan for your household pets
21 Source: NSW Government – Plan for your horses, farm animals and livestock
22 Source: OCN Australia – Strata disaster: How prepared are our apartment communities for emergencies and disasters?, May 2024
23 Source: NSW Government – Emergency planning for children