MidCoast Council is urging residents to get ready for this bushfire season.
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Over the last two weeks council staff has been identifying bushfire risks and at the same time has put together a bushfire survival plan.
The Get Ready for this bushfire season project is a five step series to ensure every house has a bushfire survival plan and is prepared for the bushfire danger season.
The MidCoast is getting the message to Get Ready this bushfire season, with our five step series to ensure every home has a bushfire survival plan and is prepared for bushfire danger season.
This week is checklist time - there's a list of things to do to prepare your home and your yard before a bushfire threatens.
And if you're on a farm or large property - there's a checklist for you too.
"A well prepared home is easier to defend against fire, and it's safer for you and for our volunteer firefighters," MidCoast Council mayor, David West said.
"Get started by heading to the MidCoast Council Get Ready for disasters page and find the Step 3 information plus the Bushfire Survival Plan document," Cr West said.
"You'll find the NSW RFS Get ready videos there - for preparing your home, your yard and your rural property. The Plan has a checklist for preparing your home and yard."
If you can't physically do the work yourself, please don't hesitate to ask your family, friends or engage a service to help you, Cr West said.
And if you have limited support from these sources, then the NSW RFS's AIDER service may be able to help you, he said.
We want to make sure everyone's home is as well prepared as possible each fire season.
- David West
Information also is available at the NSW Rural Fire Service website, by calling 8741 4955 or email aider@rfs.nsw.gov.au.
"We want to make sure everyone's home is as well prepared as possible each fire season," Cr West said.
It's a fact that many homes are under-insured for bushfire, and can't be rebuilt for the amount they are insured for.
"This week, pull out your home insurance policy and review it.
"Check your insurance policy, and talk to your insurer if you think this might be the case."
Place a copy of your insurance documents in the emergency kit, or make sure you have the Know Risk insurance tracker app on your phone to keep track of your policies.
Once you've ticked off the jobs in the Bushfire Survival Plan Step 3, you'll be well prepared at the start of fire season.
"Revisit the list every few weeks, to make sure you stay on top of those home maintenance jobs that make your home safer against fire."
There's two more steps to Get Ready for bushfire season, with more tips to come over the coming weeks to help residents to be prepared.
If you are still recovering from last year's bushfires, please visit the MidCoast Council recovery from bushfire events page or call 7955 7543.
If reminders of the bushfires are causing issues for you, please call the Mental Healthline on 1800 011 511.
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