General maintenance

• Check the condition of the roof and repair loose tiles, eaves and screws;
• Clean gutters and downpipes so water can drain away as quickly as possible;
• Trim trees and overhanging branches;
• Secure loose items that could cause damage if blown around in high winds (such as garden furniture and toys).

General preparations

• Ensure your home, contents and car insurance is current and covers your assets adequately
• Identify which room is the strongest part of the house, in case you need to shelter in your home during severe storm or cyclone. Usually this would be the smallest room in the house, with the least windows;
• Identify where and how to turn off the mains supply for water, power and gas; and
• Purchase emergency essentials to have on hand, such as:
• containers to store drinking water;
• spare supply of fuel for use in your vehicle (ensure you store safely);
• wide masking tape for windows;
• hessian bags and sand for sandbagging indoor drains to prevent sewerage backwash from flooding.

Some ‘must have items’

• Torches, candles and extra batteries for torches
• A portable radio (and batteries) for updates
• Bottled water
• First aid kit
• Portable cooking gear (is your gas bottle full?)
• Special needs for infants/elderly/Disabled
• Pet supplies
• Masking tape for windows
• Personal hygiene items
• Warm clothing and blankets in case of evacuation

Five day cyclone pantry

The following will feed two people for five days. This list is a suggestion only and you may vary it according to your family's preference and budget.
Remember all non-tinned food should be stored in air-tight, waterproof containers. Authorities do not allow cooking equipment to be taken into public shelters if evacuated.

• 1 box of breakfast cereal
• 2 packets of crispbread
• 1 packet of rice
• 10 packets of instant pasta/ noodles
• 5 tins of fruit
• 1 packet of dried fruit/nuts
• 12 x 250ml boxed fruit juices
• 4 cans of vegetables
• 1 large packet of dried potato powder
• 10 cans of meat and vegetables
• 2 cans of fish
• 5 cans of baked beans/three bean mix
• 1kg milk powder or 8 x 1 litre long-life milk
• 1 box of tea bags
• 1 jar coffee
• 1 can Milo
• 4 boxes/cans of instant soup
• 1 jar peanut butter/jam/ honey/vegemite