Scenic Rim's readiness tested during Get Ready Week

The weekend's forecast deluge set the scene for a Get Ready Week training exercise to test the Scenic Rim's ability to respond to the threat of a natural disaster.

The exercise last week saw Council staff joining forces with emergency services personnel in establishing an incident management team, testing communications systems, reviewing the delivery of emergency alerts to the community and practising Local Disaster Coordination Centre procedures.

Mayor Greg Christensen said the success of the exercise reflected the recent experience of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

"The exercise provided the opportunity to build on the experience gained during late March and early April to ensure that we can meet the challenge of another natural disaster in our region," he said.

The exercise considered the scenario of rainfall of between 300 and 350 millimetres and the impact of a one-in-100 year flood event on a Scenic Rim community.

With the scenario including road closures and landslips, the need to evacuate residents from homes threatened with inundation, high winds resulting in damage to properties and widespread disruption of electricity supply, emergency services and Local Disaster Coordination Centre staff were put to the test.

"The exercise modelled an impact on 10 per cent of the Scenic Rim region, which included flooding of 80 properties and 23 instances of damage to property but thankfully no loss of life," Cr Christensen said.

"Although our Local Disaster Coordination Centre at Beaudesert passed the test, Get Ready Week was a timely reminder for all Scenic Rim residents to consider their own 'what-if' plan for dealing with the threat of wild weather or a natural disaster.

"Getting ready for storm season is as simple as making a plan for managing your pets if they are home alone, knowing what to do if you become separated from family members and securing outdoor items which could become missiles in high winds.

"Now is the time to gather together what you might need in an emergency - a portable radio, torch, spare batteries, first aid kit, fresh water, non-perishable food, essential medication, waterproof bags, and have important documents in sealed bags or scanned to a USB so that you are ready well in advance."

For more information on how to prepare visit qld.gov.au/getready