Home away from home

By CASEY NEILL
RECENT wild weather was a timely reminder about preparing for disasters, particularly bushfires, Emerald Community House chairwoman Mary Farrow says.
“La Nina is starting to shift in favour of El Nino so that signals a time to prepare,” she said.
“If that wind storm had happened before a high fire risk day, the Dandenongs would have been in trouble.”
Ms Farrow said Emerald Community House (ECH) served as a great resource after the wind storm which wiped out power, phone and some mobile coverage for days.
“A few small businesses ran out of ECH due to their own technology being cut off at home,” she said.
“Even our staff realised that they could do their laundry while working, using our on-site washer and dryer.
“ECH has wireless internet and supported many people who were without technology and the internet at home including students completing important VCE study.”
SP AusNet spokesman Jonathon Geddes said about 60,000 customers were without power in eastern Victoria at the storm’s peak, including Belgrave, Cockatoo, Macclesfield and Gembrook.
About 300 crews worked on restoring power falling trees and branches knocked out during the wild winds on 6-8 September, which reached up to 140 kilometres an hour.
Ms Farrow said the storm reminder also tied in with an ECH and Emerald Primary School challenge which was launched on 21 August.
“All of the families at EPS are urged to complete the Red Cross Leave Early Plan available on the CFA website and those who confirm that they have done so will go into the draw for a family day pass for Luna Park – a great place to go on a high bush fire risk day in the hills,” she said.
Red Cross has donated three emergency radios as additional prizes.
ECH’s The Go List, the online bushfire planning resource for Victorians, is promoting the project, which Ms Farrow said could be replicated at any school in Victoria.
ECH will also be running bushfire planning workshops as well as a ‘scan and save’ workshop to help hills residents store important photos and documents on a USB stick before bushfire season.
Call ECH on 5968 3881 to start getting ready for summer fire season.