With fire season just around the corner, a volunteer group from Emerald has been busy packing and delivering thousands of emergency information kits to households across the the hills and all in the name of helping neighbours be better prepared when the next storm or power outage hits.
The long-standing community group, Emerald Village Association Inc. (EVA) has taken the lead on this project to give residents practical tools and knowledge to stay safe and self-reliant in times of crisis.
EVA’s secretary and the leader of the team behind the kits, Heather Bishop said these kinds of project brings people together.
“We want people to feel supported, informed and ready,” she said.
“The last few years have shown how vulnerable we are in these hills, storms, fires, long blackouts. The more we know and plan ahead, the better we’ll cope when something happens again.”
The idea for the kits grew out of the community’s experience following the severe storm in February 2024.
In response, EVA formed a dedicated Resilience and Emergency Management subcommittee and secured a $17,000 grant from AusNet to create and distribute the ‘Hills and Upper Beac Community Information Kit’.
Each kit includes details that many new residents might not know, like how power outages affect the local sewer system, or how heavily we rely on electricity for even the basics like clean water and phone reception.
There’s also a “First 72 Hours” emergency plan for families to fill in at home.
By the end of September, EVA plans to deliver 1500 ‘Go Bags’ through kindergartens and primary schools, and another 1500 kits through real estate agents and community houses.
Ms Bishop said deliveries have already started, a bit ahead of schedule.
“These kits are especially important for people who are new to the area, older residents, families with young kids, and those living with disability, it’s about making sure no one’s left behind,” she said.
The kits have already made a real impact.
Staff at Emerald Preschool said they’d love to be part of more projects like this, and other community houses are asking to include the materials in food aid packages.
And local residents have also shown strong support, one EVA member even surveyed their whole street and got nothing but positive feedback.
It’s not just about handing out bags, though.
When school kids bring the kits home, they’re encouraged to ask their parents, “What’s our emergency plan?” EVA hopes these conversations will lead to more households taking action and maybe even returning the included feedback form so the project can improve and grow.
This project has also helped bring the hills townships closer together.
For the first time, volunteers from Emerald, Cockatoo, Gembrook, Macclesfield and Upper Beaconsfield all worked side by side.
Ms Bishop said this type of collaboration is new and powerful.
“There’s been a real shift, people are seeing the value in working together across the district. This is bigger than any one town, it’s about the whole region being stronger together,” she said.
EVA will also have a presence at the upcoming Community Safety Expo at the Hills Hub on 11 October, with simplified versions of the kits available.
That event, coordinated by Cardinia Shire Council, brings together emergency services and local organisations to kick off the fire danger period with practical advice and demonstrations.
While the kit project is still in its early stages, the response so far suggests it’s already making a difference.
“It’s a really simple idea, but sometimes, that’s all it takes to help people feel more prepared and less alone when things go wrong,” Ms Bishop said.
