Taking action: new training to help during natural disasters

Preventing and adapting in emergencies such as storms, bush fires, and flash floods will be part of key training at the first person-centred emergency preparedness (P-CEP) program to help the most vulnerable in the Northern Beaches community.

The NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan estimates that by 2060 the Northern Beaches will have losses amounting to $1 billion per annum to the built environment - the highest total average annual losses in NSW - bringing forward the need to intensify efforts in prevention, mitigation and adaption measures.

The P-CEP program supports seniors, people with a disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to develop a personal emergency plan.

“Emergency preparedness is important to all of us but especially for people who face additional challenges and risks during emergencies,” said Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins.

The P-CEP program will build the community’s capacity to act with confidence in situations of crisis, as well as help the community recover quickly from adverse events.

The Northern Beaches has experienced storms in 2016, bush fires such as the recent fire in Cromer, as well as severe flooding in 2022. The area is also vulnerable to landslides, tsunami, earthquake and heatwaves.

To become a P-CEP facilitator, visit www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au . Applications close 17 January 2025.