Melbournians are quite used to Spring being the season that yo yo's - up one minute with 36 degrees C, down to 12 degrees with Antarctic winds the next. This spring has seemed quite cool and definitely wet.
My water tanks are completely full to overflowing. The winter doona is still on my bed, though it got thrown on the floor last night after Summer officially started.
The Bureau of Meterology (BOM) is warning that the cold weather will return later this week. So the doona hasn't yet been packed away until next April.
However, the statistics from the BOM show that we have continued the warming trend shown earlier in the year. The Conversation's article "Australia records its warmest spring on record "shows this year has been record breaking throughout the year.
I watched the Catalyst special on ABC TV last night -How to get prepared for extreme weather - laughing at the extremes the film crew put their hapless families through while simulating a fire and flood.
The two main points of the special were: Be prepared- have your disaster plan written down and regularly actioned and that the number of extreme weather effects are increasing - were demonstrated nicely.
As a suburban dweller, I belong to that lazy majority that has no written disaster plan.
I have an emergency box which has my important documents and occasional other things in it. I run a fairly comprehensive pantry so can keep myself fed for a couple of weeks and so long as the water tanks are moderately full will have access to water (unpurified). I also have access to multiple means of cooking including a gas barbecue which allows for some independence in the event of disaster to electricity and gas supply.
I have a wood burning combustion heater and fuel supplies. I have solar hot water and PV.
But if I had to evacuate then all bets are off for preparedness. See the CFA Fire Plan Template.
I should be better prepared for storms and other events following the experiences of my family in the Christchurch earthquake.
So perhaps my Christmas Season need to include writing and practicing a disaster plan.
What about you?
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Greenstone Girl