Australians are no strangers to extreme weather events, and a changing climate has made those events more frequent. It’s important to look out for your health and safety before, during and after these events.

Click on the buttons below for info on each topic.

Read the Sydney North Health Network Emergency Response Plan to find out how we work with Primary Care providers, the Northern Sydney Local Health District and the local community to ensure a coordinated approach to natural hazards and other emergencies, improving preparedness and building the resilience of people living and working in the region.

Immediate Support 
For emergency help in floods and storms, call NSW SES on 132 500. If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Evacuation Centres 
You can find a list of the current evacuation centres here.

Funding available to natural disaster declared communities
Disaster assistance is now available in 23 local government areas (LGAs) following severe storms and flooding from 27 June 2022, which continue to impact large areas of Sydney and the New South Wales coast.

The LGAs are Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Canterbury Bankstown, Campbelltown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Kiama, Lithgow, Liverpool, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, The Hills, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply);
• Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged road and essential public assets;
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations; and
• Freight subsidies for primary producers.

Assistance for Individuals
This includes support for immediate essential needs (food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation), essential services, essential household contents replacement and repair, and structural repairs or replacement. Learn more here.

Storm and Flood Clean-up Package
To assist households, businesses, primary producers and local councils with the clean-up and restoration of flood damaged, priority environmental assets. Learn more here.

Temporary Housing Support Package
Assistance to affected individuals and families to provide temporary accommodation, financial support and establish temporary dwellings. Learn more here.

Concessional Interest Rate Loans
Available to assist eligible primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations impacted by the severe weather and floods. Learn more here.

The State Emergency Service (SES) is responsible for responding to floods and storms in NSW. The SES website has more information about what to do if there is a flood warning.

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has information about road closures due to floods. Ring 132 701 for the 24 hour traffic enquiry line.

If you need emergency assistance in a flood or storm, call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500.

For more information on:

• What to do following a flood warning
• Personal safety and hygiene during a flood
• Drinking water
• Mosquito control

Please visit NSW Health Storms and Floods webpage.

Have you been affected by flooding? The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the storms and floods. For more information click here.

Heatwaves are extreme heat events that last several days and can have a serious impact on health, particularly for babies and young children, the elderly and those with certain existing medical conditions.

Climate projections show extreme heat events are occurring more often and with greater intensity, so it is important to be prepared for the unexpected.

The NSW Health Beat the Heat webpages have a range of information and advice on preparing for a heatwave.

Find out more about:

• Preparing yourself and your home
• Staying healthy in the heat
• Babies and children in the heat
• Heat-related illness
• People at risk of heat-related illness
• Heat and COVID-19

Bushfires

Bushfires are type of wildfire that burn through wild vegetation like woodland, scrubland, or grassland. These fires are unpredictable and difficult to control and are common during hot, dry weather.

In the event of a bushfire, you can use the NSW Rural Fire Service ‘Fires Near Me’ webpage or ‘Fires Near Me’ mobile app to understand risks in your area.

Create your own bushfire emergency plan using the How fireproof is your plan? webpage.

Access this bushfire recovery assistance resource for practical support regarding accommodation, financial support, animal welfare and more.

Bushfire smoke

Even if you are not directly affected by the bushfires, it is important to reduce your risk of prolonged exposure to smoke inhalation. Individuals with existing medical conditions such as heart or lung problems, those over the age of 65, children under 14, pregnant women and those living with diabetes are most at risk from health complications caused by smoke.

For more information on how to protect yourself and others from bushfire smoke visit the NSW Health Bushfire Protection webpage.

Monitor the quality of the air using the NSW Planning, Industry & Environment website or mobile app, which is updated hourly.

The best way to protect yourself, your family and home in an emergency is to plan ahead of time and be organised.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for an emergency

• Prearrange meeting places with your family and friends, both inside and outside your neighbourhood, in case you are unable to get home. This planning will help to reduce the likelihood of separation from family and friends.
• Store important documents such as passports, wills, drivers’ licenses, birth and marriage certificates, immigration, and insurance documents in a safe place other than your home.
• If forced to leave your home, make sure your family’s essentials are ready and packed so you can escape quickly. Don’t forget items such as prescriptions, medication, torches and spare batteries and warm clothing, as well as enough food and water.

You can create your emergency plan for you and your family using the Red Cross Rediplan.

Many prescribed medications can become less effective or occasionally toxic when stored in the heat and can make the risk of heat-related illness worse.

Most medications need storing below 25°C (discuss with a pharmacist if your are unsure about correct storage temperatures).

A list of medications that can affect a person during hot weather is available on the NSW Beat the Heat website. Any person on regular medication should visit their GP to discuss how their medications could affect their health in the heat.

If your medicines have been affected by floor water please visit the ‘Medications’ sections of the NSW Health Storms and Floods page.