The Queensland Police Service (QPS) participated in the Get Ready Lockyer Valley event on August 4 at Ferrari Park in Laidley.
The event, hosted by the Lockyer Valley Local Disaster Management Group and funded through the Get Ready Queensland program, brought together over 20 agencies from the community to collaboratively enhance community resilience for emergencies and disasters.
Get Ready Lockyer Valley provides a unique opportunity to have all emergency services in the same place at the same time to provide disaster preparedness, response and recovery education in a fun, interactive way with demonstrations, workshops, interactive activities and displays.
A highlight of the day was the agency mascot dance-off, featuring Swiftwater Matt (Queensland Fire Department), Cluedo (QPS), Paddy (State Emergency Service), and Blazer (Queensland Fire Department) dancing to the Macarena and Nutbush. Swiftwater Matt and Cluedo advanced to the final, where Cluedo won with moves worthy of Dancing with the Stars.
Government agencies, non-government agencies, and non-for-profit organisations all participated, contributing to a fun filled day for the local community which included a range of workshops such as sandbagging, emergency kit preparation, animals in emergencies, and kitchen fire demonstration.
QPS were well represented through district disaster management, district crime prevention, road policing and emergency management coordinators. A big shout out to the mounted unit for bringing Alfie out for the day, and police recruitment for their support bringing a dozen fresh faced recruits to join in the fun.
Despite the light-heartedness activities, the intent of the day is to spread awareness of the importance of preparing for disasters. Everyone in the Lockyer Valley is affected when there is a disaster event - whether it is around isolation due to floods, smoke due to bushfire or severe storms that can affect anyone. Residents of the Lockyer Valley know it's not a matter of 'if' but 'when' the next disaster event will happen.
QPS works closely alongside other state emergency services during times of disaster to provide support such as up to date information including road closures, search and rescue, delivering supplies to affected communities and much more.
Why it is such an important event
Events such as these empower and support the local community to manage disaster risks, respond to events and be more resilient.
Well prepared and resilient communities are safer and recover quicker.
It is an opportunity to build capacity, skills and knowledge around risk and the actions to take.
How to prepare for disaster season
The Get Ready Queensland program is a year-round, all hazards, resilience building initiative coordinated by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to help communities prepare for natural disasters.
- Understand your risk in your area when it comes to floods, fires, storms and cyclones.
- Make a household emergency plan including knowing what to do and where to go if you are required to evacuate.
- Have an emergency kit stocked and ready.
For more information please head to Get Ready Queensland.
