GeelongSearch — Your Local Readiness Hub — Local knowledge that keeps you ready for anything.

Storm just hit?

Read this first. Not Facebook.

⚡Fallen wires or burning smell? Stay back. Call 000.
🚫No roof climbs. Wet ladders in the dark break necks.
🐶Secure kids and pets; block gaps to the street.
📸Photograph damage before any clean-up.

First Hour Checklist

Plain English. Free. A4 print-ready.

Real call-outs

STORM
SAFE

FIRST HOUR PLAN

Your First Hour After Storm Damage.

Don’t get hurt trying to “just fix it”.

Storm Clean-Up Australia gives you calm, step-by-step guidance for the first 60 minutes after serious weather: what to fence off, what to photograph for insurance, and when to call 000 instead of climbing a broken roof.

Show me the checklist

Free. No login. Written so your family can follow it at 2am.

Safety check

Emergency workers checking a storm-damaged home

Night of the storm

Can I stay in the house tonight?

Answer quickly. If any are “yes”, don’t sleep under that roof.

First Hour Checklist

Ceiling bulging with water?

If the plaster sags or bubbles, that roof space isn’t safe to sleep under.

Burning / buzzing walls?

Smell of burning or buzzing from outlets = possible live power. Treat as dangerous.

Big tree still on the house?

Weight or movement on rafters can bring the ceiling down while you sleep.

If any answer is “yes”

Don’t sleep there. Move to a safe room or go stay with family (“camp in the lounge” / “go to Nan’s”).

Kids + Pets

Keep them safe first.

Shoes on, doors shut, block gaps. You don’t need chaos on top of damage.

Kids + pets checklist

Quick win. Calm the house fast.

👟 Shoes on. Broken glass and screws can be everywhere.
🚪 Shut damaged rooms so kids don’t wander in.
🐶 Block holes in fences / gates with bins, chairs, anything heavy.

Get them safe and contained. Then you can look at power, roof, photos for insurance.

Do NOT do this yourself.
These are red lines. No debate.

In a storm night you’re stressed, wet, maybe angry. These jobs get people hurt fast. Let trained crew or emergency services handle them.

Chainsawing a tree that’s under tension

A fallen limb can be spring-loaded. When it snaps free it can whip, break your arm, or crush your face.

Going on a wet roof

Tiles and tin are slick. One slip = spinal damage, broken ribs, hospital.

Touching any wires, even “just the TV cable”

You can’t tell live from dead by looking. One hand on it could stop your heart.

Pumping out a flooded area with power still on

Water + live electricity = instant electrocution. You won’t get a warning shock first.

In short: if it can crush you, throw you, or electrocute you, you do not touch it tonight. You’re allowed to say “No, that’s unsafe.”

Emergency order

Who to call (and when)

In a storm night you don’t need debate — you need order. Tap a box below to remember it.

000

Emergency

Call 000 Critical

Someone hurt, wires down, burning / buzzing walls, smoke, or fire risk. Do not wait.

SES

Storm help

SES / local emergency help

Tree through the roof. Car crushed / trapped. Unsafe structure but not on fire.

⚡

Sparks

Licensed electrician

Fuse box got wet. Lights flicker. You felt a tingle from metal. Power is acting weird.

📸

After

Insurance

Call once people are safe and you’ve taken clear photos of the damage. Don’t move stuff first.

Order matters. First protect life, then stop more damage, then call the people who fix, then call the people who pay.

Saved

FIRE
READY

BUSHFIRE READINESS · GEELONG

Calm bushfire readiness for Greater Geelong.

Clear steps for the hours before a bushfire or grassfire.

Our bushfire readiness Geelong guide walks you through calm, plain-language steps in the hours before a fire: choosing to leave early, getting people and pets ready, and using any safe time to prepare your home.

Open the bushfire readiness guide

Free, ad-light and written so your family can follow it even when they’re panicking.

GeelongSearch — Your Local Readiness Hub