As Townsville's high-risk weather season kicks into gear it's important for all residents to know what to do before a disaster.
Disasters and emergencies can happen at any time of the year, but the high-risk weather season from November to April brings a higher likelihood of cyclones, storms and floods across North Queensland.
Each of these natural disasters brings its own risks, including storm tides and landslides.
Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said it was essential for residents to be prepared for natural disasters.
"It doesn't matter if you've lived in Townsville for your whole life or if you're new to calling this city home – you need to know your risks," Cr Dametto said.
"Living in Townsville means you need to be aware of the risk of cyclones, storm tides, floods, king tides, bushfires, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides and pandemics, and to know how you and your household would respond to these events.
"To be adequately prepared, you need to prepare your emergency plan with your household to know what you will do in the event of a disaster, prepare your emergency kit so it's stocked and ready to go, and remember to make a plan for your pets.
"If you're a business owner it's also a good time to make a plan for how you will reduce your chances of property damage during a disaster.
"We saw this year how quickly the weather can change in our region, so please take some simple steps now to make sure you're as prepared as possible for this high-risk weather season."
Cr Dametto said that while this might sound overwhelming, it was easy to find and follow Council's resources.
"Council has a whole suite of information around disaster management on its website, which will help guide you through what to do before, during, and after a disaster. Just jump onto the Emergency Management and Disaster Dashboard and click 'Get Ready Townsville' to find out more," he said.
"It's also a good idea to bookmark the Disaster Dashboard now, as it's the single point of truth for information about Townsville during any kind of disaster.
"This website is updated straight from Council's Local Disaster Coordination Centre and has helpful tools like a map with layers, so you can see an overview of power outages, road statuses, evacuation routes and more."
