The City of Armadale acknowledge the Traditional Owners and the Custodians of the land upon which we stand, work and play.
We acknowledge Aboriginal people as the First Peoples of this land and their connection to the lands and the waters, as they are part of them spiritually and culturally.
We acknowledge their ancestors, the Elders past and present, who have led the way for us to follow.
A heatwave occurs when the maximum and the minimum temperatures are unusually hot over a three-day period at a location.
In the hot weather, you need to take care of your health. WA can experience long periods of extreme heat, where the maximum and minimum temperatures are much hotter than usual.
Some people are more vulnerable in the hot weather and need to take extra care of their health to prevent heat related illnesses such as heat stress and heat stroke.
If you have acute or chronic medical conditions, talk to your healthcare practitioner about the best ways to stay healthy and keep cool during heatwaves.
Know who to call for help and who to check on, such as neighbours, friends, relatives, and those who live alone. Share ways to stay safe during heatwaves with others.
Keep your home cool by keeping windows closed and shutting all blinds and curtains.
Check air-conditioners and fans are working and set to the ‘cool’ setting. If you need to service or replace your air-conditioner or fan, do so before summer.
Stock up on food so you are less likely to have to go outside. Take care when you buy, store and handle food
in hot weather to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
Keep electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops charged.
Have a battery, solar or wind-up powered torch and radio available. Have spare batteries on hand.
Prepare a first aid kit.
Make a plan to keep food and medicine safe during and after a power outage.
Think about installing insulation and roof cavity cooling if you do not have it already. Insulation keeps your house cool in summer and warm in winter.
If you are building or renovating, consider how you can make your house more heat tolerant.
Stay inside and keep out of the heat as much as possible. Plan to do most of your activities early or late in the day to avoid being outside during the hottest hours.
Avoid sport and heavy exercise during peak hours of the day.
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Keep your home cool by using external shade cloths or blinds to shield the inside of the house from direct sunlight.
Where possible use a combination of air conditioning and fans to keep certain rooms in the house cool. Electric fans can be an effective method of cooling if air conditioning is not available.
If not using air conditioning, open windows during the cooler parts of the day and allow ventilation between rooms.
Take cool showers or baths, splash yourself with cold water, or use a cool damp cloth to cool down.
If it's too hot at home, go to an air-conditioned shopping centre, community centre, library or your local swimming pool.
Avoid direct exposure to the sun where possible and protect yourself with appropriate clothing (loose-fitting, lightweight and light-coloured).
Do not leave children or animals in parked vehicles.
Keep in touch with friends, neighbours and relatives, particularly if they’re unwell or isolated.
Coping with hot weather can be very stressful and tiring. It can take a couple of days for you to completely recover.
To help you stay healthy after hot weather or extreme heat:
Continue to drink plenty of water so your body can get back in balance.
Open windows and doors during cooler parts of the day to ventilate and cool your home if it is safe to do so.
Get plenty of rest.
If you feel unwell, make a time to see your healthcare practitioner.
Contact family and friends to see how they coped and to check if they need help.
Think about the things you could do differently so you are more prepared to cope next time it is very hot.
Make any changes needed to your home so it will be more comfortable next time there is hot weather or extreme heat.
The Department of Health is the Hazard Management Agency for heatwaves. For valuable resources and guidance on how to stay safe during extreme heat events visit Healthy WA.
Emergency WA is Western Australia’s trusted source for emergency information providing information about alerts and warnings for emergencies across Western Australia. Visit Emergency WA or download the app to access these warnings and alerts.
The Bureau of Meteorology provides heat wave maps, forecasts and assessments. These resources can be found at BOM - Heatwaves.
Storms
Storms are the most common natural hazard in Australia and can occur at any time of year. Storms range in severity and can pass through fairly harmlessly or pose a significant threat to the community. Severe storms can impact communities with damaging wind, large hail, tornadoes and heavy rain that can cause flash flooding.
Before and during a storm, warnings are available through:
TV and radio broadcasts I ABC Radio – 720AM
Bureau of Meteorology Information Line - 1300 659 210
Department of Fire and Emergency Services Information Line - 13 3337
Once a storm risk has passed and the warning has been downgraded, your property may be damaged and unsafe.
If you need temporary emergency repairs to make your home safe, such as for a badly damaged roof or flooding, call the State Emergency Service on 132 500 to request assistance.
Call SES on 132 500 if you need assistance with:
Significant structural damage like collapsed roofs or ceilings
Temporary emergency repairs to homes and buildings
Removing fallen trees that have damaged homes and cars
Sandbagging areas in danger of flooding
Pumping out flood water
Rescuing trapped or injured people, and helping people relocate if they are in danger.
What SES can not help with:
Clearing debris and organising permanent repairs
Attending to broken fences, trees that have fallen on fences or if there is debris around your property or in your pool
Basic repairs that you can manage yourself.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is the Hazard Management Agency for storms. For valuable resources and guidance on how to stay safe during a storm visit storms.
Emergency WA is Western Australia’s trusted source for emergency information providing information about alerts and warnings for emergencies across Western Australia. Visit Emergency WA or download the app to access these warnings and alerts.
The Bureau of Meteorology provides severe weather warnings for potentially hazardous or dangerous weather. These resources can be found at Thunderstorms.
Floods
Floods are a natural disaster that can cause significant damage to property and pose risks to human life. They occur when water overflows onto normally dry land, often due to heavy rainfall, river overflow, or coastal storm surges. Flood waters can be dangerous, it is important you understand the risks of flooding and take steps to avoid injury or de
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is the Hazard Management Agency for floods. For detailed resources on flooding visit flood overview.
Emergency WA is Western Australia’s trusted source for emergency information providing information about alerts and warnings for emergencies across Western Australia. Visit Emergency WA or download the app to access these warnings and alerts.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes may happen at any time, without warning and cannot be stopped or kept under control.
Western Australia is rattled by an earthquake nearly every day. While we don't feel every small tremor, larger earthquakes are powerful enough to cause serious damage to buildings and roads, and put people at risk.
If you live in an area that has experienced earthquakes before, you are more at risk and should be prepared for it to happen again.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is the Hazard Management Agency for earthquakes. For detailed information on how to prepare for an earthquake, what to do during an earthquake and recovering from an earthquake visit Earthquakes.
Emergency WA is Western Australia’s trusted source for emergency information providing information about alerts and warnings for emergencies across Western Australia. Visit Emergency WA or download the app to access these warnings and alerts.
Heatwaves, Storms, Floods and Earthquakes | Service | City of Armadale
