ONE of the wonderful things about living in Lake Macquarie is that we have a lot of bushland, and many residents (including me) live in properties that back onto the bush.
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While the bushland provides a beautiful backdrop, it means we need to be prepared for bushfires.
Readiness means creating a bushfire survival plan, not planning to have a plan.
It's been a year since the devastating bushfires that affected residents in a number of areas across our city.
The community spirit I witnessed during those events, and during the clean-up efforts, was inspiring and demonstrated the resilience in our communities and the dedication of our volunteers.
October is just the beginning of the bushfire season. It is important that you are prepared, stay informed and stay safe during any emergency.
Council encourages everyone to be ready and be safe during extreme weather events. You can sign up for the free alert service at ewn.com.au and click on "Lake Macquarie" to register and receive alerts directly to your mobile phone, email or landline in some cases.
There is also an app alert available, also free through the EWN website, which is just as reliable as SMS alerts, provided you have an always-on internet connection to your phone.
■ For more information about how you can protect your family and property, and help to create an emergency ready Lake Macquarie, go to lakemac.com.au/emergency-ready.