January 2022 Storms – community information

Now is the time to do all you can to prepare your home and family for any possible impacts of forecasted storms.

Complete or update your 20-minute Survival Plan.

Take some preventative actions around your home:

• Clean your gutters
• Check stormwater drains
• Trim overhanging branches.

In preparation for severe weather:

• Move your car under cover and away from trees.
• Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
• Secure any temporary repairs that are in place as a result of the storm on Monday afternoon.
• Stay vigilant and monitor conditions.

Visit the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website for weather updates, and the ACT ESA website and social media for the latest advice. 

During a thunderstorm, remember to: 

• Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
• Stay indoors away from windows and keep children and pets indoors.

For help during storm and flood, ring the ACTSES on 132 500 and only call Triple Zero (000) if the incident is life-threatening.

We remind the community that during weather events some delays may be experienced when calling the 132 500 number due to the large number of calls. We ask the community to be patient during this time.

The ACTSES only makes temporary repairs to homes damaged in storms or floods. If you have permanent damage to your home, you will need to contact your insurance provider to resolve the problem.

Continue to monitor the road closure page on the City Services website for the latest in road closures.

The community is reminded to exercise caution when travelling through storm affected areas as hazards and debris remain on the roadway.

Remember if it is flooded, forget it. Don’t attempt to drive through flood waters on the roads.

Power outages should be reported to Evoenergy.

If you have a live power line that has come down and is damaged and down on the ground, don’t approach the line and call Evoenergy.

The latest updates on power outages can be found on the Evoenergy website or on their Facebook and Twitter Pages. Alternatively, customers can call the Evo Energy Hotline on 13 10 93.

A community information hub has been set-up to support those affected by the ongoing storm response across the Belconnen region.

The hub is located at the Molonglo Rural Fire Service Brigade, 27 Drake-Brockman Dr, Higgins, ACT.

Facilities available include:

• (New) Showers
• (New) Washing machines and dryers
• Charging stations for phones and mobile devices
• Ice for eskies
• A skip to dispose of food waste
• Ongoing incident information

The hub will be open from 11am to 7pm. The facility will be open until Sunday 9 January 2022. Further advice will be provided to the community if these arrangements change.

The hub is not equipped to provide temporary accommodation.

Please be COVID safe when attending this hub by wearing masks, social distancing and signing in with Check In CBR. This helps to keep everyone safe.

Do not attend the community hub if you are isolating, required to quarantine or are COVID-19 positive. People affected by COVID-19 restrictions should call the COVID-19 Helpline on (02) 6207 7244 for advice.

In the event of an emergency, even if you are isolating, you can leave your residence if you need to get to safety.

People requiring food relief support should connect with existing food pantries across the Territory.

Details of local food pantries can be found on the Volunteering ACT website.

Individuals can also contact the Canberra Relief Network (CRN) Connect Centre to find a local partner for food and essential items, and to find out what items are available. Their number is 1800 43 11 33.

If you need emergency accommodation, please contact OneLink on 1800 176 468 or via info@onelink.org.au. OneLink provides information and connections for support services in the ACT, including services for people who are at risk of homelessness due to their homes being uninhabitable.

More information ACT Government support can be found on the Community Services website.

If your suburb lost power and you have food in your fridge or freezer that has spoiled, this food can be processed in a home compost or can be disposed of in your general waste (landfill) bin. 

Remember that you can also remove any recyclable packaging and place it in your recycling bin.

Residents in the Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) pilot suburbs of Macquarie, Cook, Bruce and Belconnen can dispose of food through their FOGO bin.

To support those affected by the ongoing storm response across the Belconnen region, spoiled food can also be disposed of at the information hub at the Molonglo Rural Fire Service Brigade, 27 Drake-Brockman Dr, Higgins, ACT.

Residents in Belconnen that were the hardest hit by the storm on Monday will receive an additional green waste bin collection this Saturday 8 January 2022.

The suburbs that will receive the additional green waste bin collection this Saturday are:

• Charnwood
• Dunlop
• Florey
• Hawker
• Holt
• Latham
• Macgregor
• Scullin
• Weetangera

If people are not in one of the suburbs selected for the additional collection and have too much green waste for their green waste bin, excess household green waste can be dropped off for free at Corkhill Bros at the Mugga Lane Resource Management Centre in Symonston or Canberra Sand and Gravel on Parkwood Road in Macgregor.

Please also look out for your neighbours at this time as not everyone has access to a green bin. Some residents, particularly our senior Canberrans, may need assistance with collecting branches and filling their bin.

Further information is on the City Services website.

People isolating or quarantining can leave their location if there is an emergency, or their residence is unliveable. They will not be in breach of public health directions under these circumstances.

If you must leave your residence, your options are:

• Moving to friends’ or family’s house
  Preferably vacated; if the residents are still there, they should follow the advice for household contacts on the COVID-19 website. If a residence is temporarily vacated to allow people with COVID-19 to stay there, it should be cleaned before being re-occupied.
• Going to paid accommodation
  If considering this option, it is essential that the accommodation provider is aware that the guest(s) are quarantining or isolating. Many accommodation providers in the ACT are experienced in accommodating people in quarantine or isolation but they need to know at time of booking.

People on NDIS packages may be eligible for emergency payments. They should contact their care provider for further information.

Relief may be available through the Canberra Relief Network. Contact Access Canberra for further information.

If re-locating to another quarantine or isolation location, people must use private transport, go directly there without stopping, park well away from others, wear masks and practice excellent hand hygiene.

If re-locating to another quarantine or isolation location, phone (02) 5124 6500 to update your location with ACT Health.