get your plan in place

I was shocked to read in a recent survey that only 12% of survey respondents from the Dandenongs had a written bushfire survival plan in place. It is hard to believe that after countless hours of education by the Shire, the CFA and the media that the message had got through to so few residents.

Current CFA policy recommends that residents "leave early or stay and defend", you need to make this decision today, not wait until there's a fire on your doorstop.

It's essential that you plan early, discuss it with your family and/or neighbours, but please make a plan.

The CFA has some really good information available on http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/residents/programs/index.htm, the CFA also run local community meetings to raise people's awareness of their bushfire risk, and to work with residents to turn that awareness into action. You can find out where your next local community meeting is by visiting http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=publicCommMeetings.

Our plan lives on the side of our fridge, but come bushfire season, it's reviewed and placed fair and square on the front of the fridge for all to see. I urge you to go to your local CFA community meeting and so you can make an informed decision about whether you will leave early or stay and defend.