Quick links to flood and cyclone alerts and support
Prepare yourself and your home
It may no longer be safe to undertake some preparation activities due to destructive winds.
An emergency kit should be put together before a disaster happens. It can save you valuable time if you need to leave your home or defend your property, and can help you survive.
Prepare an emergency survival kit
Leave your home early and go somewhere safer, such as an evacuation centre.
The latest warnings are available here from the NSW SES.
This should be away from big windows, such as in a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, or hallway in case you need to shelter in your home during a severe storm or cyclone. If you do have to shelter in place, cover any windows in your safe room with a mattress or heavy blanket to protect you from broken glass if the window breaks.
- Secure outdoor furniture, garden tools, and loose objects to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles.
- Inspect your roof for damage, clear gutters, and seal any gaps around windows and doors.
- Park your vehicle in a safe, covered location well before the weather worsens.
- Move valuable and electrical items to higher ground to protect them from potential flooding.
- Use sandbags to protect entry points prone to flooding, and store extra sandbags in a sheltered spot.
- Apply plastic sheeting to the inside of windows and seal the edges with tape to help reduce wind-driven rain entering your home
- Locate and be ready to disconnect or shut down your gas, electricity, solar power and water services if instructed.
Fill up your bathtub
We recommend filling up the bathtub now while the tap water is still safe to drink and running. That way, you can keep the essentials going if the water gets cut off. If you don't have a bathtub, or it's unsafe to fill up the tub when you have kids - fill up sinks and buckets instead.
Look after your animals
If you can, move your livestock, horses and other animals to a safe paddock that has high ground and shelter from the wind. Keep your pets (including cats) indoors, make sure they have a safe place, food and water and something to clean up mess. Have a pet emergency plan and kit.
The Local Land Services farm flood readiness guide will help you to identify risks and hazards on your property. Download the checklist to help you prepare. Know what to do to protect your livestock and farming business with a personalised farm flood plan.
Mental Health support
Given the significant experience of residents across Northern NSW during the 2022 weather event, many people are likely to be feeling concerned about Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Prepare psychologically. It can be terrifying when homes or communities are threatened by a cyclone. There are steps you can take to psychologically prepare.
If you or someone you know needs specialist mental health care, please call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. It is a free service operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by specialist mental health professionals who offer mental health advice, and referrals to local mental health services.
For free health advice anytime day or night, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Need support in your language? You can call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask for Healthdirect.
If you need crisis mental health support, please call Lifeline Australia at any time on 13 11 14
Children and young people can call Kids Helpline at any time on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.au
For non-crisis mental health support, please call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
There is also a range of online resources to support you and your loved ones. Please visit Beyond Blue and Lifeline online.
Young people should visit headspace.org.au, Kids Helpline or ReachOut.com
Additional support and essential information
Related apps
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Hazards Near Me NSW
Hazards Near Me shows current information about local emergencies, including flood, bushfire and tsunamis, and advice on what to do to stay safe. The app can send you push notifications when there are new incidents or when information changes.
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Emergency Plus
Save the app that could save your life.
‘Emergency +’ is a national app developed by Australia's emergency services and their government and industry partners, helping people to call the right number at the right time, anywhere in Australia.
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BOM Weather
BOM Weather is the Bureau of Meteorology's weather app, giving you accurate weather information at your fingertips.
The BOM weather app includes current conditions, forecasts, warnings and radar.
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Live Traffic NSW
Live Traffic NSW provides up-to-the minute news of incidents and conditions that affect your journey in Sydney and Regional NSW.
This app provides you with live updates about traffic incidents and access to live traffic cameras from the Transport Management Centre (TMC).
Emergency resources and contacts
- For personalised recovery help, call Service NSW on 13 77 88
- Call Legal Aid on 1800 801 529 for free legal advice
- Find emergency accommodation
- Get mental health support
- Support for local councils after a disaster