With the winter peak just around the corner, storm preparedness is naturally becoming a foremost priority for most farming families across Australia’s eastern coast.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Monitoring weather updates and seasonal changes is always important for ensuring your property is well-prepared for whatever climatic conditions blow your way – especially for those managing farm properties located in flood plains across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
For farming communities living across temperate regions in Australia, storm preparedness involves many different considerations, ranging from property maintenance, record keeping for business insurance purposes, and the best ways to keep yourself connected and updated on the changing weather conditions.
These essentials will help keep you and your farm prepared to weather any storm.
Understanding Weather Patterns
Engaging with local weather patterns and keeping in the loop with seasonal forecasts can help you tailor your storm preparedness planning to fit your property and region.
The effects of nature’s will is always a factor in farm sustainability and the best way to keep on top of these fluctuations is to stay informed and updated through the Bureau of Meteorology.
Downloading and monitoring the BOM app helps to keep you informed about your region’s risk of rain, and wind.
This app also has regular updates on weather warnings a week in advance so you can prepare and act accordingly.
Inspect and Reinforce Infrastructure
Giving your property a thorough inspection for any faults or repairs is the best way to stay prepared and protected in the event of damaging storm weather over winter and spring.
Below we’ve listed some specific considerations to ensure you leave nothing to chance.
Be sure to also include all assessed infrastructure and equipment in your farm insurance policy.
With adequate cover for these assets, you can reduce the financial impact that storm damage may hold on your farm property over these coming wet weather months.
Protecting Power Supply
Keeping your power supply protected is important for remaining connected and informed, and to assist with other electrical needs like heating.
Updating old wires and leads to ensure a sturdy connection, as well as keeping these connections sheltered from the harsh elements is important if you do not have a backup generator or fuel reserves.
If you are at a greater risk of being cut off from communications, having access to a radio or satellite phone is of paramount importance for staying informed and within reach of emergency services.
Safeguarding Livestock and Protecting Crops
Securing and managing your livestock has been greatly aided by modern technology.
However, when it comes to being storm ready, ensuring the safety of your animals means pairing tech with old-school practicality.
Any fences or gates should be inspected for faults, and the area surrounding them should be cleared of loose branches or trees and foliage that could present a hazard during a storm.
In addition, livestock and dairy farmers should make sure there is ample area to shelter for their cattle, sheep and other livestock to keep them dry, safe, and healthy throughout this unpredictable season.
Facilities like stables should also be cleaned and weatherproofed in the leadup to storm season to ensure livestock and horses can be kept comfortable and with reduced risk of wet weather illnesses like hoof rot.
If your livestock are accounted for, then turn your attention to your pastures and crop fields as well.
Crop protection is always dependent upon how durable and hardy the crop is to factors such as high winds or excess rain.
If your farm is expecting heavy rainfall, maintaining your drainage systems to prevent waterlogging will help keep your crops healthy.
Temporary wind breakers or protection nets are also useful to more fragile crops.
Securing Storage
Make sure you have a safe and dry storage area for your essentials such as feed stock or pesticides.
Check that any drums, tanks, or containers with hazardous materials are properly sealed and stored well above potential floodlines.
Accurately labeling your containers in order to keep track of your stock, and to assist emergency services with any clean up effort that may be necessary after a storm.
Prepare Emergency Kits and Evacuation Plans
Assembling an emergency kit and having a reliable evacuation plan can be life-saving when a storm hits.
In a similar vein to a fire safety plan, the key considerations for a storm preparation plan should include an emergency kit with first aid supplies and back up batteries, an easily accessible bag with all essential documents safely stored, and an exit plan that accounts for all persons and livestock to evacuate in a timely and safe manner.
Be sure to have your routes mapped out beforehand and clearly identify which weather conditions will trigger your action plan.
If you’re relying on local emergency service providers for emergency alerts and town evacuation planning, then ensure you have a means of keeping in communication with these bodies.
Determine which UHF radio frequencies will be used by local emergency workers and volunteers, and consider implementing your own communications protocols with your staff and even neighbouring farm properties if collective action is needed.
Establish a Post-Storm Recovery Plan for your Farm Property
As much as being prepared for a storm is important, having a post-storm recovery plan can help set your mind at ease during these unpredictable weather patterns.
As times seem to become harder and harder for farmers, preparedness and planning are the cornerstones to keeping your farm functioning and thriving.
Have a list of contacts ready to assist with any post storm repairs that you may need to outsource.
This could be for utility repairs, contractors, or veterinarians.
Create a checklist with picture evidence that can be referred to after the wild weather has passed to help document any damages for insurance claims.
In addition to these measures for your own farm, reaching out and connecting with your local community can be a great way to pool resources and generate mutual support during these uncertain times.
This content is provided by a third party