Before an emergency
People have a role in acting to prevent and prepare for emergencies that impact on their animals and plants, their businesses, the environment and the economy. Taking action now can keep you, your family and animals safe and reduce the impact on your property and business.
- Know the risk to you, your animals and property
- Know where to go
- Know who to call
- Know your plan
- Have an emergency kit for you and your animals
- Prepare now to act early
Get Ready Animals videos - an emergency plan for your animals
Preparing for natural disasters
Your animals are your responsibility – Plan for your animals
The tips and links below provide useful information to assist you to prepare for a natural disaster.
- Access to alternate power supply eg fuel generator
- Feed and water supplies for 3-7 days
- Animal evacuation kit
- Identify and prepare a safe area
- Access to adequate transport
- Consider agisted animals
- Practice your plan
- Adequate levels of insurance for your home, infrastructure, assets, stock and crops
- Livestock safety in emergencies (PDF, 355.18 KB)
- Pet safety in emergencies (PDF, 394.8 KB)
- Planning for emergencies - a guide for animal holding establishments
- Horse safety in emergencies (PDF, 522.05 KB)
- RSPCA SA video - Pet emergency plan cat, dog, horse, act early and evacuate (4.21 min)
- RSPCA NSW - Disaster management plan
- Food safety - flood, fire, power cut emergencies
- Reduce fire hazards and fuel load on property
- Install and maintain firebreaks
- Fire-fighting equipment appropriate and operational, with an adequate water supply
- Ensure emergency service vehicles can access your property
- Prepare a flood mound to hold animals and feed supplies
- Build infrastructure above flood zone
- Install barriers/levies
Preparing for biosecurity emergencies
The tips and links below provide useful information to assist you to prepare for a biosecurity emergency.
Plant biosecurity requires participation from you to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from invasion or spread of plant pests and diseases.
- Watch out for and report anything unusual to protect NSW from exotic plant pests
- Protect your property from plant biosecurity threats with six simple precautions
- Implement farm biosecurity on your property
- Recognise the notifiable plant pests and diseases in NSW
Animal biosecurity protects the economy, human health and the environment from problems associated with pests and diseases of animals. NSW DPIRD and Local Land Services work with livestock owners, livestock industries, rural communities and other stakeholders to ensure the quality and safety of NSW livestock and livestock products.
- Implement farm biosecurity on your property
- Know and report emergency animal diseases
- Watch out and report anything unusual in wildlife and feral animals
Aquatic biosecurity protects the economy, human health and the environment from problems associated with aquatic pests, diseases and saltwater weeds.
- Aquatic pests and diseases pose environmental, social and economic threats by damaging the natural balance of aquatic flora and fauna
- Make 'clean' part of your routine (PDF, 385.23 KB) to minimise the spread of pests and diseases
- Everybody can stop the spread of aquatic pests including not dumping that fish
Key contacts
| Reporting emergencies | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Life threatening emergencies, and reporting bush fires | Dial 000 |
| NSW State Emergency Services (SES) | For emergency help in flood, storm and tsunami call 132 500 |
| NSW Rural Fire Services (RFS) | 1800 679 737 |
| Emergency animal diseases | 1800 675 888 (24 hour hotline) |
| Emergency plant pest reporting and what happens next | If you suspect the presence of an exotic plant disease or pest, or if you see unusual symptoms on your plants, immediately call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881. |
| Aquatic pests and disease | Report unusual disease signs, or unexplained deaths in cultured or wild fish to NSW DPIRD. Reporting aquatic pests and diseases on 02 4916 3877 (recorded 24 hour hotline). |
| Additional information | |
| Farm biosecurity | Farm biosecurity is a set of measures designed to protect a property from the entry and spread of pests and diseases. Farm biosecurity is your responsibility, and that of every person visiting or working on your property. |
