Region prepared for storm season
TOOWOOMBA disaster management preparations are well under way as we edge closer to the summer storm season.
Disaster management co-ordinator Norman Fry said the local disaster management group met yesterday where members discussed a number of issues.
"We received up-to-date briefings and spoke about the upcoming fire and storm season," Mr Fry said.
"As a result, the local disaster management plan is going to be reviewed by state representatives at the end of November."
Mr Fry, who is also the Toowoomba SES controller, said a number of new plans which were tabled at the meeting would be adopted.
"They include up-to-date aerodrome emergency, resupply, governance and wildfire plans," he said.
"We are as prepared as we can be."
An exercise would be held next week as preparations enter the final stages.
"The Toowoomba Regional Council disaster co-ordination centre will be activated on October 24 for a short exercise," he said.
"The exercise will be called Black Stump and will involve a fire event north of Goombungee.
"The main aim of the exercise will be to test our new systems and procedures," he said.
Mr Fry said all reports pointed to a busy summer for authorities.
"We received a briefing from the Bureau of Meteorology who stated that there will be high winds and hail associated with this year's summer storm period," he said.
"We have informed residents through a range of marketing techniques on how they can be prepared this summer.
"We are also in the process of procuring a command and control trailer for the region which will assist us greatly in the case of an emergency."
