Prepare now for possible severe weather in Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and surrounding areas.
People in the Perth metropolitan area and the South West should prepare their homes and families ahead of possible severe weather.
This includes the towns and surrounding districts of Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury and Busselton. Severe weather could affect the South West from this afternoon and Perth from tonight.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
FESA’s State Emergency Service (SES) has these tips to help you and your family stay safe:
- Store or weigh down loose objects around your home like outdoor furniture and children’s play equipment that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, causing damage or injury
- Prepare for possible loss of electricity
- Check your emergency kit and have a battery powered radio, torch and spare batteries handy
- Ensure pets and animals are in a safe area
- Move vehicles under cover
- Secure sheds and caravan
- Unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline telephones if there is lightning
- If you are away from home contact family or friends to prepare your property
- Construction site workers should store loose building material and tie down sheds
- Boat owners should securely moor their boats
- If boating, swimming or surfing leave the water
- If you are caught outside or your are camping you should find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, storm water drains and streams
- If your property has been damaged in a previous storm and has temporary repairs, ensure tarpaulins are securely tied. If your roof could leak consider placing tarpaulins over furniture and place important documents in sealed bags.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning to advise that severe winds and thunderstorms are forecast to develop in the Southwest district this afternoon and extend to Perth and metropolitan areas tonight.
Heavy rainfall may result in flash flooding in the Southwest district. Higher than normal tides may result in inundation of low-lying coastal areas in the Geographe Bay area, including Busselton and Dunsborough, on Wednesday morning.
While thunderstorms with local heavy falls are possible in Perth, conditions are not expected to be as bad as the March hailstorm.
IF DRIVING DURING HEAVY RAIN:
- Take extra care on the roads:
- Slow down, turn your lights on and keep a safe distance from other drivers
- If it is raining heavily and you cannot see, pull over and park with your hazard lights on until the rain clears
- Take care in areas that have been flooded and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current
AFTER THE SEVERE WEATHER
After damaging wind and heavy rain SES volunteers make temporary repairs to homes that have been badly damaged, such as roofs that have been blown off or trees that have fallen onto homes and cars. You should contact your insurance company to organise ongoing maintenance or permanent repairs.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS:
- If your home or property has been badly damaged by severe weather and you can’t fix it yourself, call the SES on 132 500
- In a life threatening situation call 000
- For information about road conditions contact Main Roads WA on 138 138
- To report downed power lines call Western Power on 13 13 51
- For the latest weather information visit www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 213
