COTA SA's Climate Change Group is passionate about the actions that individuals can take, big or small, that helps to care for the planet. One of these actions is sharing stories and finding reliable sources of information that are balanced and easy to understand. Our Climate Change Group members will share stories and information that they find useful with the hope that you will find it useful too! Today, planning ahead to get prepared for extreme weather events.

When emergencies happen there are lots of decisions to make and a lot to do!

Climate change is exacerbating the number of hazards and emergencies – more extreme hot and cold weather, storms, floods and bushfires.

Being prepared by creating a plan ahead of time can definitely help to manage those emergencies. The Red Cross and NRMA Insurance have co-created an app called Get Prepared which helps you helps you create a personal emergency plan (called a RediPlan), which is applicable to all hazards and emergencies.

Using the Get Prepared app, you complete your comprehensive RediPlan which includes key contacts, meeting places, animal plans, key documents, special items, medical information and stress management plans. All your vital information, all in one emergency plan. The end result is a RediPlan (in PDF form) that you can save, print and share.

The app can be obtained for iOS or Android via your devices app store. Just search for Get Prepared. Alternatively visit the Red Cross website for more information and a QR code you can scan.

The COTA SA Climate Change Group has identified the issue of coping with extreme weather as a significant issue for older people and strongly supports being prepared for these events..

If you want to chat about this topic or give feedback on the app, please contact the Climate Change Group via COTA SA on 08 82320422 or email cotasa@cotasa.org.au.