1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: It is just about that time of year when cyclones 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: could affect the Northern Territory, and this season, I know 3 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a sixty percent chance 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: of an above average number of tropical cyclones in the 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: Northern Region. And if you're leaving the Northern Territory over Christmas, 6 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: it is incredibly important to prepare your home beforehand, while 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: those sticking around do need to make sure that you 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,599 Speaker 1: check your cyclone kits as well. Now joining me in 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 1: the studio to tell us a little bit more about 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: what we should realistically be making sure that we do 11 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: is the Northern Territory Emergency Services, Acting Manager of the 12 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: Northern Region, Keith Hutton. Good morning to. 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 2: You, Keith, Morning Katie. How are you? 14 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: Yeah? Good, Good to have you on the show. Now. 15 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: It is that time of the year where people are 16 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: sort of winding down. Some schools have already finished, others 17 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: are finishing on Thursday, and people are getting ready to 18 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: go on holidays in a lot of cases, aren't they. 19 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think we're all looking forward to the holidays 20 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: this year. It's been a bit of. 21 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: A big year and sometimes I suppose that some people 22 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: maybe don't get as prepared as what they could for 23 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: cyclone season. If they're thinking about holidays and they're just 24 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: kind of, you know, looking to the end to. 25 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 2: Get out for a while, Well, when we're going away, 26 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: you know, we have to make those preparations. So everyone's 27 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: we constantly harp on about make sure you've got your 28 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 2: cyclone kid ready. So I mean, if you haven't dragged 29 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: out your cyclone kit by now, you need to get 30 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 2: on that doing that. When the cyclone's announced, it's the 31 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 2: cues of the at the cash register is going to 32 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: be pretty long and you might miss out on the 33 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 2: highly valued toilet paper. But yeah, make sure you've got 34 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: your cyclone kids ready. Make sure you let people know 35 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 2: what's going on. So if you're going away for holidays, 36 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 2: you've got a house sitter in, make sure the house 37 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: sitter knows what the plan is so if they can 38 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: shelter in the home where their cyclone kid is. And 39 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 2: if you're holidaying in the territory, make sure you've got 40 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: you're prepared, you know where to go as well. 41 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: And with the home as well. And if you are 42 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: having it looked after, buy a house sitter. Making sure 43 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: as well that you're leaving them in a situation where 44 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: the jobs are done. You know, you don't want them 45 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: to be having to scramble around the yard moving big 46 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: items and things like that. You need to have done 47 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: it before you go away. 48 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 2: Absolutely. I've been madly going around for the last month 49 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 2: and a bit just putting things awake in the ladder away, 50 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: you know, moving the lawnmar once in a while. But yeah, 51 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: make sure the yard is tidy and all the heavy 52 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 2: objects are put away. So so when these events do happen, 53 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: and they happen without warning, you get two or three 54 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: days maybe, and yeah, that's no time to be running 55 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 2: around trying to get everything prepared. 56 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. What about for people who are new to the 57 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: Northern Territory, what do you reckon? They need to know? 58 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: Because I know that we quite often get people contact 59 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: us say, oh, we've just moved here. What do you reckon? 60 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 1: They need to know? Ahead of cyclone season. 61 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 2: The best resource probably go to a secure and teeth 62 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: if they went on too there and had a look, 63 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 2: there's links on there to go and see what preparations 64 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: they can put in place. Be aware of what the 65 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: cyclone warnings are and where our shelters are. Okay, So 66 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: and really assess your building. Are you going to shelter 67 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 2: in your home or are you going to go to 68 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 2: a shelter. That's an important decision to make now. 69 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Keith, when you talk about making sure that 70 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 1: your yard and your home is prepared, what are some 71 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: of the big ticket items that we all need to 72 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 1: make sure that we do well. 73 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 2: Trampolines, bikes, barbecues, all those sorts of things. They all 74 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: become flying missiles during a cyclone. Anything anything that can 75 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 2: be picked up, loose sheets of iron i'd building materials 76 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 2: or garden garden tools, they all become missiles and they'll 77 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: all wind up a long way away or probably through 78 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: someone's wall. 79 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: Now, what about in terms of cyclone kits. I know 80 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: you mentioned toilet paper before. What you need to make 81 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: sure is the essential items that are in there. 82 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: Well, you need to think about your specific situation. So 83 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: if you've got medication that you need, you need to 84 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: have it at least three days supply that medication. You 85 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: need to make sure you've got three days supply of food. 86 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: Battery operate equipment such as radio's torch, and recharge those 87 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 2: rechargeable batteries for your phone and communication devices they're really 88 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 2: good to have. 89 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I suppose, like you said, everybody's situation is 90 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: going to be different, but particularly if you are somebody 91 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: who needs medication, making sure that you've got enough of it. 92 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: That's if there is a cyclone and we're out of 93 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 1: action for a few days, that you're not having to 94 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: try and get out there and get something, but you 95 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: may not be able to. 96 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: That's right. Even if you're going to a shelter, you 97 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 2: need to be able to take that take that kit 98 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: with you. It's good to have a first, a kit, 99 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 2: basic first a kit and food that doesn't need a 100 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: lot of preparation, like cooking that you can eat cold. 101 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: We could be without power for three days, you know, 102 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 2: prepared for that. 103 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, Keith. In terms of volunteers for you guys 104 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: with the Northern Territory Emergency Services at the moment, I 105 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: would I assume that you're always on the lookout. I'm 106 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 1: guessing that everybody's trained up for over the Christmas period, 107 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,479 Speaker 1: but are you after some more volleys maybe for next year? 108 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: Well, the news resolutions are always good giving back to 109 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 2: community volunteering in your area. We're always looking for volunteers 110 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: at this time year. Our volunteers go on holidays as well, 111 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: but we have had a look at and we've put 112 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 2: the screws on them, so we've got good numbers. But 113 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: getting into next year, getting into late January will be 114 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: the units will be opening up again and they'll be 115 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 2: back to full strength and they'll be looking for new volunteers. 116 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 2: So that's the time to actually get in there and 117 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: fulfill that new year resolution. 118 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I reckon it's a good one, you know, to 119 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: try and help the community out a little bit more. Keith, 120 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: where can people go if they do want to get 121 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: a bit more info about potentially becoming a volunteer, you know, 122 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: let's say in the new year, is there a website 123 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: or somewhere that they can have. 124 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 2: A look so you can go. So you can go 125 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: on to secure and t dot dot NT dot gov 126 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: dot AU Yep, you can go through there. You can 127 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: go on to the PFS website which is NT dot 128 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: gov dot U forward Stash PFS and follow the link 129 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 2: sets through through the volunteering. 130 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: Good stuff. Well, Keith Hushan always great to catch up 131 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: with you, the NT Emergency Services Acting Manager of the 132 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 1: Northern Region. Hope you have a lovely Christmas. 133 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 2: Yep, no worries and to you too, Katie. Look, just 134 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: one more thing for the listeners. Just if in the 135 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: event of an incident, a severe weather, ins or anything, 136 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 2: don't forget the number to call is one three two 137 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 2: five hundred, but in a life threatening situation it's always 138 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: trip O. 139 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: Okay, good stuff well, Keith, thank you as always, have 140 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: a lovely Christmas Mate, thanks so much for your 141 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 2: Time as thank you Katie.