Minute With The Mayor, Mayor Ramon Jayo 23 December 2025

‍NEW FACES, OLD RISKS: WHY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS MUST BE FRONT OF MIND

Hinchinbrook is growing.

Our region is welcoming new professionals and families drawn by lifestyle, affordability and the beauty of North Queensland.

This is something to celebrate, but with growth comes responsibility. We need to make sure everyone understands the realities of living in a disaster-prone area.

Cyclones, floods, severe storms and storm tides aren’t distant possibilities here, they’re part of life. Long-time locals know this instinctively, but for newcomers, the risk can feel abstract until it’s too late.

Disaster preparedness isn’t just a seasonal reminder; it’s a community responsibility.

When severe weather hits, it can happen fast. Roads can close in hours, power can fail for days and isolation is real.

Nearly 12 months ago, many households were stranded without access to shops or pharmacies. That’s why planning ahead is critical, not optional.

Preparation starts with awareness. The Australian Warning System uses three simple levels: Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning.

Knowing what these mean can save lives. But awareness alone isn’t enough.

Every household needs a plan — a Household Emergency Plan and Evacuation Plan, an Emergency Kit with essentials like water, food, torch, radio, chargers and important documents, and a Pet Emergency Plan because animals depend on us too.

One reality new residents to our region may not anticipate is isolation.

When floods cut roads or cyclones damage infrastructure, rural properties and small communities can be cut off for days. Every home should have seven to ten days of essential supplies — non-perishable food, water, medications, pet food, fuel and batteries. These aren’t luxuries; they’re lifelines.

While the Local Disaster Coordination Centre can arrange resupply for isolated areas, this is a last resort and only after prolonged isolation.

The process takes time and it’s not free. Your best defence is self-sufficiency.

For real-time updates, the Hinchinbrook Disaster Dashboard is your go-to hub. It provides live information on road closures, flood alerts, power outages and weather warnings.

Residents can even opt in for email notifications tailored to their location. When severe weather hits, minutes matter — and these alerts give you time to act.

Visit disaster.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au and getready.qld.gov.au for practical guides and checklists.

Our locals are known for their hospitality, and that should extend to disaster preparedness.

If you see this message in Hinchinbrook Life or on social media, share it with those who don’t have access.

Instead of commenting, “not everyone has Facebook,” help deliver the message. Check on your neighbours. Share contact details. Point people to the right resources. Community connections matter when the power goes out or roads are closed.

Disasters don’t wait. Neither should you.

Preparation saves lives, protects families, pets and property.

As our community grows, so does our responsibility to spread the word.

Make it your New Year’s resolution to plan, prepare and stay safe — and help others do the same.