How New Homeowners Can Prepare for Major Weather Events
Australia has been hit with some pretty wild weather lately. Most states have either just gone through, or are still dealing with, major storms, flooding, heatwaves, and early fire activity. If you’ve recently bought a home, especially on a larger block or a semi-rural property, it’s a good time to give your place a quick once-over.
Nothing complicated, just simple checks that help protect your home, no matter what the weather decides to throw at us next.
If you have recently bought a home, especially on a larger block or a semi-rural property, a bit of simple preparation goes a long way. You do not need to overhaul the place, just focus on a few practical checks that help protect your home when the weather turns.
Start with your roof and gutters.
Have a quick look from the ground to see if anything looks loose, bent, or out of place. Storms often find the weak spots first. This is also the time to clear out gutters and downpipes. Leaves, bark, and dirt build up quickly in Australian summers and can cause both overflow during heavy rain and ember risks during fire conditions. A clean roof line helps in both situations.
Walk your yard and boundary.
Check for overhanging branches, loose items, old fencing, and anything that could move or become a fuel source. Even a light storm can throw unsecured items around, and dry debris can become an issue during fire season. Keep grass trimmed around the house, sheds, and fences, and look for any areas where leaves or dry material collect.
Check your drainage.
Water should move away from the house, not towards it. Have a look at where your downpipes are directing water and make sure stormwater drains, pathways, and garden beds aren’t pushing water back towards the walls. This is especially important during sudden summer downpours.
Have a look at fire safety basics.
If you are on a country or semi-rural property, create a simple, clear space around key structures. Keep grass short, clean around sheds, and make sure access points are not blocked. Having hoses connected and ready, and knowing where your taps, pumps, or tanks are, can save time if conditions change quickly.
Review your insurance.
Take a few minutes to make sure your home and contents cover includes storm, hail, fire, flood and temporary accommodation. Policies vary a lot, and it is easier to ask the question now than during a claim.
Prepare an essentials kit.
A small torch, batteries, portable chargers, important documents, spare medications, and some bottled water are handy during outages or severe storms. You do not need a doomsday kit. Just the basics you would want if the power were out or if you needed to leave quickly.
A bit of preparation now helps you feel more settled and confident in your new home. Summer weather can be unpredictable, but with a few simple checks, your home will be much better prepared for whatever comes through.
Some helpful links and references for you:
Weather & Warnings
• Bureau of Meteorology (BOM): https://www.bom.gov.au/
• Australian Government Disaster Assist: https://recovery.gov.au/
Fire Preparation
• NSW Rural Fire Service “Get Ready” Guide: https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare
• CFA (VIC): https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare
• QLD Rural Fire Service: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/about/rural-fire-service
Storm & Flood Safety
• State Emergency Service (General): https://www.ses.gov.au/
• NSW SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/
• QLD SES: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/SES
• VIC SES: https://www.ses.vic.gov.au/
Bushfire Risk & Mapping
• Australian Fire Danger Ratings: https://www.afdrs.com.au/