A “HEADS UP” from the Bureau of Meteorology sparked flood-prone resident Vicky Findlay into action earlier this year.

It was a familiar scenario; the northern NSW resident had been flooded in at least 20 times in 20 years, often watching water cover her street.

In March, the bureau gave a “heads up” for potential flooding in Lismore after tropical cyclone Debbie wreaked havoc  in southern Queensland.

Ms Findlay and her family were prepared.

They had a well-thought out plan in such cases of emergency.

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“I went inside and checked I had batteries for the radio, then I checked that we had sufficient food and water.

“My partner Steve and I then looked around to make sure there was no rubbish under our home that could be swept away with any floodwater, then we filled our gas bottles, in case we had to cook inside.”

Staying calm and having a well-established plan in case of such an emergency could have saved the couple’s lives and almost certainly saved their property from the subsequent floods.

Most of us will face an emergency at some point in our lives.

Red Cross emergency services manager Di Bernardi said for many of us, it’s unthinkable.

“Until it happens, and then it’s too late,” she said.

It could be an act of nature, such as a flood or bushfire, or it could be a medical emergency.

What keeps people alive in such a circumstance is to have a well-thought out plan.

“If you take this one easy action, it will make your next emergency less stressful,” Ms Bernardi said.

“There are simple and practical steps you can take to protect the people you love, your own wellbeing and the things you value most.”

Thinking about an emergency and how you might react will help you keep calm and respond better when it does come.

Find out where to get important disaster information, such as your local radio emergency broadcaster, to keep you better informed during the crisis.

“Also, get to know your neighbours; they’re the people who might support you and look out for you when an emergency happens,” Ms Bernardi said. 

Ms Findlay backed up that advice.

“We talk to our neighbours in preparing for a possible flood,” she said.

“We discuss different strategies, what works for them and how we may do things differently in future.”  Preparation, keeping informed and communicating with people close by are all part of a  plan to help us overcome unexpected situations.

Talking to those closest to you is the first step in tackling an emergency.

Next, think about who and what you most want to protect.

In the case of Ms Findlay, a priority was saving her 1.2 hectare property, so she and her partner have planted trees that will slow the speed of coursing water.

They also clear under their house of debris that may be carried away in a flood.

Think about your loved ones, animals, family heirlooms and possessions. 

“We moved our vehicles to higher ground and valuables from under the house were brought upstairs,” Ms Findlay said.

Preparing your mind for an emergency is perhaps the best strategy to deal with an approaching crisis. Forethought may help you cope better in times of an emergency.