Preparing for an emergency, fire or flood event during COVID-19 restrictions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria will continue to face other emergencies such as fires, storms, heat and flooding. It is important everyone is prepared to respond to these emergencies in a COVID-Safe way.
- If you need to leave your home due to extreme weather, heat, bushfire or flood, please do so. Follow your normal evacuation or relocation plans in a COVIDSafe way.
- If you need to leave home because your health and safety, or the health or safety of someone you live with is at risk, please do so. This includes if you are escaping family violence. You can travel to a friend or family member’s home, or book into alternative accommodation like a hotel or motel.
- Regardless of your location, continue to follow COVIDSafe principles, such as wearing a face mask, washing hands, coughing into a tissue or your elbow and maintaining appropriate physical distancing.
- If you have COVID-19 or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 and need to evacuate, please don’t hesitate to leave. Wear a face mask and contact the Department of Health on the number you have been provided with as soon as you can.
Council's role in emergency management
Council plays an important role in assisting to manage emergencies.
Are you prepared for an emergency?
For more information about being prepared for emergencies, visit Are you prepared for an emergency?
Dry Seasonal Conditions
There are a range of support services available. View these services in Dry Seasonal Conditions - Support in Central and East Gippsland.
Before an emergency
We prepare for emergencies by working with other councils, emergency services and a range of government and non government agencies. These agencies form the Municipal Emergency Management Committee and are responsible for developing the Municipal Emergency Management Plan.
Council also produces an annual Fire Prevention Works Program. However, Council only manages a small percentage of the land in Latrobe City.
Work done on roadsides will not ensure that those roads are safe to travel on immediately before, during or immediately after a fire has passed through.
During an emergency
When an emergency occurs, Council responds in a number of ways. Council may provide additional resources to responding agencies and establish a Municipal Emergency Coordination Centre (MECC). Council staff are trained to perform emergency management roles such as helping in a MECC or emergency relief centre or acting as a liaison officer at an incident control centre.
After an emergency
If people are displaced from their homes or in need of assistance Council may open an emergency relief centre. Council will set up and run the centre which will provide for people’s immediate needs. Various agencies will work in the relief centre and provide services such as food, temporary accommodation, personal support and financial assistance.
Volunteering in an emergency
During and after an emergency local government is responsible for the coordination of relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts. If we require volunteers there will be information posted on this website.
If you are interested in volunteering in an emergency you can undertake training with an emergency services organisation. There are many opportunities available and most organisations offer induction, training, and skills development to make sure you are well prepared to help in a crisis.
See the Victorian Government volunteer portal
Municipal Emergency Management Plan
The priority in an emergency is to provide timely support to the affected community and to ensure the social and economic impact is minimised. We have prepared a Municipal Emergency Management Plan in accordance with the requirements of the Emergency Management Act 1986.
