Today I spoke to someone, who lives in Eltham, I casually said do you have a bushfire plan?
The response (once again) knocked my socks off.
The response was “Don’t need one” I’m sorry – but YOU do need a bushfire plan.
From March 2013 and the ABC Eltham Bushfires Could Kill Thousands
From a document placed in many letterboxes in the Eltham area (PDF available - Eltham Death Trap PDF )
“The Eltham gateway has many emergency egress problems, which combine to create a high level of risk. The area’s natural south-easterly emergency escape route, is blocked by a river with a single bridge, which is prone to gridlock even in good conditions. Under high heat, smoke and life threatening conditions, the bridge is almost certain to completely gridlock. The next bridge is 13km away by road, while to the west at about 7km by road, a southerly turn of the river allows multiple route suburban egress. That means the Eltham Gateway’s bridge is the only escape route in 20km of road. With only this one bridge to escape the region, people will be trapped and surrounded by flammable vegetation lining the roads.”
Are people really so blind to the risk of bushfires? Or do they expect the CFA to race in on their white steads and rescue them?
Grow up………. Become responsible FOR YOU.
The risk can ONLY be mitigated with you, the risk can be lessened with you. Only YOU can save YOU from bushfire.
Please, please, listen to the weather reports, listen to the fire risks, don’t leave children alone at home and be aware that not only is bushfire a risk, but heat stress is also a risk factor, especially for the elderly. Heat stress/stroke killed more people the week preceding Black Saturday than the Bushfires themselves