Bedding down during a disaster is not that simple

Susanna Freymark

In times of disaster such as bushfires and floods, how prepared are our evacuation centres?

The issue of suitable bedding at evac centres was raised by residents, Councillor Danielle Mulholland said.

At the Kyogle Council meeting on Monday, November 13, she suggested the council look for funding to provide the evacuation centres with swags, sleeping bags, bedding and as storage facility for this bedding.

Although the evacuation centres are designed to be a ‘pit-stop’ for evacuees until other accommodation can be found for them, occasions do arise where they need to stay overnight if they evacuate during the night or alternative accommodation cannot be immediately found, she said.

Councillor Maggie May said it was the State Government who set up the evac centres and they decided what place was appropriate.

Ms May was concerned about the capacity for storage space for any bedding.

Infrastructure and assets officer Tony Lickiss said hygiene was also an issue.

Who washes the bedding after it has been used?

Ms May said the storage facility would need to be rodent-proof.

Councillors voted to get more funding for emergency bedding keeping in mind the  hygiene and storage concerns.

At the council meeting the grants for community organisations was announced.