Cyclone Information

 

Advice

If an Advice warning is declared, schools remain open and students are to attend as per normal.

The frequency of the updates will depend on the type of cyclone warning (ABC Radio official broadcast).

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services information line phone number is 13 33 37.

The cyclone warning advice line phone number is 1300 659 210.

If the warning escalates to Watch and Act, your education regional office will inform you of site closure.

Check Main Roads WA website for possible road closures.

All information and updated reports relating to the warnings and school closure are also issued on ABC Radio.

Secure loose items and make the site ready for the cyclone.

Check communication plan.

Watch and Act

If a Yellow Alert is declared during a school day, the following will occur:

Yellow Alert before 12:00: – students can be picked up immediately from their classroom.  The school will close at lunch time.  Students will not be sent home until instructions are received from parents.

Yellow alert after 12:00: – students can be picked up immediately from their classroom.  The school will close at the usual time.  Students will not be sent home until instructions are received from parents.

Yellow alert after 14:00:  - If a Yellow Alert is called at or after 2.00pm schools will generally be closed the following day.  Please continue to listen to the radio to receive information as to when schools will open.

The above does not preclude immediate closure in extenuating circumstances and if deemed necessary by the Cyclone Committee.

 

Emergency Warning 

If an Emergency Warning is declared, the school will remain closed.

In the event that an Emergency Warningis cancelled by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the director of education, in consultation with the Deputy Director General Schools, will advise when the school can
re-open. This will happen only after the site has been inspected by officers from the Department of Finance.

The school needs to keep informed via the radio until all threats from the cyclone have passed.

Residential facilities remain open. Staff and students take shelter.

 

AFTER THE CYCLONE

The Department of Finance, in consultation with the principal or site manager, will conduct an assessment of the school or site.

Staff and students cannot return or enter the school or site until this assessment has been completed and the school or site has been given the all clear.

If damage to the school is expected to take two days or more to repair, the principal and director of dducation, in consultation with the central services appointed incident support coordinator, may consider temporary premises, online education programs or hardcopy resources.

If damage to a residential facility is such that students cannot be safely accommodated, the college is to close until the site has been given the all clear.

Animal technicians at agricultural colleges to assess the impact on livestock and ensure they have access to a reliable food source and safe drinking water. Injured animals to be humanely euthanised and disposed of.

All incidents, regardless of size and scale, require a single individual who is responsible for leading the response.

The nature of the cyclone drives the size and nature of the response and support needed. The following incident level structures are activated in response to the level and severity of the cyclone:

• During Level 1 incidents principals or site managers manage level 1 incidents using local resources or with support from their education regional office or central services. External agencies such as the WA Police Force or medical professionals may be involved where required.
• During Level 2 incidents principals or site managers manage the incident at a local level with support from their education regional office or central services. However, if increased complexity or additional resource requirements necessitate further support and coordination, an executive director or above may appoint an incident support coordinator.
• Level 3 incidents involve a high degree of complexity. The Director General will appoint an incident commander. Level 3 incidents are managed under the direction of an incident commander.

 

During a Level 1 or 2 incident, principals or site managers are responsible for:

• Preparing a communication plan. This should include:

-     planning for how communication with parents and carers will occur, for example, Facebook or other electronic methods. Provision of daily updates (or more as required) for staff, parents and carers are essential;

-     updates should also ensure parents and carers are provided as much advance information regarding the likelihood of the school being closed for two or more days; and

-     contact the Department’s Media Unit for advice on 9264 5821.

• Provision of an educational program for students:

teachers will be required to plan and provide a learning program for their students while the students are not able to attend schooschools are able to determine whether the learning program is provided through learning packages or online delivery.

 

• Emergency processes and procedures are current and this information is available to staff. Tthis must include identification of offsite emergency premises in consultation with your director of education, should this be required.

 

The Department of Finance will confirm when the school or site can return to business as usual.

Upon approval from the Deputy Director General Schools to reopen the school, the principal will alert staff, parents and carers. The Department will also use the media to provide information to carers on school openings.

School buses may be affected as a result of road closures, flooding and storm surge. It is important to keep in contact with the bus operator for any changes to operations.