How a simple pillowcase can help protect your child in a weather emergency

Extreme rainfall, flooding, destructive winds and massive power outages across northeastern NSW and southeastern Queensland, had the nation on edge. Cyclone Alfred caught many in its pathway, completely off guard.

Many of the communities affected were simply not prepared for the full force of what Cyclone Alfred delivered and are experiencing a lengthy and challenging recovery. Homes, businesses and community infrastructure are still being rebuilt.

As Australian Red Cross volunteers will tell you, physical structures can be restored, but it's the emotional impact that has long-lasting effects. These are invisible scars that can manifest in any number of psychological, relational and emotional ways, long after the event has passed.

Cyclone Alfred is a case study of the fact that disasters and emergencies can happen to anyone, anytime, regardless of where you live.

Just as governments and industry are investing in infrastructure and built environment adaptation, the Australian Red Cross is investing in people and communities to adapt and build the social and emotional resilience needed to live with a changing climate and more frequent extreme weather.

We must accept that in Australia, the full force of Mother Nature is felt right around the country, whether that is flood, fire, heat or wind. Physical and emotional preparation ahead of time is vital for Australians - and not just for those living in high-risk areas.

Unfortunately, this message is not getting through. Australian Red Cross commissioned research to coincide with EmergencyRedi Week (September 15-21), which shows that despite most Australians (90 per cent) having experienced a disaster or emergency in their lifetime, only one in three (35 per cent) were prepared for it.

Asked why, most said it's because "it won't happen to me" and "it's not on my radar".

In Australia, we simply cannot afford to be complacent. The experience of the Australian Red Cross supporting communities in the hardest of times teaches us that preparation matters.

When a disaster strikes, our volunteers are on hand to support people's wellbeing and provide the psychological first aid to help them to cope mentally. That support continues long after the clean up as people attempt to reclaim their lives and endure the emotional toll that comes with it.

Being prepared ahead of a disaster can make a big difference to the recovery journey and the ability to cope in the aftermath.

Our research shows that those who are physically and emotionally prepared experience a far better recovery with reduced emotional impact after the event. And this is particularly true for children.

Being prepared and informed helps to give children confidence and direction during an emergency. It reduces anxiety and enables them to feel more in control.

This is what Australian Red Cross Pillowcase workshops are designed to do. Over the past 10 years, more than 100,000 children around the country have learnt what to pack in an emergency into their personalised pillowcases and have discovered how to regulate their thoughts and feelings when faced with an emergency.

The "no worries, she'll be right" mentality has long been a part of Australian culture. But it is the exact opposite of where we want people's headspace to be when it comes to emergency preparedness.

The impact and severity of weather events are very real concerns. The federal government will soon release Australia's first National Climate Risk Assessment. It will contain difficult and confronting information about the scale of risks we face. But it is also vital information to help communities, businesses and households know what to prepare for.

This EmergencyRedi Week we urge all Australians to take action and get prepared for extreme weather events and emergencies before they happen. We can't control the environment or weather, but we can control how prepared we are ahead of time.

You can download the Get Prepared App, complete a RediPlan emergency plan online or attend an EmergencyRedi workshop. If you're a parent or carer, talk to your children about the importance of being prepared. You can download your emergency pack checklist at redcross.org.au/prepare.