The UK government's Be Ready campaign advises the public to keep three days of supplies for severe weather or cyber-attacks. The advice includes bottled water, non-perishable food, a torch, a wind-up radio, a first aid kit and a copy of a passport. Jack Brown, who co-owns a survival supplies shop, said he received a month's worth of orders within 24 hours of the campaign. Dr Sarita Robinson, a psychology academic, said accurate messaging about emergencies does not usually cause panic. Dan Goss, who runs a preparedness website, said traffic had risen sharply since the campaign was announced.
Britons are being urged to keep nine litres of bottled water and three days' worth of food at home. The Be Ready campaign from the Cabinet Office is aimed at helping households survive weather, cyber or other serious emergencies. Security minister Dan Jarvis called the advice simple steps for everyday emergencies. Defence secretary Wes Streeting said Britain must prepare for state-sponsored terrorism by Russia or other hostile powers targeting everyday infrastructure.
Bushfires could cost Australia $181.7 billion over the next 30 years, an average of $6 billion a year, according to a report by Emergency Leaders for Climate Action. The research links the rising cost to global warming, which is making fires more frequent and intense. Author Janice Lee said a fifth less damage could prevent $39.4 billion in losses. Peter Dunn urged governments to start preparing now.
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Toowoomba Regional Council is urging residents and businesses to prepare for storm season before heavy rain arrives. Overland flow, rainwater running across the ground towards drains, creeks or rivers, can affect streets, parks and backyards well away from waterways. Council recommends keeping drains, gutters and flow paths clear, directing water away from buildings, and reviewing emergency plans. Residents can follow council's overland flow information and subscribe to its Disaster Dashboard for alerts and updates.
The 2026 Royal Geelong Show has drawn visitors from far and wide, with competitions including the Victorian Whip Cracking Championship and blade shearing under way. Toy poodle Denny, owned by Roger Ship and Stewart Budd, became an Australian champion in the Championship Dog Show. In the Wool Sheds, Alma Miller of the Geelong Handweavers and Spinners Guild is encouraging young people to take up wool-based crafts. Volunteers from Victoria's State Emergency Service are helping families prepare for the bushfire season. The show runs until Sunday 19 October, with wood chop and highland dancing competitions starting Saturday.
Endeavour Energy is urging Illawarra residents to prepare their homes before storm season begins this spring. Strong winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain can damage powerlines and poles, causing outages. The utility's Anthony Baerwinkel said coastal areas are particularly vulnerable, with these events more common from October to March. Residents are advised to secure outdoor items, clean gutters, charge devices and keep an emergency supply of water, food and medication. People should treat fallen powerlines as live and stay at least eight metres away from them.
Logan is expected to have above-average daytime and overnight temperatures from October to December, with a higher risk of heatwaves, the Bureau of Meteorology says. Senior climatologist Zhi-Weng Chua warned that severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and heavy rain also remain possible, even though the long-range rainfall forecast shows no clear signal. Logan City Council has endorsed proposed flood-planning changes that could remove 25,000 properties from its flood overlay, though state approval is still required. Mayor Jon Raven urged residents to clear gutters, mow grass and prepare emergency kits before severe weather arrives.
