Would you spend time and energy preparing for something that may not even occur?

Society’s answer to that question is key to a conundrum that accompanies natural disaster preparedness.

We can spend a lot of effort and money making sure we’re ready for the next big storm, only for that storm to never eventuate. Equally, we can fail to prepare and then get hit by a wild storm the very next season – with devastating consequences.

It’s common to ponder that preparedness riddle for a few moments, then “kick the can down the road” to be considered properly at a later date – crossing our fingers in the hope that that hasty decision isn’t later met with deep regret.

You don’t need to be prepared for a natural disaster… until you do!

This message is at the core of Brisbane-based Public Safety Training & Response Group, which specialises in all manner of training in the public safety sector, and also provides private search and rescue services.

You don’t need to be ready for a storm, until that storm hits. You don’t need to be ready for flooding, until the water levels rise. And you don’t need to be ready for bushfire, until the flames surround you.

As we all know, by then, it’s too late.

The cautionary truth, however, is this: In Australia, the likelihood of a natural disaster such as bushfire, storms, floods and cyclone is a case of: “not if, but when”.

The late US President John F Kennedy provided a sensible and simple solution: “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining…”

The time to prepare for a natural disaster is when the natural disaster is not imminent. The time to prepare for storms, floods and bushfire is when you still have time to prepare.

Public Safety Training & Response Group is dedicated to helping individuals, communities, businesses and government get prepared for the inevitable natural disaster.

The Group also recognises that when a natural disaster strikes, it will likely be you and your neighbours that provide the initial help to the people living in your street.

Public Safety Training & Response Group courses begin with the most foundational CPR and First Aid training (as well as providing first aid at isolated sites and first aid services management), and extends through to the more challenging courses such as swift water rescue and flood recovery, and internationally accredited courses in floodwater awareness, rescues from vehicles in floods, as well as courses in rescue-related aviation, including helicopter rescue crewing and Advanced Helicopter Pilot Training through our partner company Special Mission Helicopters.

All training is conducted by experts, mainly ex-military and ex-emergency services personnel, who have considerable expertise and lived experiences that contribute to their teaching.

Rescue Planning and Emergency Response

Public Safety Training & Response Group also delivers courses in licencing for uncrewed drones, which have increasingly been used globally in rescue planning and emergency response. We are also the sole  Australian distributor for the revolutionary Fotokite tethered surveillance system, which is being utilised by first responders around the globe. See the Fotokite company video here.

Residents across Queensland and Australia are well aware of the disasters that have occurred over recent years – cyclones, bushfires, floods – and the massive, combined community efforts needed to respond to the challenges and recover back to everyday life.

That recovery occurs more quickly, and more successfully, when the right preparations and plans have occurred before such emergencies are upon us, right on our doorsteps.

American founding father Benjamin Franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail.”

If a natural disaster strikes your community, will you be ready to help? Will you have the training and skills to act quickly and safely? Will you be prepared to succeed or to fail?

Contact Public Safety Training & Response Group now to learn how you can best prepare for an emergency.

After all, you don’t need to be prepared for a natural disaster… until you do!