Dear Valued Participants, Family and Staff
Many of us that live in the Yarra Ranges and tree dense areas felt the tension last week. Constant app checks, spot fire alerts, and trees down coupled with hot humid winds. That knot in your stomach as conditions escalated. While most of us came through unharmed, the danger is not over for some our community, and our thoughts remain with those still at risk.
One thing is clear: hoping for the best is not a plan.
A Hard Truth
There’s a quote attributed to Mike Tyson:
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.”
Bushfires are that punch.
When a fire is approaching, Recovery Options will not be able to rescue you, evacuate you, or make decisions on your behalf. Emergency services may also be overwhelmed. That’s why every staff member and every client must have their own, clear, practiced bushfire plan. We always recommend leaving early as you best line of defense. Our plan templates can be found in the link below
If you previously opted out of assistance with developing a bushfire plan, now is the time to reconsider. Please contact the office so we can support you to put one in place.
Why This Matters — What Happened Last Friday
On Friday 9th, the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) surged to 99 — just one point below Catastrophic. Conditions like this are dangerous, fast-moving, and unpredictable.
Recovery Options made the necessary decision to remove most non-essential services, maintaining only vital supports. Thank you to the staff who stepped up to ensure continuity of care under extreme pressure and thank you to those participants who cancelled voluntarily. This made our job easier.
We were fortunate — particularly in the Yarra Ranges — due to rapid CFA responses to multiple spot fires but next time, luck may not be on our side.
This brief is a reminder that NDIS services on Extreme Fire Danger rating days with a Fire Behaviour Index above 76, may see shifts removed which is what happened last Friday. In these instances staff do not get paid and clients do not get charged. All shifts go ahead unless staff and clients are notified otherwise.
Fire Danger Ratings & Service Impacts
This communication serves as a reminder of Recovery Options’ Fire Policy and how support services may be affected on Extreme and Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating days.
Our policy considers:
- Your location, and
- The Fire Behaviour Index (FBI), developed by the CFA to support operational decision-making.
- You can monitor conditions via:
- Fire Danger Ratings (VIC): http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/fire-danger-ratings.shtml
- VicEmergency Map: https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
Please note: services located outside the city side of the designated line are more likely to be impacted on high-risk days.
What Happens on Extreme Fire Danger Rating Days
- If the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI) is 75 or below, shifts will continue unless notified otherwise.
- If the client lives within the city side of the line and the FBI is 76 and above, shifts will continue unless you’re contacted as an exception.
- If the client lives on the country side of the line and the FBI is 76 and above, shifts will be cancelled from 11am onwards unless you’re contacted as an exception.
- We will send out a group email and SMS as soon as we identify a rating 76 and above
What Happens on Catastrophic Fire Danger Days
On Catastrophic Fire Danger Days:
Recovery Options will not provide services (only in exceptional cases)
All staff and clients must enact their personal fire plan
Leaving early is always the safest option
Emergency Alerts and Resources
All staff and clients must:
- Download the Vic Emergency App and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) App on their phones.
- Save the Vic Emergency Hotline number in your contacts: 1800 226 226.
- Follow all instructions provided via the Vic Emergency App.
Shared Responsibilities
To ensure everyone’s safety:
- All staff and participants must remain vigilant, monitor daily conditions, and follow their Emergency Management Plan and the Vic Emergency App https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
- If a shift needs to be cancelled due to fire conditions, please notify the office as soon as possible.
Additional Recommendations:
- Have a cordless radio with spare batteries or access to a car radio in case of power or mobile phone outages.
- Tune in to ABC Melbourne 774 AM, Victoria’s official emergency broadcaster, for live updates if other communication channels fail.
Office Closure
Our Yarra Junction office will be closed, and all staff will be working remotely. However, our office phone lines (5900 6898) will remain active unless affected by a power outage.
Your safety is our priority. Let’s work together to ensure everyone remains safe under these challenging conditions.
Additional Fire Safety Reminders
Please keep the following critical safety points in mind:
- Sheltering in an unprepared house without active defense is extremely dangerous.
- Service disruptions are common during bushfires, including interruptions to NBN, electricity, telephones, mobile phones, and mains water.
- The CFA cannot guarantee a fire truck will come to your home during a bushfire.
- Older people, children, and people with a disability should not remain in a bushfire-prone area during dangerous fire weather or an active bushfire.
- Do not wait for an official warning. You may not receive one before it’s too late.
- You will not be told when to leave or assisted to leave during a bushfire. Following your personal fire plan is critical.
Fire Refuges:
There are currently five fire refuges in Victoria. Three of those are in the Yarra Ranges https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/plan-prepare/your-local-area-info-and-advice/community-fire-refuges
Other disasters/emergencies:
Fire isn’t the only disaster that can strike. We now regularly experience flood and several years ago earthquake. Floods have the potential to affect electricity supplies across the state, and in some instances lead to widespread and prolonged power outages, impacting many people which we experienced recently. Recovery Options’ offices may be down depending on the level of disaster, so it’s important to establish an individual plan for each client which includes monitoring weather and exiting early if applicable. It’s time to start having this discussion now.
For flood storm emergency contact Flood Storm Emergency on 132 500 or if life threatening including flood rescue call 000.
Vulnerable Persons Register
A vulnerable person is someone living in the community who is frail, and/or physically or cognitively impaired and unable to comprehend warnings and directions and/or respond in an emergency situation. Cannot identify personal or community support networks to help them in an emergency. If you are unsure if you should be on the Vulnerable Persons Register, contact the office at 03 59006898.
The Vulnerable Persons Register is a local list of people who may need further special consideration in an emergency and is maintained by Recovery Options in conjunction with the Council, but it is not a guarantee of assistance or rescue in the event of an emergency. Leaving early is always the best option.
Staff Help
We are developing a register of staff whom we can call upon in the event of an emergency to assist with evacuation, or to provide continuity of care in the event of an emergency. If any staff would like to be noted on the register, please contact the office or email support@recoveryoptions.com.au
Emergency contacts:
- For all emergencies dial 000
- Police / Fire / Ambulance – 000
- Victorian Bushfire Information Line – 1800 240 667. Callers with hearing or speech difficulties can use textphone / telewriter (TTY) on 1800 555 677.
- SES – 132 500
- SES Flood and Storm Information Line – 1300 VICSES (1300 842 737)
- Yarra Ranges Council – 1300 368 333 or 9294 6905
- Melbourne Water Emergencies and public safety- 131 722
- Electricity – AusNet Services: Powerlines – 131 799, Transmission Network – 1800 111 164
- Gas Emergencies – 136 707
- Hospital (Maroondah) – 1300 342 255
- Lifeline – 131 114
- Poison Information – 131 126
- RACV – 131 111
- Traffic information and road closures – 131 170
- Wildlife injuries – 1300 094 535
Final Message
Bushfires don’t wait. They don’t negotiate. And they don’t care if we’re “not ready yet”.
If today was Catastrophic — would your plan protect you?
Store this email and keep it handy and let’s have these conversations now, while we still can.
Kind Regards
The team at Recovery Options
