Between November and April each year, Far North Queensland faces one of nature’s most powerful forces: tropical cyclones. For NDIS participants in Cairns and Brisbane, cyclone season brings unique challenges that extend far beyond securing windows and stockpiling supplies. When you rely on daily support services, powered medical equipment, or specialised care routines, a Category 5 cyclone approaching the coast isn’t just frightening—it’s a complex emergency that requires careful, person-centred planning well before the first weather warning.
The reality is sobering: on average, 2-3 cyclones affect the Queensland coast every year, with February and March being the most active months. Cairns communities within 50 kilometres of the coastline face particular vulnerability to cyclone impacts including damaging winds exceeding 280 km/h, heavy rainfall, widespread flooding, and dangerous storm surge. For people with disability, these natural disasters compound existing barriers and create life‐threatening situations when emergency plans fail to account for individual support needs.
Why Is Emergency Planning Critical for NDIS Participants During Cyclone Season?
People with disability face disproportionate risks during natural disasters. Research demonstrates that individuals with disability are frequently excluded from or overlooked in emergency management planning, despite experiencing greater vulnerability across all disaster phases—preparedness, response, and recovery. When cyclones strike, power outages can affect life-sustaining equipment like ventilators, powered wheelchairs, and CPAP machines. Transport systems may shut down, support workers might be delayed, and even accessible evacuation centres can lack the specialised facilities needed for complex care requirements.
Since November 2021, the NDIS Commission has mandated that all registered providers develop comprehensive risk management plans to identify potential risks and ensure continuity of critical supports during emergencies. However, provider planning alone isn’t sufficient—NDIS participants need individualised emergency preparations that reflect their unique circumstances, disability requirements, and local cyclone risks.
What Should Your Personalised Cyclone Emergency Plan Include?
Using the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) framework, your emergency plan should be tailored to your specific needs. Essential components include:
- Personal Information and Medical Details: Full name, address, medical conditions, allergies, medications, and GP contact details stored in both digital and waterproof physical copies.
- Support Requirements: Detailed notes on mobility needs, communication preferences, and any specialised medical or personal care routines.
- Evacuation Procedures: Clear primary and secondary evacuation routes that consider mobility limitations and avoid flood-prone areas, including pre-arranged accessible transport options.
- Emergency Contact Network: A list of support workers, family, friends, healthcare providers, equipment suppliers, and emergency services with copies of your plan shared among them.
- Equipment and Supply Lists: A catalogue of essential medications, medical devices, mobility aids, and backup power supplies with details on maintaining a minimum two to three weeks’ supply during disruptions.
- Backup Support Arrangements: Identified alternatives like additional carers or community members who can step in if regular supports become unavailable.
NDIS funding may cover aspects of emergency preparedness including Support Coordination, consumables, and assistive technology such as backup equipment or emergency communication aids.
How Do NDIS Providers Support Emergency Preparedness in Cairns?
Registered NDIS providers in Cairns and Brisbane follow the Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR) cycle for risk management. Providers are expected to work closely with participants to address cyclone-specific risks and ensure continuity of supports, including developing business continuity plans and conducting regular practice drills.
Key responsibilities for providers include:
- Maintaining a robust plan that includes backup staff, alternative communication systems, and safety checks during extreme weather.
- Ensuring support workers are trained in emergency protocols and familiar with operating backup power systems and delivering rapid evacuations.
- Establishing clear, accessible communication protocols, accommodating diverse needs such as visual alerts or easy-read formats.
What Happens to Your Disability Supports During a Cyclone Emergency?
During a cyclone emergency, continuity of critical supports is essential. NDIS funding continues through emergencies, with providers arranging contingency measures for SIL or HIDPA participants. Coordination among multiple service providers—including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and support coordinators—is key to averting disruption in essential care.
How Can You Prepare for Power Outages and Equipment Failures?
Power outages are particularly dangerous for NDIS participants relying on electrical medical equipment. Planning strategies include:
- Registering as a life-support customer to receive priority reconnection.
- Investing in appropriate backup power solutions, such as generators or battery systems capable of sustaining essential devices for 48-72 hours.
- Identifying and practicing manual alternatives for powered devices and ensuring medications requiring refrigeration are adequately managed with insulated coolers and ice packs.
Training for support workers on emergency equipment and backup power systems is critical to reducing delays during an actual crisis.
Where Can You Access Disability-Inclusive Evacuation Support?
Accessible evacuation is a major concern. Not all evacuation centres have the necessary features to support complex disability needs. Important considerations include wheelchair access, accessible toilets, sufficient personal space, priority power access for medical equipment, communication support, and provisions for assistance animals.
Research accessible evacuation centres ahead of cyclone season and develop fallback plans with family or community members. Local resources such as the Bureau of Meteorology, Get Ready Queensland, and council disaster dashboards can provide real-time updates.
Moving Forward: Building Resilience Before the Next Cyclone Warning
Effective emergency planning for cyclone season is not just about risk mitigation—it’s about preserving safety, dignity, and independence. Begin preparations early, involve your support network, test your plans, and update them regularly according to changing needs. A well-prepared emergency plan, built on person-centred principles and thorough consultation, is essential for safeguarding lives during nature’s most powerful events.
When should I start preparing my cyclone emergency plan?
Begin developing or reviewing your emergency plan during the off-season months (May through October), well before the official cyclone season starts on November 1. This allows ample time to thoughtfully address every component without the pressure of imminent weather threats, and you should review and update your plan annually or as circumstances change.
Does my NDIS plan fund emergency preparedness activities?
Yes, the NDIS recognises emergency preparedness as a reasonable and necessary support. Your plan may include funding for Support Coordination to develop emergency plans, consumables for extended disruptions, and assistive technology such as backup equipment or emergency communication aids. It’s best to discuss your specific needs with your Support Coordinator.
What should I do if my support workers can’t reach me during a cyclone?
Your emergency plan must include backup support arrangements. Identify alternative carers, trusted community members, or family who can assist if your regular support workers become unavailable. Ensure their contact details are included in your plan, and activate these backup arrangements as soon as cyclone warnings are issued.
How do I find out if evacuation centres in Cairns are accessible for my disability?
Contact the local disaster management team or Cairns Regional Council before cyclone season to request detailed accessibility information about evacuation centres. Visiting the centres during community open days or requesting an accessibility audit from disability advocacy organisations can help you develop alternative plans if needed.
What happens if my assistive technology or medical equipment is damaged during a cyclone?
If your equipment is damaged, your regular NDIS funding can be used for repairs or replacements. However, assistive technology replacements typically require a claim to the NDIA due to funding restrictions. It is important to document all damage with photographs, retain receipts, and contact your Support Coordinator immediately to initiate the replacement process.
