05 Mar 2025

Be Prepared: Protecting Public Records During Cyclone Alfred

As Cyclone Alfred approaches, the safety and wellbeing of you and your colleagues remain the top priority. If safe to do so, take proactive steps to protect or salvage high-value, high-risk, or vital records within your public authority.

Preparation Steps:

Prioritise Key Records: Focus on safeguarding high-value, high-risk, and vital records over lower-priority items such as transitory records. Time and resources may be limited, so make these critical decisions early.
Create a Salvage Priority List: Develop a list identifying your vital and permanent value physical and digital records and their storage locations. Ensure this list is easily accessible, even if IT systems go down.
Prepare Supplies: Have basic materials ready to provide “first aid” to damaged records if needed.
Stay Informed: Regularly check weather forecasts and Bureau of Meteorology alerts to maximise preparation time.
Review Insurance Processes: Confirm what is covered under your public authority’s insurance, including whether public records are protected and if there are pre-approved suppliers or contingency funds.

Minimising Potential Damage:

Store physical records safely and off the ground to avoid flood damage.
Move critical records to a secure, weather-tight location and avoid using shipping containers.
Cover high-value records with plastic if they cannot be relocated from vulnerable areas.
Print essential documents (e.g., salvage priority list, business continuity plan) in case digital access is disrupted.
Ensure backup systems and records are stored in safe, remote locations.
At the end of the workday, unplug and elevate electronics off the ground.
Enable secure remote access for key personnel to maintain operations if physical offices are affected.

🎥 Watch our Quick Tips Video: Learn more about preparing your public authority and protecting vital records ahead of a disaster.

Recovery After Cyclone Alfred:

Accessing public records may be difficult due to safety concerns, property damage, or hazardous conditions. Avoid unnecessary risks and prioritise safety.

The best window to salvage water-damaged records is within the first 48 hours, but successful recovery is still possible after this timeframe. Additional guidance on handling flood-affected records and finding salvage providers is available.

💡 We Are Here to Help:
If you discover damaged records, reach out to QSA at [email protected] as soon as possible for expert advice.

For more information on disaster management and preparing for risks to public records, visit our Disaster Management for Records webpage.

Stay safe and prepared during this significant weather event.

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