7 things you need to know about being severe weather-ready in Australia right now.

Thanks to our brand partner, Youi

Planning for extreme weather can feel like yet another thing on an already overwhelming mental load. But a little work now can make a huge difference on the day the skies turn. Having an emergency plan, a few simple things tweaked around the home, and the right insurance can make the difference to your safety, property damage and long-term recovery.

Here's everything you need to know about getting prepared:

1. Know what "severe weather" actually looks like where you live.

Severe weather in Australia can mean very different things depending on your postcode: flash flooding in inner-city suburbs, storm surge along the coast, riverine flooding in regional towns, or cyclones and extreme winds up north. These are just some of the risks Australians face, and knowing what range of severe weather events can impact your area is the first step to making smart decisions about your home, your family and your cover.

Geoff Evans, co-founder of Disaster Relief Australia, told Mamamia that the real danger is often how unprepared communities are when the warnings hit, explaining that "power and communication are often the first to fail in disasters, and it catches people off guard." Knowing your local risks early helps you plan for those realities, rather than scrambling if and when it happens.

A practical way to start is to check your local council flood maps, storm tide information and state emergency service resources, and then look at where your home sits in that picture. Simple details like whether your street becomes a cut-through for water, or if you rely on underground car parks, can change when you should leave and how you prepare.

2. Understand how vulnerable your home is and why that matters.

Two houses on the same street can have very different levels of risk depending on their age, elevation (including finished floor level), building materials and past flood or storm history. These same characteristics can also influence your home insurance premium and the type of cover that's right for you.

Home insurance providers like Youi look at the details of your property — possibly considering factors like whether it's on a slope, near a waterway, in a bushfire-prone area or built to more modern building codes — to understand your individual home's risk profile. That tailored view can help ensure your Youi Home Insurance policy premium reflects the real risks your property faces.

Regular maintenance is key to preventing small issues from becoming major problems during severe weather.

3. Make a severe weather safety plan before you need it.

When a storm warning comes through, most people are in the middle of everyday life — cooking dinner, helping with homework or getting kids ready for bed — not sitting down to think through complex decisions under pressure. That's why Geoff Evans is such a strong advocate for planning ahead, suggesting to: "Fill it out [a severe weather emergency plan], along with your family or household, and store it somewhere safe that you'll all remember."

A severe weather emergency plan spells out things like your when-to-leave triggers (what specific warning or local condition will make you decide to evacuate), where you'll go, the routes you'll take, who you'll tell, and what each family member is responsible for. It can also cover practical considerations for separated or blended families, elderly parents, disabled household members, and pets.

If you're not sure where to start, Youi has created a downloadable severe weather emergency plan template that walks you through each of these decisions step by step. It includes prompts for evacuation routes, emergency contacts, triggers to leave and even where you'll shelter if it's too late to get out safely, so you're not trying to make those calls in the moment.

Another tip: bookmark you.prepared, a go-to hub for expert tips and practical advice on floods, cyclones, hail, bushfires and storms — it's all about giving you the tools to plan ahead instead of reacting in the moment.

4. Build and store an emergency kit you can grab in seconds.

A good emergency kit is less "doomsday prepper" and more a practical plan to help your family cope safely at home for up to 72 hours if power, water or access to essentials is cut off (like access to ATMs).

An at-home kit can include items like a battery or solar-operated radio, waterproof torches and spare batteries, a basic first-aid kit, a small gas stove, candles and matches, waterproof clothing and footwear, and a waterproof bag for valuables and critical documents. If there's a chance you'll need to evacuate, you can add things like medications, toiletries, sanitary products, spare cash and cards, changes of clothes, children's comfort items, and supplies and paperwork for pets.

Geoff encourages families to prepare this well before storm season: "Build your kit gradually — spending a few dollars here and there — so you're not hit by a big upfront cost and, when a storm does come, you're not scrambling to pull your kit together." Keep your kit in one clearly marked spot everyone in the household knows about, and pop a reminder in your calendar to check and update it annually.

5. Storm-proof your home with simple, regular maintenance.

A lot of severe weather damage comes from small, fixable issues that become big problems once heavy rain and wind arrive. Think of this as your "storm season tune-up" for your property.

Some of the most effective jobs are surprisingly basic: clearing leaves and debris from gutters and downpipes, trimming overhanging branches close to the house, securing or storing loose outdoor furniture, toys and tools, and checking for loose roof tiles or damaged flashing that could turn into leaks. Inside, sealing gaps in window frames and doors can help keep wind-driven rain out, while elevating electricals and valuable items off the floor — particularly in low-lying or flood-prone areas of the home — can protect them if water does get in.

Geoff noted that "there are lots of practical, low-cost steps you can take that can make a real difference when the next big system rolls through." Making a checklist and tackling one or two jobs each weekend can spread the cost and effort.

6. Have a clear "when-to-leave" trigger and know your routes.

One of the hardest decisions in a severe weather event is when to stay and when to get out. People can wait too long because the situation feels uncertain, roads look passable "for now", or the last event didn't impact them as badly as expected. That's where clear, pre-agreed leave triggers become crucial.

Your family's triggers might include specific official warnings (like an SES evacuation order), local conditions (rising water reaching your driveway or finished floor level), access routes becoming risky, or an upgraded cyclone or storm warning. Geoff explained to Mamamia that "people don't know what alerts specifically mean for them. Therefore, they fail to take appropriate actions," which is why linking warnings to concrete actions in your plan is so important.

It also helps to identify at least two evacuation locations and two different routes to each, in case one is cut off. Write down who you'll call or message when you leave, where you'll meet if phone reception drops out, and how you'll manage pets. This is all embedded into Youi's severe weather emergency plan template, so you can simply fill in the blanks for your household.

7. Don't do it alone, coordinate with your neighbours.

When power, phones and internet are down and emergency services are stretched, neighbours are often the first responders. Building those connections before storm season can make everyone safer — and a lot less stressed — when the weather turns.

You might start by creating a simple street or building group chat to share updates, warnings and offers of help. From there, neighbours can map out who is more vulnerable (elderly residents, people with mobility issues, parents with newborns), who has useful equipment (a generator, chainsaw, ladder), and who has relevant skills (medical training, trades, four-wheel drive). Geoff has seen this play out repeatedly in disaster zones, saying: "That kind of collective effort when communities are pulling together not only saves lives, but I've also seen it help people stay much calmer during a weather disaster."

You can also choose one or two local sources of truth for weather updates — such as your state emergency service and local ABC radio channel — and make sure everyone knows them. Sharing resources like sandbags, tarps, tools or even freezer space can help the whole street weather the event and bounce back more quickly afterwards.

For an easy place to start, download Youi's severe weather emergency plan template, sit down with your household and spend half an hour filling it out together. That small investment of time now could make a confronting situation feel a lot more manageable if and when severe weather hits.

How do you keep your home severe weather-ready? Tell us in the comments section below.

Find more expert tips to help you get ready for severe weather events on the you.prepared emergency content hub.

Loss or damage caused by bushfire, storm or flood within the first 72 hours of your policy commencing is only covered in limited circumstances. Product issued by Youi Pty Ltd. Consider our Home PDS to decide if this product is right for you. PDS and TMD available at youi.com.au.

Featured image: Getty.

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