One in five WA households will need help in an emergency: ABS
In case of a major emergency (such as a bushfire, flood or cyclone) one in five WA
households will need some form of assistance to evacuate their homes, according to a
report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The most usual reason for this was because the household included people with
limited mobility - such as young children or the elderly.
Additionally, nearly a quarter of WA's households did not have sufficient
transportation if they were required to evacuate.
Almost 8% of Western Australian households have experienced a major emergency;
one third of these said they would prefer to remain with their home in the event of
another emergency.
In households that had never experienced an emergency, this proportion declined to
one in ten.
The ABS also found that 16% of country households have a role - such as emergency
services or defence - that may be called on to assist in an emergency; compared to 7%
of Perth residents.
Other findings from the report include:
One in ten households have an agreed place to meet in the event of becoming
separated during a major emergency.
Nearly a third (30%) of all WA households lacked stored drinking water.
Seven days' worth of food (not needing refrigeration or cooking) was available
in 30% of Perth households and in 42% of country households.
Half of WA households had someone with a first aid qualification.
The majority of households had access to a phone: 90% had at least one
mobile and 89% had a landline.
One third (32%) of households did not have internet access; this was highest
among people living alone (58%).
FURTHER INFORMATION: Media requests and interviews
Richard Lynch (02) 6252 6139; 0407 107 931
Ilona Fraser (02) 6252 7480; 0418 202 580
Statistical clarification
Phillip Punyanitya (08) 9360 5237
NEWS 
