The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is urging residents in Chester Hill, New South Wales, to include pets and livestock in their emergency plans following severe flash flooding across Sydney in recent years.
Chester Hill is considered a high‑risk area because it sits within the Duck Creek, Duck River and Prospect Creek catchments, where water can rise quickly and flood residential backyards. Local government bodies, including Cumberland Council and the City of Canterbury‑Bankstown, are conducting flood studies (overland flood and flood risk management studies) to better understand how stormwater and overland flows impact local streets and properties.
The SES recommends that families assemble a grab‑and‑go kit for their animals — including leads, food and any necessary medicine — and identify safe places to take animals, such as the homes of friends or family who live outside known flood zones. The SES ‘Get Ready Animals’ resources and the agency’s animal safety guidance provide templates and checklists for these kits.
This advice is particularly important for the local community given its history of sudden weather events, such as the “mini‑tornado” that struck Chester Hill on 20 March 2021 and damaged homes and a local school. Being prepared ahead of time helps ensure people and their animals can evacuate quickly when water starts to rise.
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