Prepare for a changing climate

Climate change is already having an impact around the world. In Port Phillip we can expect extreme heat events, flooding, coastal storm surges and drought to impact us. Where you live, the type of home you live in, and your personal circumstances all play a part in how a storm, flood or heatwave may impact you. Understanding the risks to your property and yourself will help you prepare better.

Here are ways you can prepare your home for extreme weather events.

Get your home ready

You can find good information to prepare your home for a changing climate on Sustainability Victoria

Here are some things to think about:

• Insulation: protect your house from the elements and spend less on heating and cooling
• Draught proofing: Seal up gaps and cracks to minimise hot air entering your home in summer and cold air entering in winter
• Windows: consider curtains, glazing treatments, coverings and more
• Ventilation: keep the cool air in and flush the warm air out in summer and reduce condensation and mould growth in winter
• Landscaping: position plants and trees to provide shading in summer. Tall, deciduous canopy trees provide shade to north windows while still allowing the lower winter sun through. Smaller, deciduous shrubs are useful for shading east and west windows and walls. Deciduous creepers over a north-facing pergola will provide shade for windows and walls.

Get your home ready for floods

We collaborated with Melbourne Water to produce a guide to retrofitting your home to make it more flood resilient. It is a self-help guide for people who want to reduce the cost, concern, and inconvenience of flooding. It provides practical and affordable options to retrofit common types of homes in Melbourne.

View the guide and other advice to prepare for flooding on the Melbourne Water website.

Check your insurance

• Being up-to-date on your insurance policy and knowing what you are covered for before extreme weather events is the best way to protect your assets and family for the future. If you're in a flood-prone area, talk to your insurer about what type of flooding your policy covers
• The Australian Government’s MoneySmart website explains what to look for in insurance products so you can find the right policy for your needs

More resources

• Council's Severe Weather Preparation has information to help you during an extreme weather event
• Sustainability Victoria helps facilitate and promote environmental sustainability in the use of resources
• Victoria State Emergency Service provides emergency assistance to minimise the impact of emergencies and strengthen the community’s capacity to plan, respond and recover when emergencies occur
• The Australian Red Cross is a leading humanitarian aid and community services charity in Australia, and an auxiliary to government
• Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action provides resources and advice because climate change affects all of us. Acting on it is fundamental for a thriving, resilient state