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During severe weather events and extended power outages, it’s important to stay informed and take steps to protect your health and safety. This page provides guidance on staying safe, managing medical needs, ensuring food and water safety, and avoiding potential health hazards.
Staying healthy and safe during an extended power outage
Medical devices and refrigerated medicines
Medical devices:
If you rely on medical devices that require electricity such as CPAP machines, oxygen or dialysis, and are affected by power outages, contact your GP or treating medical specialist for advice.
Call triple zero (000) or visit the nearest Emergency Department in the case of an emergency.
Refrigerated medicines:
Some medicines, including vaccines, insulin, thyroxine tablets, immune therapies, certain eye drops, hormone products, and some antibiotic mixtures for children, need to be refrigerated between +2°C and +8°C.
If the power has been off for an extended period, discard these medicines unless they are essential to your immediate health (e.g., insulin).
Some medicines, like insulin, can be stored at room temperature (below 25°C) for a specific number of days. Refer to the Consumer Medicines Information for details.
If you are concerned about a particular medicine, seek advice from your pharmacist, GP, visit Healthdirect or call 1800 022 222 for guidance.
For more information on your care options in Tasmania, including after-hours, visit Know Your Treatment Options
Food safety
Throw out perishable food, such as meat, poultry, fish and leftovers if it has been above 5°C for 4 hours or more.
Frozen food that has thawed can be refrozen if it still contains ice crystals and is below 5°C. If you’re not sure if your food is safe to eat, it’s best to throw it out.
Indoor gas poisoning
Using fuel-burning equipment inside or in poorly ventilated areas can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that you cannot see, taste, or smell.
Diesel or petrol generators, and heating or outdoor cooking appliances that use gas, oil, kerosene or wood all produce dangerous gases including carbon monoxide.
Never use generators, outdoor barbecues, or portable charcoal grills, gas or heat-bead stoves indoors.
High carbon monoxide levels can cause loss of consciousness, seizures and death.
Lower levels can cause carbon monoxide poisoning with headaches, nausea, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath and confusion.
Find out more about indoor gas poisoning
Find out more about safe use of generators
Staying warm without gas and electricity
Close doors, windows, and blinds to retain heat.
Wear multiple layers of clothing to stay warm, it will warm you up more efficiently than one thick layer.
A beanie can help prevent heat loss through your scalp.
Drinking water
If you can’t access drinking water from your usual source, such as a water tank, ensure the water is safe to drink.
Visit TasWater for information on all current boil water alerts, including maps.
If you are under a boil water alert and unable to boil water due to a power outage, do not drink it - use a different source, like bottled water, instead.
Boiled water should be used for drinking, preparing foods that won’t be cooked, making ice, preparing baby formula and brushing teeth.
If you can boil your water, consider boiling and storing enough to last through a power outage.
If you notice your water is unusually discoloured, it is best to boil it before drinking.
If your water supply is not from TasWater, then your source water may be contaminated. It is best to boil your water or use a different source like bottled water.
Health and safety during severe weather events
Risks from floodwaters and flood debris
Be careful when you enter properties after floods. Floods leave behind many hazards.
Check with local emergency services whether you can safely return home. Avoid contact with floodwaters.
Floodwater and debris may contain waste, sewage and other hazards.
Water, mud and silt from floods can contain germs that can cause illnesses, including gastro and skin infections.
Wash any part of your body exposed to floodwater, mud or silt.
Wear protective clothing, footwear and equipment if you are cleaning up after flooding.
Damaged building materials may contain asbestos. If you suspect this, get advice from your Council first.
Storms and heavy rain may wash contaminants into waterways. Wait at least two days after the rain stops before swimming in recreational waters in urban areas – wait longer after floods. Don’t swim near storm water outfalls at any time.
Food safety
If you’ve been in contact with floodwaters, wash your hands and change dirty clothing before preparing or eating food.
Throw out any food that’s been in floodwater unless it was secure in a waterproof tin or bottle.
View more information from the Food Safety Information Council.
Treating infections
If you get a cut or scratch while in a flood-affected area, clean it, cover it, and protect it from further contamination.
Get medical attention if an injury is severe or painful or red and swollen, or if you develop a fever.
Keep your tetanus immunisation up-to-date (recommendations depend on age).
General safety messages
- Keep up to date with Tasmanian Government emergency information on floods at TasALERT
- Keep clear of floodwaters, drains and culverts.
- Don’t drive, walk, swim or cycle through floodwaters.
- Mud makes roads, paths and floors slippery – take extra care to avoid falls.
- Be prepared for power cuts.
- Don’t use fuel-powered equipment like generators or pumps in enclosed spaces.
- Don’t use flooded gas or electrical appliances until they’ve been checked for safety.
- Stay away from beaches during large swells and high winds.
- Beware of damaged trees.
- Keep clear of fallen power lines and nearby water.
- Check on family and neighbours,and supervise children closely.
- Ensure your drains and gutters are free of debris and running freely before severe weather.
- Remember that working at heights, including on roofs and ladders, can be dangerous.
- Drive to the conditions. Don’t drive in the wet unless you need to.
Staying informed
- Listen to ABC local radio or check the Tasmanian State Emergence Service (SES) for updates
- For road closures check Tasmania Police - Community Alerts
- For flood and emergency help contact SES on 132 500