How would you survive?

How would you and your family survive the first 72 hours of an emergency or natural disaster?

That is the question posed by City of Bunbury emergency manager Lewis Winter who is spearheading the Resilient Bunbury project.

Mr Winter said this week’s storms were a prime example of a scenario when the community had to be prepared if they lost essential services.

‘‘People don’t have to be disaster specialists but they just have to think about their family’s safety and survival,’’ Mr Winter said.

‘‘When someone comes and knocks on your door at two o’clock in the morning and tells you have to leave — what are you going to take?’’

The project, being developed by city staff and the Red Cross, aims to prepare the Bunbury community to survive 72 hours in an emergency or natural disaster.

Wet and wild weather this week put Bunbury’s emergency services under pressure after hundreds of calls for assistance were received.

‘‘These storms were a good example where there were 200 call outs to emergency services and they couldn’t get to everyone — it was just impossible,’’ Mr Winter said.

‘‘Are you going to put all your faith in emergency services?

‘‘We all trust they will be there but ...’’

As part of the project Mr Winter is in the process of putting together a kit people can grab in an emergency situation.

Designed to be a backpack, the kit would contain survival essentials such as a torch, radio, rope, water, gloves, dust masks and a raincoat.

‘‘We intend to keep packs at around $60, without food and make sure people have some way to sustain themselves for 72 hours,’’ Mr Lewis said.

While the kits are still some time away from hitting the shelves, Mr Lewis said he hoped people would start talking to each other about what they would do in fire, storm and earthquake scenarios.

‘‘The aim of the project is to start a wave of responsibility in the community and we’ll be talking to all groups, agencies and networks about their preparedness,’’ he said.