Telstra study shows that more than half of Aussies lack emergency plan

Telstra study shows that more than half of Aussies lack emergency plan
Edited by Travel Weekly


Despite spending an average of 1.5 hours planning holidays, including finding the perfect café or sightseeing spot, many overlook emergency disaster preparation, with half of Aussies not even spending one minute considering an emergency disaster plan.

With summer bringing both travel plans and higher risk of an extreme weather event, Telstra is urging Aussies to take simple steps (steps that can take less than 15 minutes) to get prepared—because a little effort can make a big difference.

More than half of Australians (52 per cent, equating to 5.2 million people) travelling through regional areas this holiday season admit they lack an emergency plan.

Despite these concerns, just 9 per cent say they intend to create an emergency plan. Among those taking precautions, the most common steps include packing a portable phone charger (48 per cent) and writing down emergency contact numbers (37 per cent) rather than relying solely on their mobile devices.

Alarmingly, nearly one-third (32 per cent, or 3.2 million) feel unprepared for a natural disaster, highlighting a significant gap in readiness.

On average, Australians spend 1.5 hours researching their domestic holidays before they leave for their trips.

However, on average, Australians spend only 0.4 hours (23 minutes) developing an emergency disaster plan prior to travelling domestically for a holiday.

Gen Z and Millennials are more proactive about disaster preparedness when travelling, with 43 per cent recording emergency contacts and 22 per cent knowing the nearest payphone location—steps older generations are less likely to take.

How is Telstra supporting disaster-prone areas?

Telstra is on track to meet its commitment to upgrade 1000 Telstra payphones in disaster-prone areas around Australia by mid-2025. The upgrades provide free Telstra Wi-Fi, USB charging for devices and backup power.

Telstra has completed almost 800 payphone upgrades, including 40 in remote Indigenous communities. These upgrades will help local communities stay connected during a major disaster event.

Telstra provides disaster assistance measures including 100GB of extra data to customers who are impacted in a disaster-affected area and a 24/7 dedicated disaster line to help with payment support and managing services if you have to relocate.

Critical recovery infrastructure is on standby across the country including portable generators, mobile coverage units, and satellite kits. If a natural disaster strikes, we can deploy this equipment to help affected communities reconnect and recover as quickly as possible.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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