Relief and Recovery

What is a Relief Centre?

Emergency Relief Centres are established to provide the basic needs of people displaced and/or impacted by an emergency event. They are established on a short-term basis to provide temporary shelter, food, registration, and related emergency assistance.

Emergency Relief Centres may not open for every event.

The location of a Relief Centre is only advertised to the community after all details of the emergency situation are known.

Location details will be broadcast in a variety of ways including:

• ABC Radio
• Council's website and Facebook page
• VicEmergency website or VicEmergency App

Where possible, the community is encouraged in the first instance to seek accommodation with family and friends, as this may be a better option during an emergency as a relief centre may be crowded, noisy, hot or cold.

Animals at an Emergency Relief Centre

• Wherever possible, residents should make short-term accommodation arrangements for their companion animals, e.g. with friends or family outside of the affected area, or at a boarding facility.
• There is likely to be minimal provision for animals at an emergency relief centre and all animals are to be under control of their owner and confined to a cage or leash at all times. Council will assist where possible to provide short-term relocation of livestock and horses.