If you’ve been affected by a natural disaster, there’s a range of information, services and resources available to help you look after your property and rebuild your home.

Returning to your home

Always check with emergency services that it is safe to return to your property after a natural disaster.

While the danger may have passed, hazards may still be present such as:

  • fallen trees and other objects
  • sharp objects
  • damaged electrical wires
  • smouldering coals
  • ash
  • asbestos
  • gas cylinders
  • farm, garden and cleaning chemicals
  • dust

After a natural disaster, you will need to assess the state of your home to determine if you can move back in.

Any building work should be carried out by a licensed builder or demolition contractor. If your home contains asbestos you may need to engage a licensed asbestos removalist (external site) (external site) (external site).

Once your home has been assessed by the builder, contact your insurance company to work out an action plan.

It is important when rebuilding that you think about how you can protect your home from natural disaster. You need to consider the risk to your home and make building decisions that will reduce the impact of a disaster. Your home is more likely to survive a disaster if it is built to planning and construction standards. (external site) (external site) (external site)

Rebuilding advice and support

Plan SA has put a range of measures in place to help streamline the rebuild process. For rebuilding, planning and building application support or advice, please contact Plan SA. (external site) (external site) (external site)

Rebuilding fences

When rebuilding fences, you must consider:

Water

People who are SA Water customers

If you are experiencing mains water outages or have any other questions related to your water supply, phone the SA Water Customer Care Centre on 1300 729 283.

Firefighting - If your private water tank was accessed by the Country Fire Service (CFS) to assist with firefighting purposes, you can commence the process to have it replenished by filling out the CFS essential water replenishment form available on the CFS website (external site) (external site) and emailing it to CFSFirelineandwaterrequests@sa.gov.au, or by calling the CFS directly on 0438 655 061. (external site) (external site) (external site)

Power supply

Keep away from any electricity equipment that has been damaged during a disaster and report it to SA Power Networks by phoning 
13 13 66.

Gas

For natural gas supply outages contact your gas supply company and for gas leaks phone the free 24-hour gas emergency and leak reporting service on 1800 427 5325.

If you have been impacted by a natural disaster and are in need of temporary housing, please contact the State Relief and Recovery Infoline on 1800 302 787