Emergency Preparations

[NickAu]

I live in the Northern Rivers region of NSW in Australia.  We are expecting massive flooding here in the next 24 to 36 hours because of cyclone Marcia.
 
As my betta tank is at risk, Last night I filled a 100 lt ( 20 gal ) plastic drum with water with conditioner etc and put a heater in it. The drum is above the record flood levels that happened in 1974, My intention is to put my Betta the snails shrimp and catfish in the drum for the duration, Due to power outages I will not be able to run a filter so I intend to put the media in the drum also, I have a battery powered air pump but only Intend to run it for an hour a day. There is nothing else I can do.
 

 
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says up to 400mm of rain could fall over the north coast on Friday and Saturday.

 The exact amount of rainfall will depend on the eventual severity of a tropical low that is currently located over the Coral Sea.
In addition, king high tides will add to the risk of flooding in the lower tidal reaches of the Tweed, Brunswick, Richmond and Wilsons rivers.
The BOM says at this stage there is a greater than 70 per cent chance of moderate flooding in those river valleys, as well as the Clarence, Orara, Bellinger and Nambucca valleys from Friday onwards.

 
 

 

[LyraGuppi]

Buy alot of batteries and wrap the drum in towels to keep it warm would be my advice Good luck.

 

[Baccus]

Does your air pump take C or D batteries? I would get a charger for the size batteries it takes and have some spare batteries pre-charged.
I know from experience that D sized batteries in the air pumps I have last for at least a day and a night before the batteries start failing.
As for keeping your fish, shrimp and snails warm (or close to what they are accustomed to) wrap their drum with blankets.
Best of luck with flooding,  am currently waiting for Marcia to hit Rockhampton and nearby as a CAT 3 cyclone

 

[NickAu]

You stay safe Baccus.
 
My air pump runs from a car battery, I have 2 fully charged batteries here.

 

[Baccus]

I intend too

  Thanks
My pets  are bunkered down and just listening to the wind and rain.
The only other thing I would set up for your emergancy fish care is put some plants in the tub , and try and rig up a light source so the plants can  photosynthesis and help with oxygen in the water and ammonia

 

[Akasha72]

I really feel for you guys. We don't get that kind of weather in the U.K thankfully and where I live power cuts are rare as I'm only a few 100 yards from the power station.
 
Stay safe and I hope it's not as bad as your expecting x