State Emergency Management Committee Western Australia Emergency Preparedness Report 2013
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STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WESTERN AUSTRALIA EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORT 2013 OCTOBER 2013 Cover images (left - right): Red Sky at noon - Image courtesy of Ann Klubal Perth Storm - Satellite image originally processed by BOM from the geostationary meteorological MTSAT-1 Operated by the Japan Meteorological Agency Wednesday Afternoon Smoke - The beginning of the Margaret River bushfires - Image courtesy of Wendy Castleden Cover image: Rain storm Mt Connor - Western Australia - Image courtesy of Allan Fox and the Department of Environment © Copyright Government of Western Australia 2013 CONTENTS 01 FOREWORD ......................................................................... 4 Capability Area 6 Public Information and Community Warnings ............................ 86 02 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................... 6 Capability Area 7 Focus Areas ................................................................................ 8 A Mobile, Capable and Coordinated Response ........................... 89 Capability Assessment ............................................................... 11 Capability Area 8 Response and Recovery Support Services ................................. 98 03 INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 14 Capability Area 9 Recovery ................................................................................. 105 04 FOCUS AREAS ................................................................... 17 Capability Area 10 Tropical Cyclone and Storm ....................................................... 18 Evaluation, Knowledge and Continuous Improvement .............. 108 Bushfire Update ........................................................................ 29 06 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE ACTIONS ............................. 112 Risk Management ..................................................................... 40 Conclusions ............................................................................ 113 05 CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT ................................................. 61 Future Actions ......................................................................... 117 Capability Area 1 07 REFERENCES .................................................................. 118 Legislation, Policy and Governance Structures ........................... 64 Capability Area 2 08 APPENDICES ................................................................... 122 Risk Assessment and Risk Treatment ........................................ 66 Appendix 1. Emergency Situation Declarations ........................ 123 Capability Area 3 Resources ................................................................................. 69 Appendix 2. Communication Projects Currently in Progress ..... 124 Capability Area 4 Appendix 3. SEMC Capability Framework ................................ 126 Shared Ownership ..................................................................... 74 Appendix 4. Agency Capability Assessment Tool Responses .... 128 Capability Area 5 Appendix 5. The Emergency Management Framework ............ 129 Operational Plans and Procedures ............................................. 79 Appendix 6. Acronyms List ..................................................... 131 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORT 2013 3 01 FOREWORD 4 FOREWORD On behalf of the members of the State Emergency Management The State Emergency Management Committee appreciates the cooperation Committee, I am pleased to present our second report on Western of emergency management agencies in not only continuing to improve Australia’s preparedness for emergencies. preparedness but in helping to document improvement initiatives. Building on our inaugural report in 2012, this year’s work has refined the We are grateful to those local governments who participated for the first time capability framework and engaged more organisations in considering the this year. We look forward to ongoing collaboration and teamwork in line with question of preparedness. This has further enhanced the report enabling our shared responsibility for emergency management. us to create a basis for future measurement. I would like to acknowledge and thank all who contributed to the report, An emerging theme in 2012 was of a risk based methodology. This theme the team at the Secretariat led by Noelene Jennings who have brought continues to be at the forefront of our approach and an area that will together the content and to my fellow committee members for their remain important. excellent contribution and support. Kerry Sanderson AO CHAIR STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 31 October 2013 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORT 2013 5 02 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This is Western Australia’s second Emergency Preparedness Report In addition to the issues raised by the Keelty (Keelty 2011) and compiled by the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC). Black Cat Creek (Leading Emergency Services 2013) reviews, other Prepared annually for the Minister for Emergency Services, the purpose opportunities for improvement were identified and allocated to agencies of the report is to provide a broad overview of Western Australia’s capacity and SEMC subcommittees for further investigation. Key areas arising to deal with large-scale emergencies. from the review include: In recent years Western Australia has experienced a range of disasters, • increasing and improving communication both from natural and man-made origin, resulting in loss of life and • training of volunteers and staff and further education programs damage to private and public property, a number of these events being for the community including shared responsibility on a large enough scale to require a State-level response. • continued effective capacity building across the State with The emergency management environment is diverse and involves best utilisation of scarce resources a coordinated effort from a wide range of stakeholders including all levels of government, the private sector (including industry), • worker health and safety not-for-profit organisations, volunteers, community groups and individuals. • land use planning and In this regard, this report details the progress and efforts of the whole community in promoting the State’s preparedness for emergencies. • insurance issues The 2013 Emergency Preparedness Report builds on the information and findings of the 2012 Report, further detailing events and activities over the past year and, in particular, detailing the significant work undertaken to improve preparedness and response capability in the State. An important initiative over the reporting period included the introduction of a Season Review. At the review meeting a number of improvements which occurred during the year were noted including work on coordination, training, joint exercising and lessons learnt from events. The effectiveness of existing and new preparedness and response systems was also reviewed. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORT 2013 7 Although there have been significant structural changes and new FOCUS AREAS initiatives in the 2012–2013 reporting cycles the key focus areas for SEMC remain unchanged. That is to maintain strategic oversight and Given the likelihood and risk to communities, SEMC members identified promote coordination in the sector, cultivate shared responsibility across Tropical Cyclone and Storm and Bushfire as key hazards warranting the community, promote preparedness and continuous improvement and further discussion and analysis in the 2013 Emergency Preparedness to develop and coordinate a State Risk Framework, and these themes are Report. Furthermore as Risk Management was identified in 2012 as a key again strongly reflected in this year’s report. These themes reflect the fact focus area for SEMC it is also discussed in detail in chapter 4. that disasters are expected to continue to impact the State, and there Tropical Cyclone and Storm is a need to focus on being prepared, response and recovery to reduce the impact and to enhance community resilience. Tropical Cyclone and Storm pose a significant risk to the State. The North West of Western Australia between Broome and Exmouth is the most cyclone The 2013 Emergency Preparedness Report is divided into eight chapters prone part of Australia’s coastline, with about five cyclones forming in this comprising Foreword, Executive Summary, Introduction, Focus Areas, region annually, about two of which impact on the coast. This frequent Capability Assessment, Conclusions and Future Actions, References cyclone activity has ensured that Westplan Cyclone is well practiced. and Appendices. The Bureau of Meteorology, the Department of Fire and Emergency The bulk of the new material for 2013 and comparative updates since Services, local governments, and industry work closely to ensure adequate 2012 are presented in the two main chapters 4 and 5 (that is, Focus Areas preparedness in relation to cyclone emergencies. At the commencement and Capability Assessment). The information, analysis and findings from of the cyclone season, key agencies conduct tours of cyclone prone these two chapters are summarised below. areas to ensure residents are familiar with cyclone warning systems and preparedness activities. A range of other activities occur across many sectors including the development, review and testing of cyclone plans, as well as regular training. Importantly, specific building standards in cyclone prone areas also ensure reduced damage in the event