Community Radio Boosts Victoria's Emergency Broadcasting
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25 VICTORIA’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE WINTER www.oesc.vic.gov.au 2010 Community radio boosts Victoria’s emergency broadcasting IN a first for Victoria and Australia, UGFM – broadcasters in Victoria, inviting them to enter into Radio Murrindindi has become the first community emergency broadcasting MOUs – subject to their broadcaster to have official emergency broadcaster capabilities. UGFM was the first community status in Victoria. broadcaster to submit an application for official On 23 April, representatives from Upper emergency broadcaster status. Goulburn FM (UGFM) signed a formal Memorandum “UGFM demonstrated their ability to help the of Understanding (MOU) with the State Government community by broadcasting emergency information for emergency broadcasting in a further bid to boost to the community in February last year, and this emergency messaging for communities in times agreement recognises and strengthens their work of need. in emergency broadcasting,” Emergency Services “By including community broadcasters, the State Commissioner Bruce Esplin said. Government is extending the reach of emergency The station has broadcast warnings ranging warnings and information – taking another step from local fires, road accidents, weather warnings forward in ensuring the public is informed during through to road closures due to extreme weather. bushfires and other emergencies,” said Minister for It has provided direct and indirect support of Police and Emergency Services Bob Cameron, at emergency broadcasts during the 2006-07 the MOU signing in UGFM’s Alexandra studios. bushfires, the 2008 Alpine fires and the 2009 During emergencies, UGFM and other February bushfires, during which it continued community broadcasters in Victoria, have played uninterrupted broadcasts despite the loss of an important role in keeping their communities two transmitters due to fire impact. More recently, informed about unfolding emergencies. it broadcast vital information during the floods IN THIS In early 2010, the Office of the Emergency and storms experienced in the shire last New ISSUE Services Commissioner wrote to all community Year’s day. (continued on page 21) From the Desk Across the Sector News State Government Announcements EM Events and Awards EM Movements Minister for Police and Emergency Services Bob Cameron formalises UGFM as an emergency broadcaster with Emergency Services Commissioner Bruce Esplin (right) and UGFM Station Manager Peter Weeks. 2 WINTER 2010 ISSUE 25 3 From the Desk Commissioner’s Across the View Sector News From an all hazards view, emergency management in Victoria has been a very active space. Over summer, the fire agencies were very busy but thankfully Mother Nature spared Victoria from any sustained catastrophic weather. Autumn brought with it storms with damage in the millions. Winter A prototype Easy To Deploy tsunameter buoy is deployed for operational testing in the Tasman Sea. The buoy is the first in the Bureau of Meteorology’s campaigns continue to raise the level of community Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) system. preparedness and work continues on policies introduced over the last year and to aid recovery in fire-affected areas. As we near the release of the Royal Commission’s final report, all eyes will be on Victoria. This is an Tsunami awareness project important and emotional time for survivors, AN ARTICLE BY THE AGD communities and families. We must support our volunteers and staff, be mindful of emotions and AN innovative tsunami education and awareness resource aims and television announcements as well as messages through maintain the trust built with communities over many to help the general public and surf lifesavers better prepare emergency service workers, lifeguards and surf lifesavers. years. It is a good time to remind ourselves why we and respond to tsunami warnings. The Australian Government, through the Federal Attorney- ( ) do what we do. Change will come and that change After the devastating effects of the Boxing Day tsunami in General’s Department AGD , the Bureau of Meteorology and can be challenging, but it can also be an opportunity 2004, the Australian Government’s Taskforce, Australian Tsunami Geoscience Australia, has been working with state and territory ( ) to do what emergency management does best: help Warning System ATWS , was formed as part of an increased governments and other relevant agencies to develop various make Victorian communities safer. national effort to monitor, plan and warn of tsunami. protocols and procedures that incorporates all emergency I have been concerned to hear of key people An initiative of the ATWS project, the tsunami education and services agencies and state authorities in the event of a tsunami. questioning their future involvement in bushfire awareness program prepared by the Australian Government in “The recent apparent indifference to these warnings is a prevention and response. Victoria cannot afford partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia and in conjunction concern given that on some beaches, surfers and swimmers to lose such people – I would plead with people with the states and territories, has been developed to assist life stayed in the water and many people even drove to potentially to rethink – embrace the need for change and savers and other beach management personnel deal with the risky areas to try and see a wave,” Minister McClelland said. stay involved. general public in the event of a tsunami warning. With the Royal Commission’s final report will On Sunday 28 February, the ATWS was activated, after an 8.8 “The earthquake in Chile and come a new set of challenges. Government and magnitude earthquake hit Southern Chile. Surf Life Saving services agencies will have to work together to create an and local government authorities around Australia followed the subsequent issue of tsunami environment where collaboration occurs naturally procedure and closed beaches which could have potentially warnings for the east coast of and will have to continue to focus on community been affected by the tsunami along the east coast of Australia. engagement and genuine partnerships. We will “The earthquake in Chile and the subsequent issue of tsunami Australia demonstrated that while need to encourage the community to re-examine warnings for the east coast of Australia demonstrated that while the tsunami warning system worked the tsunami warning system worked well, sections of the public prevailing attitudes to risk for all hazards and all well, sections of the public chose stages of preparedness, planning, response and chose to ignore the warnings,” Federal Attorney-General Robert recovery. Though some of the suggestions for McClelland said. to ignore the warnings.” necessary behaviour change may be challenging, The awareness program, prepared in conjunction with the states arguing for a focus on mitigation and prevention is and territories, includes a new interactive online resource. Distribution a debate in which we have to engage. of the resource has included all 306 surf life saving clubs in Australia For this reason, the Federal Attorney-General has written The most important outcome I hope to see from aiming to provide an overview of tsunami and response to tsunami for to relevant emergency services ministers and surf life saving the Royal Commission’s final report is a consistent lifeguards, surf lifesavers and other beach management personnel. organisations, requesting a review of the public response to ‘all year – every year’ approach to bushfire risk Education materials will also be provided for school children tsunami warnings and highlight the need to ensure that warnings “I would plead with management embraced by all Victorians. This won’t and recreational boaters, fishers and other marine users about are followed. happen overnight; we need experience to guide the nature of tsunamis, what to look out for and basic actions that The review will be conducted with state and territory people... embrace new initiatives and temper new ideas with wisdom. should be taken in the event of a warning, including: emergency services agencies, local governments, surf Fire historian Professor Tom Griffiths said, “There • not travelling to the coast or headlands to watch the tsunami life saving organisations and other stakeholders and will the need for change is a dangerous mismatch between the cyclic nature • the importance of moving inland or to higher ground focus on: of fire and the short-term memory of communities.” • returning and securing boats that are in shallow water • ways to better educate and prepare the public for, and stay involved.” We can no longer afford such a short term • moving vessels already at sea to deep water, well offshore. and improve its response to, future tsunami warnings memory – we must learn from past – not relive it! Since the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, Australia has • mechanisms for the effective distribution of tsunami made significant advances in the coordination of responses warnings to the public. to advise and alert the public of tsunami warnings. “It is vital that the public understand the warnings and Tsunami warnings are provided through the ATWS, are aware of the actions that should be taken in the event which is jointly operated by the Bureau of Meteorology of a potential emergency,” Minister McClelland said. and Geoscience Australia, and is provided through the “Surf lifesavers and lifeguards have a unique role in Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre which operates