Human aspects of the Katherine-Daly flood disaster

any important lessons can be • provision of harm-free shelters learned from those who by Allan Skertchly and Kristen Skertchly, • maintenance of secure, non-hazardous experienced the devastating (SMILE – Success Management environments Mrainfall inundation and flood- International Learning Enterprises, • maintenance of individual and social ing in the Katherine and Daly River Darwin, Northern Territory) behaviours acceptable to all Regions in the wake of severe tropical • maintenance of immediate physical ‘Cyclone Les’ early in 1998 (Munday, 1998). health Capturing manifest human emotions and • maintenance of immediate mental perceptions as soon as possible after the living just before the 1998 flood. Then, health disaster is valuable in an attempt to ensure rather suddenly, many inhabitants and • adequate unpolluted water the best possible well being for those visitors had to cope with life-threatening • adequate nutritional food exposed to similar situations in the future. dangers as the torrential rains associated • availability of some recreational diver- This article complements one recently with ex-tropical Cyclone Les wrought sions published (Skertchly and Skertchly, 1999) havoc. People were catapulted rapidly • sufficient cash flow of negotiable which focussed primarily on the material from the certainties and routines of currency and technical aspects of the 1998 Kathe- every-day life to experience the discon- The survival and safety of individuals rine flood. Here we provide an overview tinuities, disruptions and discomforts of and communities traumatised by the of some key human aspects and findings an unanticipated natural flood trauma. extreme forces of nature cannot ever be derived from consideration of the 1998 Within a relatively short period of time absolutely guaranteed. But to the extent Katherine and Daly Rivers Region Flood. a ‘State of Disaster’ was declared in the that sound forecasts can be made; plans The paper draws principally upon the Katherine-Daly Region and major emer- formulated and resources and capable work completed for the Emergency gency counter-disaster management took emergency managers provided, and Management Australia commissioned impacted individuals respond effectively Katherine District Flood Disaster Study to well-informed directives and requests, (Skertchly and Skertchly, 1998) and subse- ‘You walk into the capacity to cope and survive in the quently published reports, particularly the immediate disaster aftermath will be 1999 Katherine Region of Writers’ book someone’s home and much enhanced, with the basics of life, The Katherine’s Comin Down which such as those noted above, being main- documents personal Katherine flood see their life there all tained. experiences. Media sources were also over the floor.’ Table 1, Emergency and Disastrous utilised. The article captures important Events—Main Strain Characteristics, disaster-coping capabilities sketching key summarises key concerns which many characteristics of disaster-robust people. — Northern Territory people perceive they may need to contend We note some psychological issues and Emergency Service with in extreme unexpected situations problems that merit further investigation. (Paton and Long 1996). worker, Katherine 1998 Unexpected traumatic transitions Emergency management critical Katherine and Daly Rivers of the Nor- services and utilities available to thern Territory of Australia, are major Katherine tropical rain-fed watercourses upon over. The immediate task was to save The on-going sufficient provision of whose banks, and in the surrounding lives, prevent serious injuries and safe- critical life-supporting services and regions, the flood-devastated settlements guard property. Thousands of people were utilities is at the heart of successfully were located. The Katherine Gorge evacuated to safety and provisioned with coping with extreme hazards, such as the catchment and Douglas-Daly Region are the aid of 4000 flights. With the floods 1998 Katherine Flood. These derive well known to experience adverse impacts receding, the next thing to think about predominantly from normal resources of tropical rains and raging floodwaters was reconstruction—getting the people put to emergency use. The aim of emer- in the severe tropical cyclone-prone home and communities back to normal. gency interventions is to facilitate “Wet” season. Those who choose (or are Thus, two complex transitions occurred. maintenance of living essentials. Without compelled, by circumstance) to live close This paper highlights personal attributes, timely well-managed interventions utili- to a natural hazard, such as a major which facilitate robust personal coping sing available resources, there would watercourse, do, of course, take risks behaviours in such dangerous disaster certainly have been further considerable associated with possible floods. situations. loss of life and extreme deprivation for Katherine and Daly River towns and Most mainstream Australian settlements the Katherine and Daly regions residents surrounding communities generally at least embrace arrangements and and properties. enjoyed normal contemporary Australian resources, which enable the following: Generally, the Katherine-Daly com- small self-centred town and bush lives and • avoidance of serious harm munities already had in place an array

Autumn 2000 47 disabled etc. Animals and veterinarians. inhabitants. However, Aboriginal Aust- Emergency and Disastrous Events— Natural hazards awareness. ralians have lived and coped successfully Main Strain Characteristics Shelter and Technological Resour- with floods for tens of thousands of years, ces: Emergency Command Modules; including those in the Katherine Region. 1. Lack of warning Accommodation; Emergency accom- Palaeobiological and other evidence from 2. Abrupt contrast of scene modation-individuals, families, com- Katherine Gorge confirms very high level 3. Type of event munities; victualling, grog and supplies; floods in the past (Knott 1998). Living discipline, negotiable instruments, funds/ Aboriginals (Harney 1999), recall tales of 4. Nature of destructive agent cheques. past extreme floods. 5. Degree of uncertainty Transportation: Aircraft-fixed wing A handful of people were well aware of 6. Time of occurrence and helicopters, airstrips and landing real flood risks in the region. However, 7. Presence of traumatic stimuli areas; power boats and kayaks; vehicles- only a few members of the contemporary 8. Lack of opportunity for effective action official, private cars and trucks, etc; Katherine community had an inkling of highways and other main roads repair; the prospect of a flood of 1998 magnitude. 9. Knowing the victims or their families minor roads re-opening. Even those who had a professional interest 10. Intense media interest or public Communications: Meteorological in such matters were lulled into a false scrutiny forecasts-accuracy, timeliness, responses; appreciation of the potential levels of l l. Physical or time pressures Emergency/Disaster Plans; Radio/tele- flood-proneness through such docu- 12. Increased or unexpected responsibilty vision-forecasts and reporting. Optical ments as the 1 in 100 Year Flood Map 13. Greater than usual, physical, mental cable and satellite reliability; emergency (Department of Lands, Planning and the and emotional demands police and defence nets; pigeons. Environment) and the Katherine Counter 14. Contact with victims Political and bureaucratic: Emer- Disaster Plan (NTES 1996). 15. Resource availability and adequacy gency and disaster response capabilities The official Counter Disaster Plan for and competence of public bodies other Katherine included a flood-coping plan 16. Co-ordination problems than dedicated emergency bodies. Poli- embodying inputs from a number of 17. Inappropriate leadership practices tical leadership at local, Territory and relevant Departments. This Plan pur- 18. Inadequate and changing role definition federal levels. Visitations, promises, ported to give indicators of severe 19. Conflict between agencies exploitations. flooding to the 1 in 100 level. The flood 20. Single versus multiple threats Individual and Community: Service forecasting system accommodated the 21. High work loads clubs, agencies churches, welfare agen- notional 1 in 100 flood levels. Key people cies, private providers; appeals in cash were flood-response aware and able, and kind. within the official counter-disaster Table 1: Emergency and disastrous events— Risk Insurance and Reconstruction framework. But the flawed 1 in 100 official main strain characteristics Support: Building locations, insuring flood benchmarking induced a wholly of official arrangements and resources risks, reconstruction funds. The tyranny false sense of security. with which to cope with emergencies, of ‘status quo’ restoration. Ensuring better To an overwhelming extent, Katherine including floods. What was under- protection in the future? Region residents were completely caught estimated by authorities and most people Fostering a hazard mitigation cul- by surprise and expressed incredulity, as was the early advent of a flood as severe ture: Replacing the traditional Australian they witnessed at first hand, the severity as that, which occurred in 1998. A recent ‘she’ll be right culture’ with one of of the 1998 flood hazard event. estimate (Skertchly, 1999) is that a flood responsible natural and technological It is self-evident that when there is little of similar magnitude, or greater, than hazard mitigation and human settlement or no personal awareness of the scale, the 1998 Katherine flood has a 1 in 77 sustainability. timing and other characteristics of a year probability. This contrasts markedly In essence, Katherine already possessed pending high impact emergency event, with the then, pre-1998, flood prevailing a sophisticated potential for effective then little or nothing will be done to notion that such a flood would have but a counter flood disaster measures. prepare for it. The whole of Australia was 1 in 200-500 chance of occurrence. The characteristics and dimensions of looking forward to a holiday weekend and Emergency management interventions the disaster itself; the characteristics of Katherine was no exception. As the available to Katherine may be considered the people; and the activities undertaken Australian-South African cricket match under various categories. They derive by many people working in the above proceeded and preoccupied residents, from normal capabilities in such key categories, and the people themselves, the complex, rapidly engulfing, rising and domains as: determine the perceptions and coping expanding flood, progressed quickly into Protection and Security: Military behaviours of the disaster-effected an emergency disaster of unprecedented Capabilities. Roles and work of the community at large. These characteristics proportions. Many rivers and tributaries Northern Territory Police, Fire and and dimensions are highlighted in the broke their banks inundating 1,000 square Emergency Services; Prison Services etc. next section. kilometres, causing the evacuation of State of Disaster Directives/authority/ 5,000 residents and the catastrophic sanctions. Fraud, pilfering & crime Knowledge of Katherine’s flood- flooding of 1700 residences and 500 prevention. prone characteristics businesses. An unforeseen and frightening Biophysical and Psychosocial: Air, The general population was largely disaster had unfolded. water, sewerage and sanitary; Energy and unaware of the extent to which their Power; Medical, safety, nursing, immuni- settlement was disastrously flood-prone. Emergency response operational sation; psychological, welfare and chur- This was the case for ‘the man in the street leadership ches. Babies, sick, frail, aged, mentally and on the land’ as well as almost all The overall success of the Katherine

48 Australian Journal of Emergency Management District Flood Emergency Management the total responsibility for safeguarding At normal times the problems of drugs, operations rested upon the shoulders of a and evacuating the community rested on petrol and alcohol dependencies in many small group of top general contingency the shoulders of the Officer in Charge, Northern Territory communities are managers—Police, RAAF and a bureau- Maranboy who coped with all the many serious and well known. In the circum- crat, the core—coordinating the res- demands placed upon him in an out- stances of supply deprivation of the post- ponses of capable technocrats and their standing manner. At the time of the flood, evacuation stage, and with even fewer willing colleagues. Able, adaptable, effec- the Beswick community on its own could commitments than usual, the scene was tive, transformational human leadership not have coped to secure the safety of all ripe for dangerous rising social tensions. to respond soundly, to this comprehensive residents. In some evacuation centres there were flood inundation, was clearly evident. The Waipiri people reacted at a late stage initially a number of nasty anti-social fact that the people in such an extremely and they had to walk out of the com- events. Such events were close to in- demanding situation handled it so well was munity in waist- deep rising waters. consequential compared to the excessive a tribute too to those who had earlier At least one community, Ngkurra drinking and gambling problems that selected and trained them. (Roper River), anticipated and coped arose in some groups during the later As the emergency evolved rapidly into with the worst of the floods on their own. stages of flood recovery. a ‘state of disaster’ the operations centres This community, under the highly com- These problems, in large part, arose at Katherine and Berrimah Police Head mendable leadership of their local Officer from open-ended money distribution and Quarters came to life and the Northern in Charge, brought in extra supplies at an cheque releases that were made to flood Territory Counter Disaster Council met early stage and were therefore relatively victims by a number of government to monitor events. The decision-making self-sufficient. Other communities, such bodies. and directing of the official bureaucracy as Daly River, which are well administered Much of the money distributed was and government quickened. Authoritative too, were simply overwhelmed by the spent on alcohol and gambling with decisions and actions needed to be made magnitude of the flood and had to be ensuing binges. In many cases, as reported fast by empowered leaders. Through largely totally evacuated (to Batchelor) with the at Katherine, Batchelor and Beswick, the face-to-face communications and colla- aid of official external emergency re- control of numbers of highly inebriated borative commitment, the activities sources. The Daly River community were people was difficult. Such circumstances necessary to cope with this extreme crisis dislocated for one month before they caused many potential risks and dangers were successfully targeted and expedited. could return. to others. Beswick women and children All key and necessary people participated. Any sound approach to emergency fled out of the community, many to Katherine Regional Police Head Quarters preparedness and response must face the Darwin. This added an unwanted further became a multi-modal ‘Beehive’. reality of widely contrasting cultural and extreme concern to the heavily taxed The essence of operational success lay awareness differences. Leaders must Maranboy police force. in the mental robustness, extensive know- ensure that emergency communications The possibility of locally available how, conscientiousness, dedication and are effective for all kinds of people. In the ‘sworn’ police aides for commissioning adaptability to rapidly changing complex case of the Katherine flood, widely in times of emergencies should be circumstances that confronted the top, differing social control mechanisms considered. At Daly River on the other coping, leaders and their able experts. existed. hand, after experiencing unacceptable Conditions at operational centres were Throughout the immediate emergency behaviour at Batchelor, further cash often frenzy, but a highly productive frenzy. responses and well into the recovery grants were directly converted to neces- The question of how to quicken the stage, those concerned with managing sary household goods to replace those lost. response of people generally (followship) and reconstructing the physical fabric Widespread, discretionary cash should not to potentially serious and life-threatening and vital systems of the towns and be available, as this form of relief aid can emergencies is important. On a number settlements did an outstanding job. All lead to damaging anti-social behaviours. of tense occasions at the evacuation essential services and utilities were kept The form and distribution of relief centres the Mayor of Katherine spoke operating to the maximum capabilities funding and resources needs addressing directly to the people reassuring them as available. Much of the credit for this lies in detail. to the necessity for strangers to enter their in the high quality of the multi-faceted, A small percentage of any contem- homes and remove, on public health multi-skilled and highly experienced, porary population will always seek to gain grounds, decaying materials. He also human-power available in situ and the advantages from confused abnormal instigated brief return visits by evacuees resources that they could access or utilise, situations. To the extent that other to their flood ravaged homes. The Mayor, or acquire. Many people released and priorities in extreme emergency situa- as chief citizen played a key role in exploited dormant talents. tions makes possible, the whole com- reducing tension and assisting in main- munity, and especially its key people taining civil order and social controls Irresponsible behaviour should be alert to this possibility. There (Little 1999). There was evidence of some social were confirmed cases of looting from Great variability exists in Aboriginal issues that militated against the harmony local businesses, schools and residences communities as to effective day-to-day and well-being of quite a number of in Katherine Township. administration. When a community lacks people. Indeed, a number of persons cohesion, or ignores the advice of expert commented that the problems caused by Coping behaviours—majority others, this seriously and adversely affects the emergency relief and recovery mea- People living in isolated/remote settle- it’s capacity to respond and cope effi- sures were more difficult to handle than ments generally display high levels of self- ciently when exposed to potentially those of the flood itself. Here, the most reliance. The Katherine District is a good damaging natural hazard risks. In the case important of these are noted. (See Table 4 case in point. Although very largely reliant of the flooding of Beswick community, for further details.) upon government utilities and resources

Autumn 2000 49 for ultimate survival, often the directives from authority figures as to actions to be Personal Emotional Responses in the 1998 Katherine-Daly Flood taken are not taken kindly by local (The Katherine’s Comin’ Down, 1999) inhabitants. Anger: The reality began to sink in. Most had lost everything. Homes, cars, business, possessions Until the water was seen to be visibly and personal items. This was their moment of truth. (88) rising into houses and the direct evidence Calm: I got to the police station and what a hive of activity it was. The calmness of the people was of eyes and senses conveyed the actual a credit to them. (17) seriousness of the situation, many people Concern: Some of them didn’t know if their families were alive or dead, but they kept on working, did not take the evacuation advice they just rose above their personal disasters. (15) seriously. The ultimate need, in the face Disgust: Another thing that shook us up a bit was when Macca and I had to do a floater-a dead body. of clear danger, to secure their own safety It had been out there three days and it stank. I’ve dealt with dead bodies before but the smell was the and survival provided the motivation for thing that got me. (23) most, (with the exception of two people), Distress: The smell, the heat, and the unavailability of anything to buy. (51) The conditions were to, ultimately, respond positively to filthy. Cleaning maggoty fridges is hard work. (90) directives and at least save lives. Elation: When we arrived at Tindall airport we were greeted by a well organised team. It was great As the floods adverse impacts increased to see one of our staff members who lives at the base greet us. (21) rapidly, affected persons responded and Enjoyment: There’s seven of us hanging onto this little tree. Butch came past in his boat and rescued acted accordingly. Key people endea- us. He was just the biggest lifesaver. (60) voured to maintain vital services and Excitement: The current was so strong the boat was difficult to steer. Stevie was screaming and the utilities; many individuals selflessly cared dog was jumping all over the place in panic. I arrived at Christine’s house stressed to the maximum. for and helped save property for others. (55) Virtually every person made positive Fear: It was a disaster. This flood has taken away everything. The police came and told what contributions to community well-being diseases the flood could carry. I got scared for the five kids and I thought as we left we might get all once the enormity of the flood disaster washed away and drowned in the car. It was scary. (109) was apparent. Many individual life- Hope: It was also a time when new friends were made. Everyone helped someone else no matter guarding and humanitarian initiatives how bad things were for them. It was an equaliser of people. Out of adversity comes opportunity and I think we will be a better town for it. We are healthy and we are alive. We live in a wonderful part were undertaken as responsible people of Australia and the 1998 flood will add to the character of Katherine and her people. (135) did all that they could do to save, protect Loathing: It was now Thursday and I had been at Kane’s place for six days. This was long enough and maintain the functionality of their to test our friendship and I was getting a little homesick. Kane and I had argued and were not talking domains. Where it was not possible any to one another. All I wanted was to go home. (10) longer to so do, many people from all Love: Katherine mob thanks and loves you. To the Government workers, police, firies, health crowd, backgrounds in the flood zones contri- many suffering losses permanently, thank you. (8) buted substantially and vitally to affecting Sadness: It was heartbreaking for me as I lost things that were very precious including photographs rescues and evacuations. As thousands of of my mother who had passed away the year before. I know I will always have memories, but the people had to relocate; critical services photographs are irreplaceable (116). As Shaun closed the gate on the trailer he said “there goes 30 were kept working due to the relentless years of my life in Australia”. (135) work of their people; large numbers of Sorrow: The flood was a time of hardship and sorrow. People lost so much. people contributed in ways they would Surprise: We came across people panicking and evacuating the community. People were getting out never have thought possible and braving the murky floodwaters and swimming to safety. (115-116) When the water reached the The overall evidence gained from this door it slowly seeped in but when it reached the louvres it was like a dam opening up. It was even study confirms that those who are best bubbling up through the floor! The disbelief turned into numb acceptance. This was something we able to cope with life and its many could not control. (47) changing circumstances and uncer- tainties, such as the Katherine-Daly flood, Table 2: Personal emotional responses in the 1998 Katherine-Daly flood (The Katherin’s Comin’ Down, 1999) possess, inter alia, personalities embra- cing the attributes of ‘mental stability’, ‘conscientiousness’ and ‘openness to new human emotions evinced and needing to convey the essence of the behaviours and experiences’; (Clausen 1992, Costa and be controlled to maintain high levels of emotions of those experiencing the 1998 McCrae 1992), ‘naturalistic intelligence’ productive performance, include: anger, Katherine flood. The figures are the page (Gardner 1997) and a positive ‘optimistic concern, disgust, distress, elation, enjoy- numbers at which the quotations appear. outlook’ (Seligman 1992). As is amply ment, excitement, fear, loathing, love, The manner in which people react to testified in the personal case studies of sadness, shame, and surprise. Virtually the situations reflects their individually the Katherine flood, high-level personal whole range of core human emotions unique make-ups and personal percep- coping qualities were in abundant were experienced during the Katherine tions. All of the strain characteristics noted evidence in leaders and managers and and Daly Region flood. An emotional in Table 1 were manifest in the flood most (c. 80+%) of the people. competencies framework is provided by responses and behaviours observed. As well, ‘emotional robustness and Goleman (1998, 26-27) to which the Table 3, profiles Core Characteristics of intelligence’, the mature understanding interested reader should refer. Traumatic-Event Robust Persons. This and management of human emotions, are Table 2, Personal Emotional Responses summary profile reveals that both intelli- now also seen to play a vital part in in the 1998 Katherine-Daly Flood, cap- gences and emotions are critical com- adaptable self-management and living tures examples of these reflecting the ponents of effective personal trauma- comfortably and adapting more readily complex web of human consciousness. adaptive mastery and disaster-coping to precipitate change (Goleman 1994, The extracts are taken from The Kathe- thinking and actions. 1998; Weisinger 1998). The principal rin’s Cumin Down (1999) and seek to However, the trauma robustness of the

50 Australian Journal of Emergency Management Research confirms that up to 15% of such Core characteristics of Traumatic-Event Robust Persons populations may be affected adversely for longer than a year, many for life (McMillan Physical fitness and stamina: A sound level of physical fitness and endurance matched realistically et al. 1997). Once the immediate recon- to demanding circumstances. struction phase is over, it is important Mental stability: A robust, well cared for, mental state, with no evidence of mental abnormalities. not to forget that hundreds of people may Emotional intelligence: Sophisticated awareness of emotional states in self and others, and require advice and counselling to help adequate self-managed control of personal emotions. with their post-flood lives. Providing such A predisposition towards proactive optimism: Maintaining a hopeful, forward-looking approach support in the diverse, scattered and and making the best of the situation. remote communities of the Katherine An ‘openness to new experiences’ component of overall intelligence: The capacity to adapt District over many years to come is a effectively to changed (and quickly changing) circumstances without undue stress. challenge to the providers. A small A ‘conscientious’ approach to thinking and doing component of overall intelligence: Meticulous percentage of this group may be seriously attention to what matters most to managing a situation. Knowing how best to think and act. mentally scarred for life. A ‘naturalistic’, or native cunning and mastery of the environment, component of overall Table 4 summarises Key psychological intelligence: Practical or ‘street-wise’ intuitive knowledge and know-how of a natural and/or issues and problems—Katherine flood. technological environment. The concerns noted are all worthy of An overall sense of commitment, valuing the tasks undertaken: A sense of mission, or purpose, further consideration and research. that the tasks undertaken are necessary and needed. Conclusions The human behaviours of residents Table 3: Core characteristics of traumatic-event robust persons impacted by the 1998 Katherine-Daly Flood reflect a full range of human emotions and trauma-coping and res- Parameter Dimensions Comment Research ponse characteristics. They evidenced, overwhelmingly, the basic survival quali- Addiction & addicts Drugs of dependence Sudden withdrawal Intervention management ties of a robust majority of the population, Antisocial behaviours Protecting vulnerability Anti-criminal behaviour Community values in a possibly typical, cohesive-under- stress, Australian community. The attri- Communications Diverse Multi-faceted Core messages butes and needs of the less disaster-robust Coping Adaptable Personality Modify? and more mendicant minority of people, Disaster coping Normal & ‘abnormal’ Holistic functioning Realism in the future were also a focus. Notably, many impor- Bureaucracy working tant lessons can be derived from the study of and reflection upon such an over- Disbelief Complacency Cultural Mind-closure whelming catastrophic experience. Ekistics Settlement systems Inter-relationships Human system dynamics References Human inertia ‘Tyranny of the Becoming pro-active Openness to the new Barton A.1969, Communities in Disaster, status quo’ and different Doubleday, Garden City, NY. Ignorance Cognition Lack of concern Education & training Clausen J. 1993, American Lives, The Free Leadership Contingent Followers Paradigm Press, New York. Costa P. and McCrae R. 1992, NEOPI-R Management Chaos theory Ad-hocracy Contingency Professional Manual, Psychological Asses- Mind-sets Conditioning Cultural Openness sment Resources, Odessa, Florida. Multi-cultural Accommodating ‘Houses of Babel’ Multiple languages Gardner H. 1985, Frames of Mind (and competencies diversity subsequent publications), Paladin, London. Goleman D. 1995, Emotional Intelligence, National defence Military dependence Final authority Defence & civilians Bantam, New York. Obedience Compliance Social control Authority acceptance Goleman D. 1998, Working with Emo- P.T.S.S Poly-dimensional Clinical diagnostics ‘Classical’ protocols tional Intelligence, Bloomsbury, London. Harney Bill 1999, ‘Bill Harney’, The Power Political Availability Direction Katherin’s Comin’ Down, op. cit. Technocrats Skilling Diverse Training & experience Heath R. 1998, Crisis management for Volunteers Nature Motivation Recognition Managers and Executives, Financial Warnings Intelligibility Responses Criticality Times/Pitman Publishing, London. Higgins R. 1978, The Seventh Enemy: The Human factor in the Global Crisis, Hodder Table 4: Key psychological issues and problems — Katherine flood and Stoughton, London. Hodgkinson P.E. and Stewart M. 1991, majority of the population notwith- malfunctioning (Ursano, McCaughey and Coping with Catastrophe: A Handbook of standing, it is important to recognise that Fullerton, 1994; Paton and Long, 1996). Disaster Management, Routledge, London. those in the remaining sector of the For many, the impacts and losses Katherine Region of Writers, 1999, The population (C. 20%) will experience a experienced in such events as the Katherine’s Cumin’ Down, Katherine variety of adverse reactions up to and Katherine and Daly Region Flood 1998 Region of Writers, Katherine. including severe and lasting mental will have lasting personal repercussions. Knott J. 1998, ABC Broadcast on ‘Floods’,

Autumn 2000 51 15 November, of James Cook Univ., Cairns. Seligman M. 1992, Learned Optimism, ton C.S. 1994, Individual and Community Little G. 1999, The Public Emotions, Random House, Sydney. Responses to Disaster, Cambridge Univer- Australian Broadcasting Corporation Silverstein M.E. 1992, Disasters:Your sity Press, Cambridge. Books, Sydney. Right to Survive, Brassey’s, Washington. Weisinger H. 1998, Emotional Intelligence Munday J. 1998, ‘Cyclone Les-Australia Skertchly A. and Skertchly K. 1998, The at Work, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco. Day, 1998’, This is the Drum, March, pp. Katherine District Flood Disaster Study, 10–34. Emergency Management Aust., Canberra. Authors McMillen J.C., Smith E.M. and Fisher Skertchly A. and Skertchly K. 1999, ‘The Dr Allan Skertchly has qualifications in the biological, psychological and social sciences and was until recently R.H. 1997, ‘Perceived Benefit and Mental Katherine-Daly Flood Disaster 1998’, The a foundation member of the academic staff at the Health After Three Types of Disaster’ Australian Journal of Emergency Manage- Northern Territory University. He now works with Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psy- ment, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 31–50. S.M.I.L.E. Darwin on multi-disciplinary hazard mitigation chology, Vol. 65, No. 5, 733–739. Skertchly A. 1999, ‘Katherine 1998: The and emergency management projects. Ms Kristen Skertchly has an honours degree in NTES 1996, Katherine Counter Disaster Flood We Had to Have’, Royal Australian environmental science and is currently working at the Plan, Northern Territory Emergency Planning Institute, NT Division News, Department of Lands, Planning and Environment of the Service, Darwin. March-April, Special Katherine Floods Northern Territory Government. Paton D. and Long N. 1996, Psychological edition. Both authors have conjointly completed Emergency Aspects of Disasters, The Dumnore Press, Smith K. 1992, Environmental Hazards Management Australia supported projects on severe tropical cyclone human settlement vulnerability, the Palmerston North. —Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster, 1998 Katherine-Daly Flood Disaster, and Lifelines (NT), Pickup G. 1978, Natural Hazards Mana- Routledge, New York and London. for the Counter Disaster Council and Emergency Services gement in North Australia, Australian United Nations 1997, Floods: People at of the Northern Territory Government. National University, Darwin. Risk, Strategies for Prevention, U.N.P., New Raphael B.1986, When Disaster Strikes, Yor k . R fereed Hutchinson, London. Ursano R.J., McCaughey B.G. and Fuller-

New Books

Cross-Cultural Risk Perception: mann has done in Australia. Bernd fingers burnt again, we can use the lessons A survey of Empirical Studies ([email protected]) has reported to guide our planning been working with disaster managers in One particularly interesting point is the Edited by Ortwin Renn and Bernd Australia since about 1992 when he came significant degree to which the lessons Rohrmann to the University of Melbourne. Since that reported parallel the principles and Kluwer Academic Publishers time, he has contributed significantly to suggested techniques in the draft Austra- Dordrecht, 2000 improvements in our approaches to risk lian New Zealand Standard on Environ- management. The work reported in this mental Risk Management. The work book draws largely from work on bush- reported in this book and the Environ- This book is the thirteenth and the fires, but the findings are about mana- mental Risk Management Standard will most recent in what has been an out- gement and can be translated across add depth to the Risk Management standing series of books published by hazards. approach to Emergency Management, as Kluwer since 1986. The series of books there is much of relevance to transfer. It The book is not an easy read, but the (called Technolog y, Ri sk, and S oc i et y : An is not an easy task, but surely it is a worthy matters it deals with are not light. It moves International Series in Risk Analysis) has one. from a critique of public policy failures, been at the forefront of the move towards through a review of current trends, to the application of risk management to Reviewed by: reports on empirical work undertaken environmental and disaster management. John Salter ([email protected]) around the world, and concludes with The quality of the series has been some very useful implications for risk outstanding and this release strengthens John Salter worked with Emergency management. The book is worth the first the suite. Management Australia for over ten years. chapter alone for the comprehensive He now works with the City of Adelaide The focus is on what risk perception cover of the experts in the field sum- as an Environmental Manager, with the studies can offer to policy makers, risk marizing ‘who believes what and why’. University of New England as a course experts and interested parties. It has The cream on the cake lies in the coordinator of Planning for Civil Care brought together the leading prac- conclusions which can be drawn from the and Security (a core unit of their emer- titioners in the field and showcases their reported research. The conclusions gency management degree), and as a empirical work from around the globe. reached are not merely the all too often consultant with Geo-Eng Australia. Of particular interest to Australian seen tacking on of a preferred ideological disaster management practitioners is the position. It is practical and useful advice section reporting the work Bernd Rhor- to practitioners. Instead of getting our

52 Australian Journal of Emergency Management