IGEM Report 1: 2017-18 - THE CYCLONE DEBBIE REVIEW

The Cyclone Debbie Review

Also by March 2017 the QRA’s work with government agencies and four local councils on a larger project to develop a long-term plan to manage the impact of future floods was well advanced. The Brisbane River Catchment Flood Studies aim to improve community safety and resilience within the Brisbane River catchment. 77 The importance of a catchment-wide approach would become apparent during the Debbie event. Warnings The national EA telephone-based warning system is one tool that can be used to warn the community of a possible threat or emergency. EA sends voice messages to landlines and text messages to mobile phones in a defined geographic area. It works across all telecommunication carriers, does not rely on the need for anyone to subscribe, and does not give a choice to opt out. EA is considered a critical element of emergency response and should be complemented by other warning strategies. 78 Each use of the EA system is called a campaign. f A campaign includes a message and a geographic area, defined by a polygon. g A campaign has three options for methods of communication, a recorded voice message for landlines at their registered service address, and an SMS for mobiles. This may be sent to mobiles, either based on their registered service address, or on the last known location of the handset at the time of the emergency. A combination of these options may be used.

Campaigns are prioritised for action. Priority 1 categories identified as a Warning. These campaigns take precedence over Watch and Act (priority 2), and Advice (priority 3). Once a campaign is loaded into the EA system the messaging to both land and mobile telephones is exceedingly fast. There are however a few limitations to the system, notably;

State-level operations

• the system is only designed for eight concurrent campaigns nationally at any one time • the format of the polygon is limited, and • the SMS handset location method sends messages via mobile towers that service the polygon. This often results in mobiles outside the polygon also receiving the message.

State-level operations

Queensland is a regular user of EA and requests for campaigns can originate from both state and local groups. 79 Within QFES, the SDCC issues such warnings on behalf of all. 80 The process in Queensland starts with either a local or state level requestor. The requester defines the polygon, writes messages in both SMS and recorded voice form, ensures the implications of sending messages are considered and actioned – alerting call centres for instance, and contacts the SDCC. Those in the SDCC trained to use the system will contact an Authorising Officer for approval, and if needed, clarify details with the requester. The Authorising Officer checks that everyone who needs to know has been told, that call centres and supporting media are ready, and authorises the campaign. SDCC staff prepare the campaign in EA, confirm it with the requester, get final approval to release it and release the campaign.

Widespread areas of significant flooding occurring in the Logan and Albert River catchments Fitzroy River in Rockhampton rising with peaks expected at Yaamba and Rockhampton More than 170,000 customers in South East Queensland without power Stand up of Rockhampton DDMG Logal River peaks to exceed the major flood levels at Waterford and Eagleby Second interstate assistance deployment arrives to support RDA 11.00am • SDCG Telecon 1600 propoerties without power in South East Queensland 21,000 propoerties without power in North Queensland At this point, 588 properties deemed uninhabitable in central and North Queenslandand 76 properties deemed uninhabitable in South East Queensland Ergon has de-energised approximately 260 residential/business customers in Rockhampton 13,600 customers without power in North Queensland (Bowen, Prosperpine, Collinsville, Alligator Creek, Cannonvale, Sarina and Arlie Beach) Fitzroy River in Rockhampton peaks at major flood level (8.9m) 11.30am • SDCG Telecon SDCC Stood down 2.00pm • Strategic Leadership Meeting – SDCC Response to QRA Recovery Transition 300 customers in Proserpine and Airlie Beach without power, with restoration to be completed by 12 April 10.00am • SDCG Telecon

31 March

1 April

3 April

Types of alert campaigns used throughout Debbie.

Source: IGEM

4 April

Messages included warnings or information about:

5 April

• The cyclone • Storm Tide • Evacuation

• School closures • Road closures • Dam releases

• Flood warnings • Contaminated water • Recovery

7 April

Notes f. A campaign is a single approved message sent to telephone numbers in response to an event.

11 April

g. For the purpose of disaster management, a polygon is a 2-dimensional shape made up of closed straight lines that is defined as an emergency incident area on a map using a geographic information system, and that defines an area to receive an Emergency Alert – Emergency Management Queensland, Queensland Emergency Alert Guidelines, 2015.

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5 STATE-LEVEL OPERATIONS

Hazards • Warnings