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

The Cyclone Debbie Review

Previous reviews have highlighted the need for greater training and exercising of the EA system. QFES has 17 Watch Desk staff all trained in EA and they are exercised by creating a campaign every two months. We note that no local or district groups are involved in these exercises. We also note a lack of awareness by many local groups of the capabilities of EA and the requirements for issuing a campaign. The Queensland Disaster Management Training Framework offers training in warnings and alerts through “Module 1 – Introduction to Warning and Alert Systems” and “Module 2 – Working with Warning and Alert Systems”. We conclude that the course content does address most issues raised and also includes some paper- based exercises.

We heard, and agree, there is scope to include an element of practice so that local initiators of EA better understand what is involved. Overall the EA system has improved since the IGEM’s Emergency Warning Capability Review was undertaken. While the system did cope extremely well, the issues identified still reflect a need for greater preparedness and training in EAs to develop the message and polygon. Discussion with Telstra has revealed that they will “sponsor” training exercises, at no cost to the jurisdiction, to generate a campaign. The exercises will test a jurisdiction’s ability to request, generate, authorise and initiate an EA campaign, and report on its success. We are unaware of any recent such activity with the Queensland Disaster Management context.

Themes

Previous recommendations about warnings

Review of Local governments’ emergency warning capability

Recommendation 7 Warning and alert systems training (including the use of Emergency Alert and the requirements of the guidelines) is delivered to: • relevant local and district disaster management group members • authorising officers • other relevant stakeholders. Professional practice consideration 3 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services should consider supporting local governments in the annual development of at least one pre-formatted Emergency Alert message and polygon map based on a risk assessment and hazard modelling.

Review of Seqwater and SunWater warnings communications

Recommendation 7 Emergency Alert messages for dam related events are:

• pre-formatted, consistent and current polygons are identified • content aligned with the Queensland Emergency Alert Guidelines • stored and practised in consultation with the State Disaster Coordination Centre.

95

6 THEMES

Previous recommendations about warnings