Rockhampton Regional Council has put its Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) to the test with a large-scale simulation of a fast-onset Category 4 cyclone.
The LDMG conducted the critical mock event for its annual Disaster Management exercise.
Chair of the LDMG and Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor, Tony Williams, emphasised the importance of this exercise for disaster preparedness and community safety.
“It has been almost a decade since Rockhampton experienced a cyclone, with the last being Cyclone Marcia in 2015,” Mayor Williams said.
“Conducting these exercises annually ensures we are prepared for disasters. It’s an invaluable opportunity for our staff and partner agencies to build on their knowledge and skills, ensuring we are ready to protect our community when disaster strikes.
“We tested the effectiveness of our Local Disaster Management Plan and its sub-plans, familiarised the Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) staff with procedures, built confidence in our response capabilities, and identified areas for improvement in a simulated but realistic environment.
“The collaboration and expertise from everyone involved were critical to the success of the mock event.”
The exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase featured an LDMG meeting to discuss a cyclone hazard scenario and establish strategic aims and objectives.
The second phase focused on the LDCC’s operations in post-cyclone recovery, ensuring a comprehensive response across various government agencies.
“Our region is no stranger to extreme weather events with bushfires, floods, cyclones, and hailstorms, all posing threats to our community,” Mayor Williams said.
“Yesterday’s exercise is a timely reminder that the weather can turn bad rapidly and we, as a community, must be prepared.
“We also know that, in an emergency, we are all ultimately responsible for our own safety as well as the safety of our family.
“Take some time to sit down as a family and talk about your plan. Set a reminder or mark it in your calendar to discuss it today.
“It’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself with Council’s Emergency Dashboard. During a disaster, this dashboard provides access to a range of up-to-date emergency information including road closures, power outages, and weather warnings.
“In our region disasters are a question of ‘when’, not ‘if’, and it’s too late to start preparing once a disaster is bearing down.”
For more resources and information head to Council’s Emergency Dashboard at: emergency.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au.
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