Neil Greet

A series of bushfires that ignited or were burning in Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009. 316 individual fires were recorded.

The fires occurred during extreme bushfire-weather conditions. Strong winds in the morning grew to storm force as the day progressed, and a wind change moved across the state during the afternoon, greatly intensifying the fires.

Australia's highest ever loss of life from a bushfire;173 people died and 414 were injured as a result of the fires.

Then Serving in the ADF as a Colonel Deployed as the Chief of Defence Force

Liaison Officer 8 Feb to 10 Mar 09 ◦ PM Direction ◦ Linked to the Department of Human Services and

Office of Emergency Service Commissioner ◦ Not Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery

Authority Not Response Early Recovery

• Recovery starts when

response starts • Change in operational

tempo • Needs analysis &

rapid impact assessment

• Partnerships

Transition to recovery

• Critical infrastructure • Housing and immediate

needs • Lessons learned

Transition to recovery

COMMUNITY

The most serious consequence of the fires was the death of 173 people. Left behind are families, friends and communities still trying to come to terms with their loss. Accompanying this loss of life is the fires’ impact on property and the infrastructure that supports communities, as well as the substantial environmental impact, which will take years to fully reveal itself—let alone be ameliorated. It is extremely difficult to quantify the cost of a disaster like this, but the Commission estimates it to be more than $4 billion.

• 29 people died in Strathewen valley • 80 out of 100 houses were destroyed • All community infrastructure destroyed

• Community owned hall • Primary School • Fire station • Cricket shed

• Roads blocked, bridges damaged • No power for 2 weeks, land line and mobile

services disabled • Natural environment devastated (initially) • Range of losses – pets and stock, history,

relationships, security, sense of place, …… • Community dispersed • Significant change in community dynamics

Hazards and make-safe Food and water Safety and security Emergency accommodation

• Access to properties • Communication - mobile phone and internet • Community infrastructure – e.g meeting spaces Power, gas Recovery management infrastructure

Transport and access Food and material distribution

infrastructure Drainage/sewage Temporary accommodation Reinstate or workaround? Continue ‘make-safe’ Retail/commercial facilities Supply chains Accessing resources

Long term needs in the built environment • Don’t just rebuild what was there before • Identify opportunities to ‘build back

better’ • Upgrade infrastructure • New facilities/services • Sustainable and resilient

• Community infrastructure • Government administration

infrastructure • Long term recovery infrastructure

Working with Emergency Impacted Communities

Normal people in abnormal circumstances not disabled probably disoriented almost certainly overwhelmed

• Emergency impacted people do not become panicked, aimless or stupid. Indeed they become more focused and more innovative

• Emergency managers who work with affected people, rather than around them, will have far greater success (and an easier life)

• Community knowledge and expertise is priceless and is readily available to those who take the time to ask

Enable access and egress no lock downs

Get people back home as soon as possible Clear information on what to do next A bit of help with essential needs (but no

junk!) Assistance negotiating relief/recovery

systems

• Identify existing community structures • Facilitate legitimate and effective community

representation - Avoid the ‘loud, angry people’ - Community leaders will emerge

• Utilise local systems for relief and support • Initiate/support community based

communication systems • Supporting rather than controlling • Recognise that consultation is a ‘long

conversation’ • Ensure inclusive approaches • Realistic, community based time lines

• Make long term commitments rather than short term promises (“we will rebuild what you had”)

• Recognise the range of loss • Collect information once • Establish effective coordination • Establish genuine partnerships • Accept that recovery is long term

The ‘take home’ messages • Recovery is about people • Think of what humans need, not what is easiest,

most practical, or looks best on paper • Engage with communities (get help if you need) • Community recovery is very long term - allow for

this

Remember that you are part of community - there is no ‘them’