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

Inspector-General Emergency Management

Public information and engagement Our survey revealed that, currently, the public principally uses the Bureau of Meteorology and the media as key sources of information. There are opportunities to link these sources more closely with information from local government and state agencies. The Office of the Inspector-General Emergency Management, is aware of a range of research activities that could be leveraged and intends to explore these in the future. Communications infrastructure Loss of communications, in some areas, affected the ability to respond, and to keep the community informed. Not all continuity planning sufficiently considered alternative arrangements. Throughout the review we identified that messaging and information must be more explicit and simplify complex situations for the public. Messaging and engagement must be tailored to the knowledge and experience of the community. Consistent messaging across entities is essential to ensure community confidence and to enable a well-informed community. Given the pivotal role that the media plays during disaster events, there is a clear need for coordinated messaging coming from councils and agencies to reduce the risk of inaccurate information being broadcast. One of the key roles of the Crisis Communication Network is to monitor the media and correct inaccuracies. The full utilisation of the Network may have been beneficial. Warnings and Emergency Alerts

Findings

Emergency Alert and other digital ways of warning are important but need to be used in a suite of tools to adequately inform the public. Information works best when it is timely, contextualised, informative, consistent and understandable.

Planning for the use of Emergency Alert significantly enhanced the relevance of messages and the speed with which they were delivered.

Information management Much effort was made by many to share information across systems, often by repeating or reproducing information. The resulting volume had its own challenges. Reports that concentrated on discrete issues were better received than long comprehensive ones. Future reporting may be improved by greater analysis rather than just data. Sharing of information in disasters is hindered by the number and connectivity of systems in which it is managed. We understand the background to the systems’ variety, and commend the initiative, energy and workarounds, of those who manipulate the system to make it work. The technical inability to share information successfully contributes to misunderstandings between decision-makers at different levels. Misunderstanding erodes trust, and trust affects the relationships that are an important enabler of successful disaster management operations. Briefings worked well, but there is still scope for efficiencies in appropriate attendance and focus. In a dynamic situation, briefs get out-dated quickly. Live feeds are preferable – the Bureau of Meteorology’s website to a weather slide-pack, for example.

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The Cyclone Debbie Review

Lessons for delivering value and confidence through trust and empowerment