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

The Cyclone Debbie Review

We heard from some other councils that managing road closures across multiple entities remains challenging for the sector. The lesson for all is that agencies with overlapping responsibilities should agree how contingency plans work together before an event, and if the plans are likely to affect the community, then it should be consulted. TMR is conducting an internal review of performance during Debbie. Experience No amount of advance planning can prepare for every eventuality, so “event planning” that builds on known and practised plans to direct operations continues to be critical. The planning and preparation undertaken by North and Central Queensland councils is heavily influenced by the regular natural disasters or near-misses that those areas experience. In the Whitsundays, the experienced local group prepared for a category 4 direct hit when Debbie was still a tropical low. Some areas of the southeast are affected less frequently by major events and, compounded by the rapid-onset of flooding, event planning in some places appears to have been more reactive and the trigger east, previous experience led to careful preparation. Lessons identified by Lockyer Valley Regional Council, from the events of 2011, resulted in its group standing up early Thursday morning, 30 March, at the onset of heavy rain, and standing down at midday on Friday once they were confident of a reasonably minor impact on their area. In general we note that more successful event planning was evident in those groups that had: • thoroughly understood local risks points for escalation less clear-cut. However, in other parts of the south • previously undertaken comprehensive planning • put effort into public engagement activities around preparedness • good capability, developed through exercising and training. These groups activated early in readiness for possible impact, even when they weren’t sure if they would be affected. While the rapid-onset of floods in the south east made operations more difficult, in general good preparation allowed groups to be more adaptable during the event itself.

The disaster management adage “go hard, go early” seems to still apply. Good practice is evident in the further planning examples that follow. On Saturday 25 March, with the cyclone forecast to cross the coast in its area, Burdekin local group considered three contingency plans based on the cyclone tracking north or south of the council area, or if it found itself directly in Debbie’s path. The Burdekin LDMG’s decision-making was helped by the availability of pre- prepared evacuation maps in the event of a storm surge. Its event planning was made in time blocks – the next 12 hours, 12-24 hours, 24-36 hours and on. The Mackay Disaster District has developed a new activation plan for severe weather events.

Themes

Finding The planning and implementation of road closures is a shared responsibility between local and state authorities. Coordination and public messaging proved problematic in some places during Debbie. Focused attention combined with exercising of plans and sharing of good practices and efficiencies before next season will deliver tangible benefits.

Appendix B

Map depicting Mackay disaster district tropical low escalation points.

Mackay LDMG, Cyclones and Tropical Lows – triggers and actions (2016), Appendix B

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6 THEMES

BCP • Local infrastructure • Integrated planning