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

The Cyclone Debbie Review

Confidence and optimism Despite evidence, referred to earlier, of lack of preparedness, the majority of respondents to the community survey felt they were ready and able to deal with the impacts of the event. 106 Ninety-nine per cent of people in the Whitsundays identify as “very confident” or “confident” in being prepared for, and knowing how to respond to, events in the future. Respondents from Mackay, Rockhampton and Logan/Scenic Rim/Gold Coast reported similar levels of overall confidence. Interestingly, the level of those who identified as “very confident” did vary across locations. While two-thirds of respondents in Whitsundays and approximately half of those from Rockhampton and Mackay identified as “very confident”, this dropped to just over a third for respondents from Logan/Scenic Rim/Gold Coast. The difference between council experience and our community survey may be driven by a number of factors. There may be a very high level of awareness and capacity developing across community. There may also be pockets of the community that do not fully understand the risk posed in events. Weather events such as Debbie are complex and unpredictable. This often means that it is hard for authorities to provide definitive guidance on what will occur. Often, information outlines a possible scenario based on worst case predictions. This can make sense as a planning approach, but for some communities it can cause concern and confusion, and sometimes be seen as the authorities creating false alarm.

Themes

Whitsundays (n=306)

Levels of community confidence in preparations.

Source: MCR Community Survey

KEY (1 grid cell = 1%) Whitsundays

Very confident Quite confident

Mackay

Mackay (n=282)

Very confident Quite confident

Rockhampton

Very confident Quite confident Logan / Scenic Rim / Gold Coast

Very confident Quite confident

ALL

Not very confident Not at all confident Don’t know

Rockhampton (n=307)

Logan / Scenic Rim / Gold Coast (n=307)

Finding 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.

89

6 THEMES

Communications infrastructure • Confidence and optimism