Emergency Risk Management

Emergency risk management is defined as a range of measures to manage risks to communities and the environment. The organisation and management of resources for dealing with all aspects of emergencies. Emergency management involves the plans, structures and arrangements which are established to bring together the normal endeavors of government, voluntary and private agencies in a comprehensive and coordinated way to deal with the whole spectrum of emergency needs including prevention, response and recovery

WA Local Governments have specific emergency management responsibilities, now directly legislated by the State Government in the form of the Emergency Management Act 2005. These responsibilities contribute to a range of measures in managing risks to their communities and the environment and in coordinating community resources and capabilities in responding to emergencies and disasters.

What are the benefits?
Ensuring that your Local Government has in place an Emergency Management plan will provide numerous benefits to both the community and the Local Government:

• Effective Prevention, Preparation, Response and Recovery (PPRR) approach strategies to address impending and/or actual community emergencies
• Reduction of costs and impacts of the actual emergency to the community

Will we ever need it?
The mandate to ensure all Local Governments in WA have robust and effective Community Emergency Management Arrangements has been in place since 2005 as legislation. During various times of the year communities throughout WA are impacted by emergencies or disasters that may result in loss of property, livestock, human life and natural environment. Loss of human life and personal property has significant psychological, cultural and social impacts on the communities. As a Local Government you have a responsibility to protect the people, property and environment within your locality.
 

Examples of some recent and disastrous events :
1. Floods and associated loss of life, property loss/damage, loss of livestock, loss of businesses across multiple Qld Local Government localities – Jan 2011
2. Toodyay fire – Dec 2009
3. Significant damage across multiple Local Government localities following the severe Perth storm - 22 March 2010

What can LGIS provide and assist you with?
LGIS Emergency Management consultants have a thorough knowledge and comprehension of the Emergency Management Act WA 2005 and best practice guidelines, ensuring a Local Government organisation is guided through all the crucial stages of the development of their Community Emergency Management Arrangements. All facilitation and consultation is supported by well structured checklists and worksheets used to capture the pertinent information, which is collated and represented as the master Emergency Management Plan for the communities within their locality.

For more information please contact Paul Myers, Manager LGIS Risk Services on (08) 9483 8819 or paul.myers@jlta.com.au