Emergency Services Strategic Command

Demands and expectations of strategic commanders in emergency

services in 5-10 years

“The world has entered the era of ‘mega crisis’ or

catastrophic emergencies’ whose force and

magnitude defy even the best laid plans and the

most robust response systems”Professor Paul ‘t Hart

• Over the next 100 years

projected temperature rise is

likely to be greater than any seen

over the last 1000 years.

• There will be less water in South

Eastern Australia and

temperatures will rise by 1.4 –

5.8 decrees Celsius (BOM).

Public policy is getting more complex

• People expect information as it

arrives

• Our previous good responses may

have created a culture of

immediacy in the community

Lessons Learnt from Victoria & Challenges

• Plain language, get away from jargon & make information accessible

• Speed of change and expectations• Challenge of getting information in and

making it into intelligence• Is it enough that people discuss what they will

do, do they need to have a written plan• Can community make decisions in times of

stress

On an average day:• 47 billion (non spam) emails• 95 million tweets on Twitter• 30 billion pieces of content

shared on FacebookSource. The Emergence of a New Asset Class. World Economic Forum

(2011)

– The Social Media landscape can be

monitored and influenced, but not

controlled.

– ESO need to become part of the

conversation.

– Social Media is an important tool to assist in

getting the ‘Safety Message’ out to the

community.

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Potential:• Loss of radio & telco towers• Loss of situational awareness

Capacity of community to receive and act on triggers

Focus on suppression

Focus on life safety

Time0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Community Interest

Interest

The

big

fires

fires

on

the

new

s

fires

on

the

new

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mok

e

Time0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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80

90

Community Interest

Interest

Time0

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20

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40

50

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80

90

Community Interest

Interest

Time0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Community Interest

Interest

How do we engage during crisis?

The Way Forward

• Socially-enabled

• Mobile-friendly

• On Demand

• Track Twitter, social networks, blogs,

discussion boards, content sites

• Make content and data available for use by

others

Lew Short Lewshort14http://www.slideshare.net/LewShort

Thanks…