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VictoriasBushfires February2009

LessonsLearned DisasterPreparedness RapidResponseSustainableRecovery

RobynRiddettManagingDirector AnthemionConsultancies

rgrd@bigpond.comSecretaryGeneral ICOMOS ISConRiskPreparedness

SecretaryGeneral ICOMOSScientificCouncil

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VictoriasBushfires

WARNING!

Thispresentation

containsmaterialwhich

mayshocksome

viewers.

Activateyourpersonal

responseplannow.

Stayandlistenorleaveearly!

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BlackSaturday 7th

February2009

ThesoutheastcornerofAustraliaisoneof

themost

fire

prone

regionsintheworld

Oneofthedarkest

daysin

Australias

peacetimehistory

Thefiercestfiresthe

emergency

services

personnelhaveeverseen

Unimaginablehorror

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FireConditions

11yeardrought,tinderdrybush

Threedaysofover40Cinpreviousweek

46.7Con

the

day

Hot,drygaleforcewindsfromthenorth

Lessthan

4%

humidity

Fireindexover300 usuallyunder100

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KnownCauses

Lightning 3

Fallenpower

lines

1

Arson atleast2,

moresuspected

SparksfromagrinderonadayofTotalFire

Ban 1

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DamageOverview

183firesinVictoriaand

South

Australia Firetemperatures

estimatedinexcessof

3,000C 400,000hectaresburnt

Fire

front

over

1,000km 210deadplusmissing

Over7,500homeless

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DamageOverview

1,500+

houses,schools,

businesses,

public

buildingslost

Fourtownsdestroyed

Someothers

lost

over

1/3oftheirpopulation

tightcommunitiesin

thebush

Attachmenttotheland

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DamageOverview

Millionsofnative

animals

and

birds

dead Speciesendangered

Extensivelossofstock

cattle,sheep,bloodstock(racehorses)

Loss

of

pets

ponies,

dogs,cats,poultryetc.

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FireBehaviour

Over120kmperhour

Fire

storm

and

ember

attackleapt40km

Fireracedacross

treetopsand

left

big

treesasburnt

matchsticks

Temperaturesinexcess

of3,000

C

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FireBehaviour

Densesmoke

visibility

less

than

2

metres Incredibleroarlikeajet

engine

Firecreated

its

own

weather

Houses

simply

exploded

air,heat,gasbottles

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Eyewitness Accounts

Iheardthenoiseandhad20seconds,Iwasinthepool

and

didnt

think

Kinglake wasunderthreat.We

were

in

the

pool

and

suddenlysawitcoming.Wehidunderawetblanketandcalledtheneighboursto

come.

As

they

ran

the

fireracedthroughandtheywereincineratedintheir

tracks.

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HowPreparedWereWe?

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AdequacyofPersonalFirePlans

Somepeoplewell prepared Poorornopersonal

preparation Inever

thought

it

would

happen

Personalfireplansnot

compulsory,

not

preparedproperly,evaluatedorrehearsed

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AdequacyofPersonalFirePlans

Manyleftittoolateto

evacuate,

panicked,

underestimatedthe

fire,notmentally

prepared Comparewithcyclone

preparednessplans

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AdequacyofEmergencyResponse

Generalwarningsindaysbeforethefires

Everyoneknowsaboutannualbushfires

Nowarnings

on

CFA,

DSEWebsitesorABC774atthebeginning

Types

of

warnings

changedastheeventsunfolded

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TheWarnings

STAYANDDEFENDORLEAVEEARLY

Youmust

activate

your

fireplannow.

Ifyouevacuateyoumust

reportto

the

Emergency

ReliefCentreatWhittlesea.

Theymustbespecific thedetailiscritical!

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TheWarnings

Ifyouseesmokeitistoolatetoleave.

ResidentsinXXStreetyouarebeingthreatenedbyafirewhichisincreasinginsize. CommunitiesinTaggerty remainonalert.CommunitiesinSnobsCreek

you

must

remain

vigilant. TheroadbetweenXXandXXis

closed.

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TheWarnings

Peopleclaimedthattheydidnotreceiveawarning

or

what

does

early

mean,

the

message

changedResidentsofHealesville

youmustremainonalertastheremay

notbeenoughtimeforawarning.

Ifyou

see

smoke

get

out

now

dont

wait

until

you

see

flames.

Ifyouareseeingflamesitistoolatetoleaveandyoumuststay

anddefendyourpropertyasbestyoucan.

UrgentThreat

Message:

For

residents

in

the

Beechworth areathefirehassignificantlyincreasedinsizeandisspotting

ahead. Thefireisincreasinginsize.

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TheResponse

ABCRadio774

official

emergency

radio Integratedresponse:

police,

CountyFire

Authority

5,000voluntary

firefighters

Departmentof

Sustainabilityand

Environment,Parks

Vic.

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TheResponse

Reliefcentres

Red

Cross,

Salvation

Army

Communitysupport

andvolunteers

Emergency

accommodation

private,communitycentres,Armybarracks

andtents

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TheResponse

Vicroads

road

closures,

re establishmentof

personalID

drivers

licencesetc.

Lossofidentification

andpossessions

Departmentof

Human

Services

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TheResponse

Over

A$2,000,000

raisedinRedCross

BushfireReliefAppeal

Crimescene

areas

barricadedand

dangerous

AppointmentofaRoyal

CommissionofEnquiry

andTask

Force

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TheResponse

Contaminationonsite asbestos,

lead

paint

etc. Looting

Locatingthedeadand

missingpersons

Identificationofthe

bodies Treatinginjuredpeople

andanimals

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TheResponse

Burntpowerlines power

outages ThreattoMelbournes

watersupply rainand

ash Anotherdayofextreme

firedangeraweeklater

butit

dissipated

Peopletiredand

stressed

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AdequacyofEmergencyResponse

Theprofessional

emergency

response

plansarewell rehearsedandworkedexceedingly

well

Therewasanevolving

responseasissues

emerged.

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AdequacyofEmergencyResponse

NooneingovernmentexpectedtheirMinistries

or

departmentswouldeverhavetocopewith

afire

of

this

magnitude.BruceEsplund,Victorian

EmergencyServices

Commissioner

Everyoneisshellshocked

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FutureIssues

Humanstories shock,

guilt,

anger,

long

term

recovery

BLAME theGreen

Debate Lackofcleared

vegetationinbush

(burnoffs)

and

around

housesinbushsetting

Councilregulations

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LessonsfromHurricaneKatrina

Makealltheinformationregardingcausesand

consequences

known

before

rebuilding

begins. Involvecommunitiesearlyintherebuildingprocess.

Establishrealisticrecoverytimelines notjustfor

anniversariesor

political

convenience.

It

takes

time

tobuildacommunity inthefirstplaceandittakes

timetorebuildthemafteradisaster.

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Thereisalongwaytogo!