Insights into strategies & issues for Community Resilience

Lew ShortGroup Manager Community Resilience

“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

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

• 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).

Some NSW Fire Seasons

2002/03 2006/07 2009/10

Number of bush fires statewide 459 2,871 4,104

Duration of Bush Fire Emergencies (days)

151 days 113 days 118 days

Area Burnt (ha) 1,465,000 438,218 366,159

Residential Homes destroyed 86 8 24

Lessons Learnt from Victoria

• 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

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How do we engage during crisis?

Soon to be… Principal Emergency Management & Resilience Eco Logical Australia

0419 203 853Lew Short Lewshort14Slideshare

Lew Short