A booklet for Students and the Community
Chapter 1
How Do We Cope with Hazards and Disasters?
WHAT ARE HAZARDS?
Hazards are dangerous conditions or events with potential for injury, loss of life, and/or damage to property, agriculture or environment. They can be categorised in various ways, but based simply on how they originate, hazards can be grouped in two broad, and six more-specific categories (further described later):
1. Natural (hazards with meteorological, geological, biological or extra-terrestrial (space) origins).
2. Unnatural (hazards with human-caused or technological origins).
WHAT ARE DISASTERS?
Almost every day, either in the newspaper or on TV, there are reports of disasters in Australia and other countries. So what are disasters? The loss of the sole breadwinner in a car crash may be a ‘disaster’ to a family, but only an accident to the community. The word is used by the media to cover many different hazards and emergency situations, but not always in the most appropriate way. What are the characteristics that make disasters different from accidents, for example?
Variables
Disasters of all kinds and sizes happen when hazards seriously affect communities. They can occur anywhere and they are generally unpredictable, occurring at any hour of the day or night. Disasters can vary in the following ways:
Cause - They can result from a natural, or unnatural hazard (eg flood or transport accident).
Frequency and Risk - Some occur more often and therefore present a greater risk than others (eg in Australia, there is a much higher risk of damage from severe storms than landslides).
Duration of Impact - Some may be of limited duration, while others may last for long periods (eg a tornado may only last for a few minutes, but a drought may go on for years).
Speed of Onset - Some happen suddenly, while with others there is a warning period of perhaps hours or days (eg there may be only a few minutes warning of a flash flood, whereas the relatively slow onset of a cyclone allows a much longer warning time).
Scope of Impact - Some disasters may affect a relatively small area, and others may affect whole countries (eg a volcanic eruption compared to widespread famine). Others, caused by a single hazard and initially affecting a small area, could cause a chain reaction involving several other hazards covering a much larger region (eg an earthquake which damages roads causing transport accidents, ruptures gas pipes causing fires, and fractures a dam causing flash flooding).
Destructive Potential - This can vary enormously with the type of hazard (eg a bridge collapse is a localised event causing damage over a much smaller area than a cyclone for example).
Predictability - Some hazards follow certain patterns, and others do not (eg floods are usually confined to known floodplains but toxic gas emissions have no boundaries).
Control and Human Vulnerability - In some disasters we are totally helpless and must leave them to run their course. In others we can do something to lessen their impact even if we cannot prevent them from occurring (eg unlike tornadoes, bushfires can often be prepared for and controlled, however more Australians are vulnerable to them as they happen more frequently and affect larger areas).
Definition
Despite all of these differences, however, it is still possible to simply define a disaster, as follows:
A disaster is a condition or event of significant destruction, disruption or distress to a community.
THE AUSTRALIAN DISASTER SCENE
Other than the great influenza epidemic in 1918 which killed thousands (see Chapter 12), since Europeans arrived in Australia, there has been no really large-scale loss of life resulting from a great disaster. This is largely because we have a stable continent, well-constructed homes and are not densely-populated. Many other countries, even some in our region, suffer far greater human loss in disasters than we do. Apart from the 1918 epidemic, most of our worst disaster death-tolls occurred in the late 19th Century and included a shipwreck near Tasmania, a cyclone in northern Queensland, and a heatwave (in 1896) in southern Australia, each causing over 400 deaths. None of these however, exceeded the toll of the 1939 heatwave (again in southern Australia) which accounted for 438 lives. Even so, compare this with the fact that every year, more than double that number of Australians are killed on the roads. Nevertheless, Australian natural disasters alone cause huge economic losses (well over $1 billion annually) and great distress and hardship to many people every year. (See the table at Annex A for more detailed disaster statistics.)
NATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
Meteorological Origin
Parts of Australia suffer regularly from the effects or results of meterological hazards in the form of tropical cyclones, droughts, bushfires, floods, heatwaves and severe storms. Rarer weather hazards, but amongst the most dangerous, are cyclonic storm surges (explained in Chapter 7) and tornadoes (see Chapter 5). Compared to some other countries, disasters regularly caused by these hazards in Australia do not often take a large toll in terms of lives, mainly because we are not densely-populated and are quite well-prepared. However, they regularly result in damage that can run into hundreds of millions of dollars. This effect alone causes suffering to individuals, families and communities that can last for years. In many countries, extreme cold is the most deadly meteorological hazard but in Australia it rarely causes death except when people are caught in very cold conditions without adequate protection.
Geological Origin
Unlike regional neighbours such as New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, the Australian continent is relatively geologically-stable. We are not affected by volcanoes at all, nor by intense earthquakes in populated areas, although several moderate ones have caused substantial building damage and the 1989 earthquake in Newcastle, NSW, caused heavy damage and even loss of life (see Chapter 8). Overseas, landslides are often caused by earthquakes, but in Australia they are usually the result of soil saturation or human activity, and until recently were not regarded as major hazards, responsible only for occasional serious damage to roads and houses. In 1996 and 1997, however, this view changed when two landslide disasters claimed many lives in WA and NSW (see Chapter 10 for details). Despite being rare in Australia, large sections of our coastline have in the past, and could again, be exposed to tsunamis (potentially-huge seismic sea waves - see Chapter 9 for details).
Biological Origins
Some biological hazards with potential for disaster in Australia include: human disease epidemics (eg Ross River fever, Hepatitis, AIDS); vermin and insect plagues (eg rabbits, mice, locusts); exotic animal diseases (eg ‘foot-and-mouth’, Anthrax); and food-crop diseases. These and other similar hazards could dramatically and suddenly affect both the health and wealth of any nation.
Extra-Terrestrial Origin
Although presenting a very low risk, the impact on Earth by a comet or asteroid (large meteorite) could certainly cause anything from a major regional disaster, to a world-wide catastrophe. There are many past impact sites throughout the world, including Australia (see Chapter 12).
UNNATURAL HAZARDS AND DISASTERS
Human-Caused
Human error or deliberate acts sometimes take on disastrous
proportions. These may include: urban
fires; terrorist bombings; riots; wars; crowd-crushes at mass gatherings; shooting
massacres (eg Port Arthur); and even
sabotage of essential services (eg water or power supplies).
Technological Origin
As in most countries, development and population growth in Australia have contributed to an increase in technological hazards and accidents which sometimes become disasters. These have included: major transport, mining and hazardous materials accidents (eg oil or chemical spills); as well as industrial explosions; fire and occasional bridge collapses (eg ‘Westgate’, Melbourne and ‘Tasman’, Hobart). This category also includes dam failures, nuclear power accidents (eg Chernobyl) and re-entry of ‘old’ spacecraft to Earth (eg Skylab, WA 1979).
AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
Responsibilities
Under the Australian Constitution, the primary responsibility for life and property during emergencies and disasters rests with state and territory governments. The Commonwealth has a supporting role and normally assists in disaster response at the request of the affected state or territory if it cannot cope.
Participating Organisations
In Australia many people are involved in helping when disaster strikes. In each state and territory, as well as police, fire and ambulance services, there are other professional and volunteer emergency organisations, such as the State/Territory Emergency Services, with personnel trained to help communities in trouble. When their resources are over-taxed, they receive Commonwealth Government assistance through Emergency Management Australia following an official request. The Red Cross, St John Ambulance Brigade, Salvation Army and many other volunteer groups also become actively involved when disasters strike. Emergency response volunteer groups have over 500,000 trained members throughout Australia! You may like to seek information about groups active in your area and perhaps become a member of one.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA
History
In February 1974, Federal Cabinet approved establishment of the Natural Disasters Organisation (NDO) as a special agency within the Department of Defence in Canberra. It was decided that NDO should absorb Civil Defence functions and coordinate Commonwealth physical assistance to the eight States and Territories (and now also to our neighbours overseas) in the event of a disaster and to assist in improving their disaster management capabilities. The first disaster response operations by NDO included a major bushfire in western NSW, and Cyclone Tracy, at Darwin in December 1974. Since then there have been numerous operations of varying size and duration every year. On 1 January 1993, NDO changed its name to Emergency Management Australia (EMA), mainly to reflect the fact that it was involved in more than just natural disasters.
Mission and Role
EMA’s mission is to reduce the impact of disasters and emergencies in Australia and its region of interest.
EMA becomes involved in natural, human-caused and technological disasters, as well as civil defence in times of hostilities against Australia. It does not become involved in the maintenance of law and order in the event of acts such as terrorism. However, if a disaster occurred as a result of an act of terrorism, EMA could be involved in associated emergency management/counter-disaster activities.
Disaster Response Plans
EMA has national level disaster plans for Australia and the South West Pacific. These plans are sufficiently flexible to deal with the range of disasters mentioned above.
National Emergency Management Coordination Centre
When a state, territory or nearby country requests help during a major emergency or disaster, the National Emergency Coordination Centre at EMA Headquarters, Canberra, responds by coordinating physical assistance from Commonwealth resources (eg aircraft, personnel and equipment).
Emergency Management Education and Training
The Australian Emergency Management Institute at Mount Macedon, Victoria, is the training, education and research branch of EMA. Its role is to enhance Australian emergency management education by developing the national curriculum, principles and practice reference material, and information services. Each year, the Institute conducts a range of Commonwealth-funded courses, workshops and studies designed to improve the nation’s capability to cope with disasters. EMA provides several other national programs to support state/territory emergency management capabilities. These include a Disaster Awareness Program which provides a wide range of awareness and education services and publications (including this one) for schools and the community (see Foreword). This Program also publishes a range of emergency management reference manuals.
PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SURVIVAL
As Australians we need to become aware of likely hazards and potential disasters; how, when and where they are likely to occur; and the main problems which may result. Most of all, we should be aware of how to cope with their effects. At the end of each chapter in this book, there is information on survival and property protection which details what we can do before, during and after the impact of a particular hazard and thereby reduce the possibility of it becoming a disaster for us.
Self-Help and the Prepared Community
During disasters there will be a delay, before ‘outside’
help arrives. At first therefore, self-help
is essential and depends upon being part of a prepared community - that is a community
which has:
an alert, informed and actively-aware population;
an active and involved local government; and
agreed, coordinated arrangements for disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.
Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS)
All states and territories have adopted the SEWS which will be broadcast on
radio and television to draw public attention to the fact that a major emergency
announcement is about to be made. State and
territory emergency management authorities can provide further information on the Signal.
Ten Hard Facts About Australia’s Natural Hazards
BUSHFIRES - South-eastern Australia includes areas which are prone to the most severe and frequent wildfires in the world.
FLOODS - The Great Floods of 1990 in southern Queensland, northern NSW and SE Victoria covered a total area larger than Germany.
HEATWAVES - During the 20th Century, heatwaves have caused more deaths in Australia than any other natural hazard (except disease). The worst recorded killed well over 400 people.
SEVERE STORMS - On average in Australia, severe storms (including hail and tornadoes) occur more frequently and cause more insured damage, per year, than any other natural hazard.
DROUGHTS - On average, approximately three out of every 10 years bring drought which costs Australia more than any other natural hazard.
CYCLONES - Tropical cyclones cross the northern, north-eastern and north-western Australian coastline 6 times per year on average.
EARTHQUAKES - In Australia, an earthquake of Richter magnitude 5.5 (ie almost that of the Newcastle event in 1989) occurs every 15 months on average.
TSUNAMIS - Numerous small tsunamis (seismic sea waves) have been recorded along Australia’s coastline and evidence suggests much larger ones occurred before European settlement.
LANDSLIDES - In Australia, landslides have been responsible for approximately five times as many deaths as earthquakes but have caused only 5% as much economic damage.
VOLCANOES - Although the vast majority of volcanoes in Australia are extinct, scientists believe further minor volcanic activity is possible from long-dormant ones in SA and Victoria.
Now read on and discover much more about Hazards, Disasters and Survival.
 |
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA, PO
Box 1020 Dickson, Australian Capital Territory 2602, AUSTRALIA Telephone: + 61 (0) 2 6266 5402 Facsimile: +61 (0) 2 6266 5029 Email: ema@ema.gov.au AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE,
Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon, Victoria 3441, AUSTRALIA |
| This page was last updated May 31, 2001 |
