Disaster Operations Activities Jan-Jun 2013

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y ...................................................................................... 3
S T AT E D I S A S T E R C O O R D I N AT I O N C E N T R E ........................................................... 4
Jundah Storm – 15 Januar y 2013 ............................................................... 4
Tr opical Cyclone Osw ald – Januar y 2013 ................................................... 4
Longr each Flooding – 18 Februar y 2013 ..................................................... 5
Low – Februar y 2013 ................................................................................. 5
Tr opical Cyclone Sandra – Mar ch 2013 ....................................................... 5
Tr opical Cyclone Ti m – March 2013 ............................................................ 6
Sever e Thunderstor ms – 24 March 2013 ..................................................... 6
AUS ASSISTPL AN – March 2013 .................................................................. 6
Tr opical Cyclone Zane – April/May 2013 ..................................................... 6
Maritime Grounding – June 2013 ................................................................ 6
Sever e Thunderstor ms – 13 June 2013 ....................................................... 7
Biosecurit y Alert s ..................................................................................... 7
Bureau of Meteor ology .............................................................................. 7
State Level Resuppl y Oper ations ............................................................... 7
D I S A S T E R R E L I E F A R R A N G E M E N T S ..................................................................... 8
Barcoo Severe Stor m – 15 Januar y 2013 .................................................... 8
Tr opical Cyclone Osw ald and Associat ed Rainf all and Flooding – 21 to 29
Januar y 2013 ............................................................................................. 9
Longr each Flood – 18 Febr uar y 2013........................................................ 11
Central and Southern Queensl and Low – 25 Febr uar y to 5 March 2013 ...... 12
N U C L E A R P O W E R E D W A R S H I P S ....................................................................... 13
T R A I N I N G A N D A W A R E N E S S A C T I V I T I E S ............................................................. 13
State Disaster Coor dination Centre Response Team ................................. 13
S T AT E D I S A S T E R M A N A G E M E N T E N H A N C E M E N T S ................................................ 13
Noggin OC A ............................................................................................ 13
Business Continuity Plan ........................................................................ 13
Workshop and Conference Contribution ................................................... 13
Committee Contribution .......................................................................... 13
O F F I C I AL V I S I T S ........................................................................................... 14
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 2 of 14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Minister for Police and Community Safety activated the Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster
Relief and Recovery Arrangements on three occasions for different natural disaster events that
impacted Queensland during this period. The Minister also activated the State Disaster Relief
Arrangements for a severe storm that impacted Barcoo Shire on 15 January 2013. Most Local
Governments in southeast Queensland were impacted by multiple events.
Due to extensive flooding along the central and southern east Queensland coastline caused by the
remnants of Tropical Cyclone (TC) Oswald in late January 2013, the Minister for Police and
Community Safety approved the declaration of Disaster Situations under the provisions of the
Disaster Management Act 2003 for the Disaster Districts of Gladstone, Bundaberg, Maryborough,
Ipswich, Dalby and Brisbane. The Minister also approved the declaration of a Disaster Situation for
the Local Government area of Rockhampton Regional Council. The Disaster Situations remained
current for 14 days, with the exception of Brisbane which was cancelled by the Minister after three
days and Bundaberg which was extended for a further seven days by the Premier and Minister.
The State Disaster Coordination Centre (SDCC) was activated from 26 January to 5 February
2013 inclusive to support operations associated with ex-TC Oswald. The SDCC Watch Desk also
assisted in numerous minor operations that occurred state-wide but did not warrant formal out of
hours activation of the SDCC.
The national Emergency Alert system was used on 76 occasions to deliver voice and SMS
warnings associated with flooding and severe weather produced by Ex-TC Oswald in January and
the east coast trough in February and March 2013.
There were no resupply operations to remote communities during this period, as Queensland did
not experience sufficient rainfall during the ‘wet season’ to isolate communities for an extended
time.
There were no visits to Queensland by Nuclear Powered Warships from the United States Navy for
crew rest and recreation.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
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S T AT E D I S A S T E R C O O R D I N AT I O N C E N T R E
The State Disaster Coordination Centre was involved in the following operations during this period:
These operations typically required analysis of the event, maintaining situational awareness,
passage of information to affected Local Governments and other relevant agencies, tasking of
State Emergency Service Groups in response to requests for assistance from the general public,
procuring and transporting a wide range of resources that were requested by Local Governments,
briefings to key decision makers and forward planning.
Jundah Storm – 15 Januar y 2013
Severe thunderstorms including two small tornadoes impacted Jundah during the afternoon. All the
homes in the township received some damage with many losing roofs and windows. The State
School lost its entire roof. Winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour were recorded and two semitrailers, a water truck and a vehicle towing a caravan were all overturned by the extreme winds.
The storm then struck the nearby township of Stonehenge which suffered damage to several
buildings. Power was lost to a wide area due to broken power poles and falling trees bringing down
power lines.
The Minister for Police and Community Safety, The Honourable Jack Dempsey MP activated State
Disaster Relief Arrangements (SDRA) for the Barcoo Shire.
Tr opical Cyclone Osw ald – Januar y 2013
A Tropical Low formed west of Mornington Island on 17 January and slowly moved east across the
Gulf of Carpentaria. By the 21 January the system had intensified to a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone
(TC) named Oswald and continued its easterly movement before crossing the coast between
Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama the next day. Trees and power lines were brought down in the area
and several buildings received minor damage. The Kowanyama airport received significant
damage to the runway as the surface bubbled and lifted due to the high water table. Power lines
were also downed at Aurukun and Weipa.
TC Oswald was downgraded to a Low as it moved over Cape York and started to track southeast
along the eastern Queensland Coast producing very heavy rainfalls of 200-300mm per day in
some areas as well as some strong wind gusts. As Ex-TC Oswald maintained its southerly track
along eastern Queensland the heavy rainfall continued, causing rapid river and creek rises
resulting in widespread flooding. Whilst many areas have received major flooding across
Queensland, the most extreme levels were recorded at Bundaberg where the level of the Burnett
River exceeded the previous record level in January 1890 by half a metre. The Awoonga Dam on
the Boyne River above Gladstone peaked at 8.3 metres above the spillway. Record flooding was
also recorded in Baffle Creek, the Don and Dee Rivers.
Strong winds and falling trees caused widespread power outages to over 30,000 homes. Several
wind gusts well over 100km per hour were recorded around the Gladstone and Sunshine Coast
area, with the strongest at 139km/h near Mackay. Five tornadoes were confirmed near Bundaberg
on 26 January.
Across Queensland, Ex TC Oswald caused significant property damage and destroyed livestock,
sugar cane and fruit crops. Damage assessments indicated over 4,000 houses were damaged and
82 of these were destroyed. 3,290 persons were evacuated, including 685 by aircraft and 73
evacuation centres were established and supported. In Bundaberg approximately 1,670 residents
were evacuated from their inundated residences, many by helicopter and 2,371 houses were
damaged including 62 that were destroyed.
Many parks and camping grounds were closed, which disrupted many long weekend Australia Day
activities. Brisbane City Council reported that more than 2,000 trees fell.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 4 of 14
During this event, 62 Emergency Alert Campaigns were issued across the state by the SDCC:
Redcliffe 29; Gladstone 15; Toowoomba 6; Ipswich 4; Bundaberg 4; Logan 2; and Gold Coast 2. A
total of 242,333 landline and 515,316 mobile telephones were targeted.
Disaster Situations were declared for the Bundaberg, Gladstone, Maryborough, Ipswich, Dalby and
Brisbane Disaster Districts as well as the Local Government area of Rockhampton Regional
Council.
The SDCC Watch Desk received 7,255 requests for assistance through the 132 500 telephone
number, this did not include calls made within Brisbane as these are automatically diverted to
Brisbane City Council. Bundaberg accounted for 1,456 calls.
The SDCC also received 269 requests for assistance from Local Governments. Due to the large
volume of physical resources that had to be airlifted due to flooded roads, a privately owned
Hercules was chartered to support other charter and military aircraft that had been sourced by the
SDCC.
The SDCC was activated from 26 January to 5 February 2013 and was assisted by 96 staff from
across government who joined with 106 Department of Community Safety staff to support 24/7
SDCC operations relating to this event.
The Minister for Police and Community Safety, The Honourable Jack Dempsey MP activated
NDRRA for 57 of Queensland’s 73 Local Government areas.
Longr each Flooding – 18 Februar y 2013
Heavy rain fell over Longreach and the nearby towns of Isisford and Muttaburra during the evening
of 17 February and continued into the following day. Longreach recorded 87 millimetres, which
caused localised flooding and some road closures.
The Minister for Police and Community Safety, The Honourable Jack Dempsey MP activated
NDRRA for the Longreach Regional Council.
Low – Februar y 2013
The SDCC moved to an Alert phase on 24 February in preparation for increased activities
associated with a low pressure system that was producing heavy rainfall, which caused flash
flooding in many areas along the east coast and southern Queensland. Although heavy rainfall and
flooding occurred over the next few days, the SDCC did not formally activate as the workload did
not require Whole of Government support.
Flooding at many coastal communities was exacerbated due to high tides. Three evacuation
centres were established at Gympie and one each at Laidley and Murgon. The SDCC received and
actioned over 700 requests for assistance, with the vast majority relating to sand bagging and
tarping due to damaged or leaking roofs.
During this event, 14 Emergency Alert Campaigns were issued by the SDCC to the Laidley,
Lockyer Valley, Thangool, Mount Tarampa and Dalby areas. A total of 14,222 landline and 77,132
mobile telephones were targeted.
The Minister for Police and Community Safety, The Honourable Jack Dempsey MP activated
NDRRA for 23 Local Governments that had been impacted. Many of these areas had also been
impacted the previous month by Ex-TC Oswald.
Tr opical Cyclone Sandra – Mar ch 2013
The SDCC monitored an offshore Tropical Low that had been slowly intensifying northeast of
Townsville, developed into TC Sandra Category 1 on 8 March. The system moved in an easterly
direction and continued to intensify, reaching Category 4 on 11 March and crossing into Fiji’s area
of responsibility. TC Sandra then moved southwest and start to lose intensity and passed the
eastern side of Lord Howe Island on 15 March as a Category 2 system.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 5 of 14
Tr opical Cyclone Ti m – March 2013
A Tropical Low that crossed Cape York and started to intensify in the northwest Coral Sea
developed into TC Tim Category 1 on 14 March and moved in general southeast direction whilst
continuing to intensify to a Category 2 system. On 16 March, it turned towards Townsville but
began to lose intensity and by 18 March it was downgraded to a Tropical Low.
Ex-TC Tim produced strong winds, showers and rain along the north Queensland coastline mainly
north of Mackay.
Sever e Thunderstor ms – 24 March 2013
Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy rainfall impacted southeast Queensland
during the late afternoon and evening on 24 March. Trees were brought down and power was cut
to 49,805 homes.
Wind gusts of 90 km/hr were recorded at several locations and 45mm of rainfall was recorded in 30
minutes at Carole Park and 40mm was recorded in 30 minutes at Brassal. The SDCC received 92
requests for assistance which were related to sandbagging, tarping or chainsaw tasks.
AUS ASSISTPL AN – March 2013
On 29 March, the Australian Government activated the federal AUSASSISTPLAN to a Mobilisation
Phase, to support the Solomon Islands Government in combatting a large outbreak of the Dengue
Fever virus. The SDCC monitored the situation but did not receive any requests to deliver short
term primary health care or support civilian deployments. AUSASSITPLAN reverted to a standby
phase on 8 May following the successful demobilization of the Australian Medical Assistance
Team.
Tr opical Cyclone Zane – April/May 2013
On 28 April a slow moving Tropical Low southeast of Papua New Guinea continued to deepen as it
moved westward towards Cape York. During the morning of 30 April, which is the official end of the
cyclone season it intensified into a Category 1 system and was located 600 kilometres northeast of
Cooktown. TC Zane moved west-northwest before weakening rapidly back to a Tropical Low on 2
May as it crossed the Cape York coastline south of Lockhart River.
Ex-TC Zane produced squally showers with some areas of heavy rain from about Cape Tribulation
to Ingham.
Maritime Grounding – June 2013
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) advised that the fishing vessel Joseph M had run aground at
Lady Elliott Island on 6 June, resulting in a small loss of diesel fuel. Concerns were held due to
36,000 litres still on board but despite worsening weather no further pollution occurred.
The vessel was re-floated without incident 12 June.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 6 of 14
Sever e Thunderstor ms – 13 June 2013
Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy rainfall impacted southeast Queensland
particularly in the Darling Downs, Beaudesert and Gold Coast areas. One house was destroyed
and six other houses lost roofs in the Pratten and Bony Mountain area near Warwick. A recreation
hall and a silo were also destroyed. There was an unconfirmed report of a tornado.
The SDCC received eight requests for assistance.
Biosecurit y Alert s
During this period the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry advised the SDCC of a
number of new Biosecurity threats that resulted in properties being quarantined. The SDCC
monitored and reported on these events, however, no Whole of Government support was required
at a State level.
The threats included outbreaks of Lyssavirus, bovine Johne’s disease and three separate cases of
the Hendra virus.
Bureau of Meteor ology
During the period January to June 2013 2,465 weather advices were received from the Bureau of
Meteorology. 1,887 advices required minimal or no action as they were routine reports such as
Tropical Cyclone Outlooks, Coastal Waters Wind Warnings, Gale/Storm Warnings for shipping and
Tsunami Bulletins.
There were 578 warnings that required monitoring and notification to affected Local Governments
by the Watch Desk. These warnings were for phenomena such as Tropical Cyclones, Severe
Thunderstorms, Flooding and Fire Weather.
State Level Resuppl y Oper ations
Although the monsoon trough was active several times during the ‘wet season’ and Far North
Queensland was impacted by TC Oswald, which resulted in some road closures due to flooding.
The period of isolation was not sufficient for communities to require resupply operations, which is
very unusual.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
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D I S A S T E R R E L I E F AR R A N G E M E N T S
The Minister for Police and Community Safety, The Honourable Jack Dempsey MP activated the
Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) on three
occasions during this period, as well as the State Disaster Relief Arrangements (SDRA) on one
occasion.
Barcoo Severe Stor m – 15 Januar y 2013
Event and Timing
Severe storm
activity occurring on
15 January 2013 in
the townships of
Jundah and
Stonehenge and
surrounds in the
Barcoo Shire area.
SDRA Relief
Measures
Activated
• Counter
Disaster
Operations
• Personal
Hardship
Assistance
Scheme
The only Local Government affected was Barcoo Shire Council.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 8 of 14
Tr opical Cyclone Osw ald and Associated Rainf all and Flooding – 21 to 29
Januar y 2013
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 9 of 14
Event and Timing
Strong winds, heavy rainfall and flooding in Northwest Queensland and the far north to south east
coast of Queensland associated with Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald, which crossed the coast
between Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama as a Category 1 cyclone on 21 January 2013 and
continued to move inland and down the coast.
NDRRA Relief Measures Activated
• Counter Disaster Operations
• Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme
• Essential Services Safety & Reconnection Scheme
• Freight Subsidies for Primary Producers
• Natural Disaster Assistance (Concessional Loans) for Primary Producers
• Natural Disaster Assistance (Concessional Loans) for Small Business
• Restoration of Essential Public Assets
The Prime Minister, The Honourable Julia Gillard MP, also approved the following additional
measures under the Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements:
• Special Disaster Assistance (Clean-Up and Recovery Grants) for Non-Profit Organisations
• Special Disaster Assistance (Clean-Up and Recovery Grants) for Primary Producers
• Special Disaster Assistance (Clean-Up and Recovery Grants) for Small Businesses
• Exceptional Disaster Assistance Scheme
The 57 Local Government areas affected were Aurukun Shire Council, Balonne Shire Council,
Banana Shire Council, Brisbane City Council, Bundaberg Regional Council, Burdekin Shire
Council, Burke Shire Council, Cairns Regional Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Cassowary
Coast Regional Council, Central Highlands Regional Council, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council,
Cloncurry Shire Council, Cook Shire Council, Croydon Shire Council, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire
Council, Etheridge Shire Council, Fraser Coast Regional Council, Gladstone Regional Council,
Gold Coast City Council, Goondiwindi Regional Council, Gympie Regional Council, Hinchinbrook
Shire Council, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, Ipswich City Council, Isaac Regional Council,
Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council, Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council, Lockyer Valley
Regional, Logan City Council, Mackay Regional Council, Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council,
Maranoa Regional Council, McKinlay Shire Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Mornington
Shire Council, Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council,
North Burnett Regional Council, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, Pormpuraaw Aboriginal
Shire Council, Redland City Council, Rockhampton Regional Council, Scenic Rim Regional
Council, Somerset Regional Council, South Burnett Regional Council, Southern Downs Regional
Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Tablelands Regional Council, Toowoomba Regional
Council, Torres Shire Council, Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Western Downs Regional
Council, Whitsunday Regional Council, Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council, Wujal Wujal
Aboriginal Shire Council and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 10 of 14
Longr each Flood – 18 Febr uar y 2013
Event and
Timing
Heavy rainfall and
flooding on the
18th February
2013 in
Longreach.
NDRRA Relief
Measures
Activated
• Restoration of
Essential
Public Assets
The only Local Government affected was Longreach Regional Council.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 11 of 14
Central and Southern Queensl and Low – 25 Febr uar y to 5 March 2013
Event and Timing
Heavy rainfall
commencing on 25th
February affecting
the east coast areas
causing flash
flooding with
additional heavy
rainfall and flooding
affecting the central
regions of
Queensland.
NDRRA Relief
Measures
Activated
• Counter Disaster
Operations
• Personal
Hardship
Assistance
Scheme
• Restoration of
Essential Public
Assets
The Local Government areas affected were Barcaldine Regional Council, Banana Shire Council,
Bundaberg Regional Council, Brisbane City Council, Central Highlands Regional Council, Fraser
Coast Regional Council, Gladstone Regional Council, Gold Coast City Council, Goondiwindi
Regional Council, Gympie Regional Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional
Council, Mackay Regional Council, Maranoa Regional Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council,
North Burnett Regional Council, Rockhampton Regional Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council,
Somerset Regional Council, South Burnett Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council,
Toowoomba Regional Council and Western Downs Regional Council.
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
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NUCLEAR POWERED WARSHIPS
Emergency Management Queensland is the lead agency for coordinating visits by Nuclear
Powered Warship visits to Queensland ports for crew rest and recreation purposes, however there
were no visits during this period.
T R A I N I N G A N D AW A R E N E S S AC T I V I T I E S
The SDCC maintains an active role in organising and conducting disaster management training
activities at a State level.
As part of their professional development, four staff attended a six day Certificate IV Training and
Assessment course, two staff attended a two day Level 2 Procurement, two staff attended a five
day Exercise Evaluation and Management program and two staff attended a First Aid course.
Staff actively participated in a pandemic exercise hosted by Queensland Health on 12 June.
State Disaster Coor dination Centre Response Team
The SDCC provides Whole of Government coordination to support disaster management
operations within Queensland. In order to support the SDCC during protracted events, staff are
brought in from across the Queensland public service to fill key positions within the centre for each
shift.
Training to Whole of Government staff commences with a mandatory one day induction course
which covers Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements. Staff then attend specific
training in their preferred Cell, such as Operations, Logistics, Intelligence, Planning or Support.
Appropriate staff can also be selected for Team Coordinator, Cell Leader or Mentor training.
During this period, 141 staff attended Induction, 33 Cell Leader, 23 Team Coordinator, and 12
Logistics Cell. Further training will be developed later in the year.
S T AT E D I S A S T E R M A N A G E M E N T E N H A N C E M E N T S
Noggin OC A
Following a public tender for a mass communication tool, the SDCC commenced using Noggin
OCA on 15 April. The SDCC maintains over 4,000 contacts and these are now sourced within one
system. Previously contacts had been maintained within separate systems that were used to send
messages by email, SMS or facsimile, Noggin allows all this to be done from the one system which
results in increased efficiency and simplifies training requirements.
Business Continuity Plan
A new business continuity plan for the SDCC has been developed and successfully tested, which
has simplified previous arrangements.
Workshop and Conference Contribution
Two staff attended a flood warnings workshop coordinated by the Bureau of Meteorology on 3
May.
Committee Contribution
Staff were also actively involved in supporting the following committees:
Brisbane Port Safety Organisation
Emergency Alert Steering Committee
Flood Warning Consultative Committee
Information Communication Security Change Advisory Board
Nuclear Powered Warship Visits Committee
State Disaster Coordination Group
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 13 of 14
O F F I C I AL V I S I T S
Staff hosted official tours of the State Disaster Coordination Centre and gave presentations to the
following agencies:
Australian Army
Australian Red Cross
Bond University
Bureau of Meteorology Hydrology Unit
Certified and Practicing Accountants Conference
Defence Science and Technology Organisation
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
Department of Community Safety Media and Corporate Communications
Disaster Recovery Coordinators
Ergon Energy
Executive Challenge Academy
Jakarta Disaster Management Office
Lockyer Valley Community Reference Group
National Security College
New South Wales State Emergency Service
New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Fire Service
New Zealand Police
Queensland Ambulance Service (2 tours)
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
Queensland Police Service (2 tours)
Royal Australian Air Force
State Emergency Service
Technical Cooperation Program (multinational medical defence team)
United Kingdom Environment Agency
United Kingdom Ministry of Defence
United States Air Force
University of Queensland
Victoria Emergency Communications
Victoria Fire Services Commissioner
Victoria State Emergency Service
SDCC Activity Report 1 January to 30 June 2013
Page 14 of 14