Two years ago this week, it’s fair to say the entire north coast was in shock and struggling to comprehend the extent of what just happened.
It took a while, but it emerged that unimaginable floodwater levels caused the most devastation on record. Landslides cut off roads and communications were completely cut. The BoM got it wrong, in part because of faulty or inoperable flood gauges.
There was no ‘authority’ with a plan, just a strong community willingness to help and save each other, along with stretched emergency services.
The question that Mitra Ardron poses is what has been learned, and how can we prepare for the next one?
For a start, stop developing on floodplains. That would be ace.
Also, communication corporations should be required to have robust infrastructure in place. And fixing the flood gauges would help.
It’s fair to say that governments and Council haven’t learned much, and that too much tax money is spent on public relations and expanding bloated, unaccountable centralised bureaucracies like the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA).
It’s a theme across all sectors of governance, because unfortunately, most politicians are too scared and not smart enough to challenge toxic bureaucracies.
Instead, many spend their time wanting to be part of that club, while pretending they care about you! It would be hilarious if it weren’t so pathetic.
Preparing for the next big flood/fire/asteroid is easy: fund the SES and other emergency agencies with full-time employees so a well-equipped and trained team is on permanent standby.
The Echo put this to the office of newly elected NSW Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib, in May 2023.
Minister Dib didn’t seem keen on the idea (why?), but he replied that $200 million in new funding had been committed, including ‘$11.9 million to better support volunteerism, including training community members who may become “spontaneous” volunteers in a disaster’.
Should we accept poor political leadership when it comes to life-threatening emergency situations?
No. Never! Yet relying on governments is probably not wise, considering the standard of service delivery on offer. The reality is that the community will still need to step in, as it always has done.
Emergency training
The Mullum Neighbourhood Centre’s ad on page 4 is inviting the community to emergency response training. With a skilled-up community, future emergency responses can hopefully run smoother. Email [email protected] to get involved.
Additionally, the NSW SES has just launched its 2024 volunteer recruitment campaign.
The press release says, ‘The campaign focuses on key regional locations, particularly those who have been affected by extreme weather events in recent times’.
Visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au for more information.
Hans Lovejoy, editor
News tips are welcome: [email protected]
Yes, I had a great time volunteer-training with the SES in Lismore from 1975-82.
Flood-boat training/general boat recovery and safety, rope/cable use, splicing & knots, road closure procedure & fielding of public phone enquires, 4WD driving/winching & recovery of vehicles, to name a few.
An official SES wallet-card was issued to volunteers showing courses completed.
But all this was past history/redundant when the new era of pure professionalism was mandated.
I noted after 2022 flood that an eminent retired controller had the same opinion – no volunteers were suitable under the new rules.
He even phoo-phooed the idea of experienced flood-precinct captains being appointed from the community.
[Only ‘professionals’ were suited for these important jobs, you see!]