Disaster management welfare project / Gold Coast City Council.

Entrant: Pre-disaster Category, Local Government Stream, Safer Communities Awards 2005.

The Gold Coast City Council takes a proactive role in disaster management. Council has a long history as a lead agent in the development of disaster management strategies. Key planning initiatives have built upon this capacity to strengthen community preparedness. Having a strategic plan by itself is not sufficient. In early 2005 a project was commenced to examine the need for developing appropriate services to meet the immediate welfare needs of disaster affected communities. Council's new Disaster Management Welfare Planning Project is aimed at increasing community safety by providing accurate information for disaster management practitioners. This will better equip such personnel plan, prepare and respond to the welfare needs of a disaster affected community. Council has developed this new planning model using web-based and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) mapping platforms. The project model has improved the welfare planning, preparation and management of disasters. Achievements include electronic data and mapping systems that provide the disaster management practitioners with detailed standard operating procedures, accurate contacts and evacuation centre information. Examples of the information are photographical walk throughs, assessment reports, fire and safety evacuation plans, centre capacities and locality maps. The project information is being promoted as a practical tool that guides decision-making and provides clear directions for enacting appropriate response initiatives. The data contained within the model has also greatly improved the preparation. and support given to disaster recovery agencies through the early identification and infrastructure requirements of potential recovery centres. The Project model content minimises the stress and eases the burden of managing the difficult responsibilities associated with evacuating communities in times of disaster.