Entry for 2009 Australian Safer Communities Awards : SA Community FloodSafe Program.

Winner: Australian Safer Communities Awards 2009. Local government collective.

"This program links State Emergency Service and funding Councils, to take flood education and preparedness messages into local flood risk communities. It empowers residents and businesses to protect their own families, workers and properties during emergencies, and enhances community resilience and the return to normal life after a flooding event. Thirty-two SES rescue-trained volunteers, and three new SES community volunteers with good presentation skills were educated in flooding prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, along with flood mapping and local flood history. They now present FloodSafe messages to community meetings held in flood-risk streets, at local service clubs and community events. Faceto-face community meetings allow residents to locate their homes on flood maps and to discuss local history and risks with SES volunteers. The volunteers are passionate about this new community education role in SES. It embraces SES members who might otherwise leave if no longer able to perform the active rescue role; it enhances their skills base and knowledge with research, community consultation and presentation. This new community education role in SES also encourages interaction with local communities in a meaningful way. FloodSafe has brought in new volunteers who would not have joined the SES otherwise. Between March and June 2009 more than 80 community activities have been carried out in the 6 council areas, and in 2009-10 FloodSafe will expand to cover northern Adelaide metropolitan councils." -- Website.

Summary also available online.