Emergency responders deliver united front
When the next disaster strikes, Sunshine Coast Council’s disaster and emergency responders must stand together as one united, operational front. Council recently held a training exercise to assess our emergency services’ coordinated response. Because practice makes perfect!
Disaster management is a shared responsibility. First responders from all Sunshine Coast’s emergency services, government agencies and Council personnel are the caretakers of the Sunshine Coast’s residents and visitors before, during, and after, a disaster or emergency.
It is essential that when the next disaster strikes – and it will strike at some point – that the region’s Disaster Management operations stand together as one united front.
That is why it’s important to practice. Practice makes perfect, after all.
Council recently held a discussion-style training exercise for the Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) and Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC).
This was to assess the effectiveness of the Local Disaster Management Plan and workshop our emergency services’ coordinated response as to how we would “Stand Up” together.
The LDMG Chair Mayor Rosanna Natoli played a pivotal role throughout the exercise, which was based on the scenario of a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone reaching our region.
Participants were asked to provide tangible and realistic solutions to activity topics based on their organisation's current resource capacity.
Adding their expertise were members and agencies from: Qld Police Service, SES, Qld Fire Dept., Ambulance Qld, Coastguard, Unity Water, Telstra, Qld Heath, Dept. Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Surf Lifesaving, Maritime Safety Qld, Qld Dept. of Education, Sunshine Coast Airport, University Sunshine Coast, Visit Sunshine Coast, Seqwater, ABC, Red Cross, Dept. of Environment, Science and Innovation (Parks and Forests).
Also, in attendance was Deputy LDMG Chair Councillor Maria Suarez and representatives from our neighbouring Local Government Authorities, Noosa Council and City of Moreton Bay as observers.
Council's LDMG annual training exercise
First responders from all Sunshine Coast’s emergency services, government agencies and Council personnel took part in the annual Local Disaster Management Group training exercise at Venue 114.
Council’s Disaster Management Coordinator Jason Membrey said exercise participants required in-depth knowledge and understanding of their agency’s roles, responsibilities and capabilities to take part.
“Disasters are a critical time for our community, so it’s vital that the crucial skills of those working within the LDMG are well maintained.
“Then we can better support and protect the Sunshine Coast during all aspects of a disaster - from preparedness to response and recovery,” Mr Membrey said.
“This Annual Exercise provides an excellent platform to foster a collaborative and cooperative multi-agency response environment, emphasising effective management, coordination, collaboration, and communication among our LDMG agencies.
“Communication within this group and with our community is the key to keeping people safe and ensuring fast, effective emergency responses.
“A disaster resilience community is one that collaborates and works together and this recent exercise certainly delivered this.
“By working together and practicing our responses and protocols, we can ensure our region has a coordinated, strong, successful Disaster and Emergency response team - no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.
Stay Connected
Connect with Council and Queensland’s Emergency Services today so you always have the most up to date information WHEN the next natural disaster happens.
For the latest updates, practical resources and what to do before, during and after an emergency, visit Sunshine Coast Council Disaster Hub.