The Constitution of Australia precludes the Federal Government from directing State and Territory Governments with regard to Disaster Management. However, given that States and Territories may need, from time to time, to collaboratively deal with a disaster, the Australian Government instead, encourages the States and Territories to pursue the same principles

The South Australian approach to Disaster Management

South Australia has adopted a Risk Management approach to Disaster Management in accordance with the methodology outlined in the Risk Management Standard AS/NZS 4360.

A key strategy in the Risk Management approach is the implementation of mitigation (either preventing or reducing as much as possible) measures to treat risk. This requires a collaborative effort with the Commonwealth, State and local Governments, private enterprise and the general community

South Australia has adopted the four disaster management concepts recommended by the Commonwealth Government. They are:

• The All Hazards Approach
• The Comprehensive Approach
• The All Agencies Approach
• The Prepared Community

The All Hazards Approach

Dealing with different hazards may require specialist skills. Day-to-day emergencies are dealt with by specific agencies. For example, the South Australian Country Fire Service is responsible for dealing with bushfires, and the State Emergency Service is responsible for dealing with storm damage. The South Australian State Disaster Organisation is responsible for the management of disasters resulting from all types of hazard impacts.

The Comprehensive Approach

South Australia recognises four elements of emergency/disaster management ('PPRR'):

• Prevention /mitigation: to prevent or mitigate (reduce the severity of) hazard impact.
• Preparedness: to ensure preparedness within the community.
• Response: to provide an effective response, immediately following any hazard impact.

• Recovery: to provide for recovery of the community affected by the hazard impact

Some of the strategies to ensure the successful implementation of each of the four elements of the Comprehensive Approach include:

PREVENTION/MITIGATION

• Zoning/land use management
• Legislation
• Building codes
• Public information
• Building use regulations
• Community awareness/education
• Relocation
• Tax, insurance incentives/disincentives
• Safety improvements

PREPAREDNESS

• Community awareness/education
• Mutual aid agreements
• Disaster plans
• Warning systems
• Training/test exercises
• Resource inventories
• Emergency communications
• Provision of special resources
• Evacuation plans

RESPONSE

• Implementing plans
• Notifying public authorities
• Implementing emergency legislation/declaration
• Providing medical assistance
• Providing immediate relief
• Issuing warnings
• Search and rescue
• Activating emergency operations centres
• Mobilising resources

RECOVERY

• Restoring essential services
• Health and safety information
• Community rehabilitation
• Long-term medical care
• Counselling programs
• Physical restoration/reconstruction
• Temporary housing
• Public information
• Financial support/assistance
• Conducting economic impact studies

The All Agencies Approach

South Australia's arrangements for dealing with major emergencies and disasters in Australia require an active partnership between the Australian Government, State/Territory and local levels of government, statutory authorities and voluntary and community organisations.

Under our Federal system, State and Territory governments are responsible for the protection and preservation of the lives and property of their citizens. These governments exercise control over most of the functions which are essential for effective emergency/disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery - through provision of police, fire, ambulance, medical, hospital and emergency services, and other agencies.

The Prepared Community

People can do much to help themselves and others in their community by:

• being aware of local hazards and recommended protective measures;
• taking appropriate individual precautions against those hazards;
• being actively involved in community-based voluntary organisations; and
• making sure that their local government has effective arrangements in place.

Voluntary organisations arising from an active and prepared community can play a vital role in emergency/disaster management, particularly in the areas of preparedness and response. To be effective they must be supported by the community and be included into its emergency/disaster management arrangements.

Local governments provide a variety of public works and services such as health, welfare and other functions which are needed every day, and never more so than when the community is affected by major hazards.

In time of emergencies and disasters, individual and community self-help can often provide the most decisive and effective relief, as it cannot be assumed that assistance from external sources will always be available or will arrive promptly. Experience shows that affected communities turn first to their local agencies for advice, assistance and support.

Assessing risk

Risk is perceived - two people can look at the same threat and come to different conclusions about the extent of the risk.

Although the perception of risk has something to do with the nature of the hazard being considered, and the consequences of that impact should it occur, the perception of risk is affected by the extent to which the observer is outraged about it.

Outrage can affect our perception, leading to inappropriate action being taken:

• If outrage is low then what is risky may be considered as safe; however,
• If outrage is high then what is safe may be considered to be risky.