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Twister puts Hume's emergency response plan to the test

A freak of nature put Hume City Council and the Sunbury community in a spin in August, providing some valuable lessons in responding to the most unlikely of emergencies.

A tornado passed through Sunbury, north west of Melbourne, on 8 August, significantly damaging a Council owned basketball stadium and about 40 houses. While no serious injuries were reported, the storm's effects were more far reaching than the physical damage.

Some 80 children inside the stadium at the time, and more playing on the sports grounds outside, witnessing the storm's devastating effects.

Frank Dixon, who heads Hume City Council's Municipal Recovery Team, estimates that about 150 families from Sunbury and surrounding communities have been affected by the 15 minute event.

This has put Council's Municipal Recovery Plan well and truly to the test. He said that within minutes of the storm, road closures were in place and the local State Emergency Service unit was providing assistance to affected property owners, with more assistance coming from units from neighbouring municipalities.

"The support of the Sunbury SES, local ambulance and police officers, and Council staff has been invaluable," Frank Dixon said.

"The SES provided tarpaulins to cover damaged houses, and assisted with the general clean up well into the night and the following morning.

"The storm has highlighted a number of important aspects of responding to emergencies. Council quickly moved from the first phase, the response, to the second, more involved recovery phase."

A community support strategy was developed in partnership with the Department of Human Services comprising community briefing sessions, crisis counselling, a telephone hotline providing access to information and support services, and public meetings.

One such meeting, held about a week after the event, aimed not only to keep the public informed but also provided the opportunity for experts to identify symptoms that traumatised children may display, and to give practical advice to their parents.

"From a Local Government perspective there were two clear messages," Frank Dixon said.

"First, you need to know that anything can happen.

"If your emergency plan is too prescriptive then it probably will go wrong. You must be prepared to be flexible.

"Second, it is important to be aware that you can rely on all resources available to you statewide and not feel that Council must provide everything. You do not have to have the solutions yourself, but just know that those with the expertise to provide the solutions are available."

Taking part in Sunbury's response and recovery were Hume City Council, the Department of Human Services, Sunbury SES, Police, Ambulance, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Council of Churches, Bureau of Meteorology, and the Sunbury community.

Frank Dixon said that the response to the emergency was prompt and effective. Gauging the effectiveness of the recovery phase will take much longer.

"It has been a steep learning curve for all of us, but it has taught us to be prepared for anything."

For further information contact Frank Dixon, telephone (03) 9205 2501.

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