Warnings - a statement on research priorities for natural hazards emergency management in Australia

Throughout 2015-2017, emergency service agencies around Australia participated in workshops hosted by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC to consider the major issues in natural hazards emergency management.

This publication on warnings summarises the outcomes of one of these workshops and poses questions as a guide for a national research agenda in natural hazard emergency management.

The provision of warnings and information during emergencies has emerged over the last decade as a critical element of modern emergency management. In Australia, leadership and innovation in this area has seen significant progress across legislation, policy, operational practice, research and the use of technology. A national focus to better engage and empower communities has propelled change and continuous improvement.

Whilst the 2009 Victorian bushfires and subsequent Royal Commission has driven national action on improving how communities are warned, fire is only one of the emergencies confronting Australians each year. A number of large-scale events including cyclones and flooding in Queensland, and earthquakes in New Zealand, have presented challenges and opportunities to improve the way that warnings and information are provided to communities.

The National Review of Warnings and Information, led by Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) in partnership with the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) Warnings Group provided an opportunity to investigate, across a multi-hazard and national sphere, how warnings and information are provided to communities. The Review considered both warnings about hazards, such as those provided by the Bureau of Meteorology, and warnings about the potential impact of an incident, typically provided by emergency services and other statutory authorities. Exploration of strengths, challenges, opportunities and good practice was undertaken, across a number of themes.