EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT


COUNCIL AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT


The Emergency Management Act 1986 requires Council to establish a Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee (MEMPC) whose task it is to develop an Emergency Management Plan for the community.

The City of Ballarat Municipal Emergency Management Plan has been developed pursuant to Section 20(1) of the Emergency Management Act 1986.  The Plan addresses the prevention of, response to and recovery from emergencies and is the result of the cooperative efforts of the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee.

The community can view the plan below and provide feedback online, click here. The plan was endorsed by Council on August 4, 2010.

Municipal Emergency Management Plan 2010 - 2013 

Council plays a critical role in Victoria’s emergency management arrangements and have responsibilities as we are the closest level of government to the Community.   The City of Ballarat Municipal Emergency Management Plan has been developed pursuant to Section 20(1) of the Emergency Management Act 1986.  The Plan addresses the prevention of, response to and recovery from emergencies and is the result of the cooperative efforts of the Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee.

The broad objectives of the plan are to:

  • Identify, treat and evaluate potential risks that could impact on the Ballarat community, this includes pandemic planning (copy available of Council Website), heatwave planning, fire management, flood planning.
  • Implement measures to prevent or reduce the likelihood of consequences of those emergencies
  • (include explain)
  • Manage arranged for the utilization and implement of municipal resources in response to emergencies (examples )
  • Detail arrangements for the provision of assistance to the community during recovery from emergencies
  • Complement other local, regional and state planning arrangements

THE COMMITTEE

This Committee is formed pursuant to Section 21 (3) and (4) of the Emergency Management Act 1986 to formulate a plan for Council’s consideration in relation to the prevention of, response to and recovery from emergencies.  The committee meets four times a year and is made up of representatives from:

  • City of Ballarat Councillors and staff
  • Victoria Police
  • VicSES
  • Country Fire Authority
  • Department of Sustainability and Environment
  • Ambulance Victoria
  • Ballarat Health Services
  • Australian Red Cross
  • Department of Human Services
  • Central Highlands Water
  • Department of Education
  • Lifeline
  • VicRoads
  • WICEN.

Included on  the Committee are the:

  • MEM – Municipal Emergency Manager (Council Representative)
  • MERO – Municipal Emergency Response Officer (Council Representative)MRM – Municipal Recovery Manager (Council Representative)
  • MERC – Municipal Emergency Response Coordinator (Victoria Police member)
  • MFPO – Municipal Fire Prevention Officer (Council Representative)

COUNCIL’S ROLE

Is to:

  • Implementation of State initiated preventative strategies – planning and building codes, planning for floods, health risk and fire management
  • Local risk management and emergency planning
  • Community education and awareness programs involving the community where possible in emergency management planning
    • Incorporation into  local safety programs of risk reduction strategies
    • Service delivery to support person s in particular need
    • Equipment support to emergency agencies
    • Management and support of community recovery programs, policies and strategies
    • Management of community needs in all emergency management processes
    • Community support and assistance with the recovery needs of those affected to return back to routing functioning.

WHAT IS AN EMERGENCY?

For the purpose of emergency planning, an emergency is any sudden event which:

  • Endangers or threatens to endanger the safety or health of any person
  • Destroys or threatens to destroy or damage property
  • Endangers or threatens to endanger the environment or an element of the environment

Emergency events include:

  • Fires
  • Severe weather conditions
  • Flash flooding
  • Utility disruption - loss of gas, electricity, telephone, or water supply
  • Explosions
  • Major infrastructure damage
  • Hazardous material spills

What are the most important steps you can take?
In thinking about what you and your family or household might do in an emergency, bear in mind you may be in a situation where:

  • You may be separated from each other, for example children at school and parents at work
  • Normal communications might be difficult or impossible
  • Power supplies may be cut
  • You may be injured, and others may be injured or deceased
  • There may be fire or other dangerous elements present
  • Information about the emergency may be limited in the early stages of the event
  • Talk with your family, household members and neighbours about things you could do.

Consider some or all of the following suggested activities
Decide how family members will stay in touch in the event of, or after, an emergency

  • Agree on how you will contact each other if not at home, who will collect family members, and who will check on neighbours
  • Organise an out-of-town person your family or household members can contact in case you are separated. Make a list of that person's contact details (home, mobile and work phone numbers, e-mail) and provide them to your workplace and to your children's school
  • Agree on a place for family or household members to meet if separated
  • Make arrangements for pets to ensure they will be safe and have food and water

Store important documents safely
Store important documents including wills, passports, photos, birth and marriage certificates, powers of attorney and insurance policies in a fire and water-proof container or safe deposit box. Review your insurance policies to ensure they are current and adequate. If you keep them in your home, try to take them with you if you evacuate. Consider arranging authorised copies to be kept at an alternate secure location.

Learn about your home
Find out how and where to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies in your home.

Find out about your local emergency services
Make a record of your local emergency telephone numbers and keep them near your phone.

When notifying the emergency services of your location, ensure you provide the exact street address and the nearest cross roads.

  • Police, Fire, Ambulance - 000
  • SES - 132 500
  • Victorian Bushfire Information - 1800 240 667


Important Links

PREPARE AN EMERGENCY KIT AND KEEP IT HANDY
Keep the items listed below in your home so they can become your emergency kit for use in all types of emergencies:

  • Battery-operated radio (with spare batteries)
  • Torch (with spare batteries)
  • First aid kit and manual, including personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves, face masks and goggles
  • Medications (and repeat prescriptions), tissues, toiletry and sanitary supplies
  • Spare clothes including strong shoes, broad brimmed hat, leather gloves and sunscreen for each household member
  • Sleeping equipment
  • A mobile phone, spare battery and charger
  • Strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents and photographs)
  • Extra car and house keys
  • Copies of important family documents (birth certificates, passports and licences)
  • Contact details for your agreed out-of-town contact
  • Books, playing cards or games
  • Credit cards, key cards and cash

If you have to remain in your home for several days following an emergency, and power, water or gas are not available, you should try to have the following at hand:

  • Bottled water and enough easily prepared packaged food to last for at least three days
    (rotate supplies to prevent spoilage)
  • Fire blanket or fire extinguisher (seek CFA advice)
  • Barbecue or portable stove with fuel

While many emergencies will only extend over a few days, some will last longer. The Australian Food Sector recommends planning for a 14 day stay at home by building and rotating food items in your pantry. An example of an emergency pantry planning list is available on the Australian Food Sector's http://www.pantrylist.com.au/.  

Naturally all households differ and you should customise the list to suit your needs.

 

 


For further information please contact:

Council's Municipal Emergency Manager on 5320 5893.