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2009 Victorian Emergencies January Heatwave and Black Saturday Bushfires Craig Lapsley Director, Emergency Management Department of Human Services Weather Late January early February 2009 Victoria experienced warmer than average temperatures over a short but intense period in late January / February 2009. ____________________ Land surface temperatures between 25 Jan to 1 Feb 2009 compared to the average midsummer temperatures between 2000-2008. Temperatures were: •warmer than average in red, •near-normal temperatures in white, •temperatures were cooler than average in blue. Image: Jeff Schmaltz MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC Heatwave 2009 Exceptional heatwave conditions affected south-eastern Australia during late January & early February 2009. – extreme conditions occurred in northern & eastern Tasmania, Victoria and adjacent border areas of New South Wales, southern South Australia with maximum temperatures 1215°C above normal. – records set for both day and night time high temperatures – as well as for the duration of extreme heat Two major episodes of exceptional high temperatures, from 28-31 January and 6-8 February 2009. Keeping Cool • 25% of all hospitals had some type of issue with air conditioning/cooling systems • Severe impact on the public transport systems with 20-30 trains cancelled during peak hours • On Friday 30th Jan 500,000 households were without power for several hours Victorian Heatwave Mortality • Victorian Coroner confirm reportable deaths for those over 65 years old were 2.31 times the deaths in that age group for the same period in 2008. • Ambulance Victoria indicate a 25% increase in total presentations in Melbourne, with a significant increase in heat-related conditions and cardiac arrests. – 514 attendances for heat stress, heat stroke and dehydration compared to 15 for the same period in 2008. – 67 attendances for cardiac arrest compared to 30 for the same period in 2008. – 40% of the cardiac arrests were 75+ yrs old. Friday 30 January 2009 • • • • Extreme weather event Major fires in Gippsland 30 houses destroyed Boolara township impacted. Black Saturday 7th February 2009 • Predicted temperature to break record. Melbourne 46°C+. • Strong hot, dry North West wind shifting to Easterly by afternoon with low humidity • Fire Danger Extreme • Major fires at Horsham, Coleraine, Bendigo, Kilmore, Murrindindi, Churchill, Beechworth, Bunyip, Wilsons Promontory NP. • Extensive loss of life and property over a 12 hrs period. Black Saturday 7th February 2009 • Extreme weather event • Major fires in all parts of Victoria. • 173 people dead • 2059 house destroyed • 78 townships impacted • Thousands displaced Largest disaster in Australia’s history…… Many dead, families displaced, communities destroyed. The consequences / impacts Many vehicles destroyed 2700 agricultural structures burnt 90 community buildings destroyed Destroyed: 500,000 ha’s burnt 11,000 ha’s plantations 13,000 stock 12,000 km fencing 1,000,000 wildlife Primary Health Field Primary Care Clinics established with Paramedics, Nurse & Doctors to Support community & emergency services. Clinics in Traralgon, Whittlesea, Kinglake & Kinglake West. Presentations for lacerations & wounds, immunisations, respiratory & eye problems, mental health and prescriptions. Two still operating in Kinglake & Flowerdale, issues are changing to more usual Primary Health Care needs. Health Impacts & Response • 822 hospital presentations • 133 admissions • Health support – – – – – – – – – – Ambulance Victoria St John Ambulance FEMO VMAT Rural Workforce Agency & GPDV – GPs RDNS Pharmacy Guild Nurse On-Call Community Health Services – HACC, Environmental Health Officers Black Saturday 7th February 2009 Recovery system activated and built upon.. • Individual / Family support systems activated: – – – – – Case Management Service Psychological support program Outreach program Health & Medical program Material Aide • Neighbourhood / Community support systems activated: – Community Development Program – Community Service Hubs – Community Recovery Committees Emergency Co Ordination • State Integrated Emergency Co Ordination Centre operating. • DHS Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) was already in operation. • Ambulance Emergency Operations Centre operating. • DHS Region Emergency Operations Centres operating. • Immediate escalation & activation of further departmental & sector resources. • Engagement of senior management at Secretary, Executive Director and Director levels. • Establishment of structure, roles and responsibilities. DHS Emergency Management Structure Ministers Secretary Fran Thorn DHS Executive Executive Director Operations Pam White ADF Liaison Neil Greet Health and Medical Prof Chris Brook Psychological Support / CMH Gill Callister State Incident Manager Craig Lapsley Case Management Mike Debinski Housing / Accommodation & Support Margaret Crawford Emergency Coordination Jeff Supple Immediate Human Impacts Food Shelter Water Sanitation Material needs – clothing etc. Access to financial assistance Psychological support Outreach 22,500 NRIS registrations Relief / Recovery / Hubs: – 13 Relief centres – 16 Recovery Centres – 8 Community Service Hubs 1000’s deployed from Health & Community Services and Local Gov’t sectors. Housing • 10,084 offers of accommodation • 5,244 total suitable offers • As at 10th March 942 households assessed for accommodation needs • Households accommodated – – – – – – 79 in public housing 14 in community housing 234 in emergency accommodation 235 in private rental 38 private caravans 179 other shared accommodation Major Fires across Victoria Proximity to Melbourne Pheasant Creek (South of main township) - Before Pheasant Creek (South of main township) - After South of Traralgon South - Before South of Traralgon South - After Marysville - Before Marysville - After Questions…?