2018-04-10 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 4 - Local Disaster Recovery Subplan

   Implications for the location of a recovery centre
   Difficulties in maintaining accommodation for displaced people and recovery workers
   Problems for medically dependent residents who require electricity

The Infrastructure Subgroup should involve the energy sector to assist in prioritising energy repair
and reconnection.

Water supply, treatment and sewage
The consequences of damage to the water and sewage infrastructure may be widespread. The
Subgroup should consider the following impacts:
 Impact on the quality of water for community and commercial use
 Impacts on community health caused by failure of sanitation systems
 Firefighting may be compromised
 Overflows caused by blockages and local flooding may lead to flooding of homes and
   businesses

Food distribution
Following an event some households will have sufficient food and groceries to sustain them for
a period of time, but many will not. The food and groceries industry suggests that on average
95% of households have between two and four days of pantry supplies and that 40% of meals
are purchased and consumed outside the home. People in rural areas however may have
significant pantry supplies due to their experiences and location.

The impact on the food supply chain depends upon the extent of the event. The food supply
chain is flexible and can respond very quickly where the event is regionally contained. However,
in the affected area supplies may be limited due to the direct impact of the event and panic buying
by the community. The food supply chain is also the primary channel to market for a range of
essential household health, sanitary, cleaning and disinfecting supplies.

Restoration of the food supply chain is a priority.

Health infrastructure
This includes aged care, hospitals and health care facilities (general practitioners, chemists).
Health and community services are primarily delivered from premises within the built
environment. Damage and disruption to these premises reduces the capacity of the service
system to meet the existing and emerging health and psychosocial needs of the community.

At the same time, a disaster event almost always carries with it the likelihood that people will be
killed or injured and/or experience emotional trauma. The demand for medical and personal
support is likely to increase which will place extra burden on a community with an already
diminished capacity.

Impacts within health and community services include:
 Hospitals, clinics and aged care facilities and/or their equipment may become damaged and
   inoperable – disruption to water, gas and power will also severely restrict the services these
   facilities can provide even if they continue to function
 Damage to supported accommodation facilities for housing vulnerable people (frail, aged and
   people with disabilities) which may put them at higher risk of harm
 Public health concerns that arise with the displacement of large numbers of people including
   into temporary accommodation. Interruption and disruption of utilities and sanitation creates
   a high risk of infectious disease outbreak.

In a major event the DDMG Health Sub Committee will be an important reference group for the
LRC to liaise with.




Noosa Local Disaster Recovery Subplan 2018                                                  Page 49