2015-06-23 I&S Agenda - Item 5 - Local Disaster Management Plan - Attachment 1

5.6    Public information and warning notification and dissemination
5.6.1 Public information during disaster response and recovery
This plan identifies that public information and warnings provided by the Local Group shall
be provided mainly through broadcast media (radio and TV). Other alerts or warnings such
as those delivered through social media and the internet, the use of SEWS (Standard
Emergency Warning System) or the national Emergency Alert (EA) telephone and SMS
messaging system will be used to support and reinforce the warning messages provided
through broadcast media. The Queensland Government and Noosa Council contact centres
will also be used to support and emphasise the messages provided through broadcast
media.
The Mayor of Noosa, the officer in charge of the lead agency, the DDC and the LDC shall be
the key sources of information to the community regarding the status of the response to the
emergency and any other associated threats or required community actions. The role of the
Local Group Media Liaison Officer is to support these spokespersons and to ensure a
coordinated and consistent message is broadcast to the community. (Refer to Local Plan
Appendix B.8 – Operational sub-plans – Public information & warnings operational sub-plan.)

5.6.2 Public warning systems
Disaster and emergency warnings need to be timely, consistent and succinct, so that people
can take appropriate action. To ensure that disaster warnings are coordinated and timely,
the Local Group has developed a public information and warnings operational sub-plan.
This plan recognises that individuals are likely to hear about a potential disaster situation
from a variety of sources and most will seek to confirm that message before they take any
action. Research indicates that if the emergency warning is not confirmed then it may be
ignored. Therefore the frequency and timing of emergency warnings will be carefully
considered. So long as the information is consistent, emergency warnings issued from two
or more relevant agencies will help to confirm and reinforce the warning message.
During the life of this plan the LDC, Local Group Media Liaison Officer, Area Director QFES
and the DDC (or delegate) will work with broadcast media outlets to improve arrangements
& systems for the provision of a consistent approach to the broadcast of emergency
warnings to the public in the Noosa Shire and across the Sunshine Coast region.
A component of exercises will be to practise the preparation of public information and
dissemination of warning messages and products both for broadcast and dissemination
through social media.

5.7    Declaration of a disaster situation
In accordance with s64 of The Act the DDC may, with the approval of the Minister, declare a
disaster situation for the district or one or more local government areas within the district in
whole or in part. As outlined in s75 and s77 of the Act, the declaration confers extra powers
on particular groups to perform actions, give directions and control movements within the
declared area.
In declaring a disaster situation, the DDC is to be satisfied that a disaster has happened, is
happening or is likely to happen and it will be necessary, or reasonably likely to be
necessary, to exercise declared disaster powers, to prevent or minimise the loss of human
life, illness or injury to humans, property loss or damage, or damage to the environment.
Before declaring a disaster situation the DDC is to take reasonable steps to consult with
local government in the proposed declared area.
The declaration of a disaster situation does not impact the requirements of a local
government under the Act to manage disaster operations in their area.


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