Emergency Evacuation Response Training Day
Rainbow Beach Community Information and Resource Centre (CIRS)
The Gympie Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) disaster resilience training day held recently at the Hall and chaired by Gympie Council’s Coordinator of Disaster Management Peter Southern and admin officer Lewis Maudsley, was well attended by members of the local emergency response community and team members of neighbouring council’s response staff.
Building local community resilience to disaster situations is an absolutely vital part of ensuring that everything clicks into gear in the event of a disaster situation.
Rainbow Beach; with its small resident population (1220 according to the 2021 census) but significant peak season visitor numbers estimated to swell to around 70,000 in December and January; is recognised as an area in particular need of a well-organised community-led response team to work with and supplement the efforts of the trained responders who would be dealing with the situation on the ground.
The Rainbow Beach Hall is recognised as a designated evacuation centre and as such could be required to open up and prepare to receive residents or visitors who are advised to evacuate by disaster authorities. These orders would come via QPS and Gympie Council LDMG.
The fact that Rainbow Beach Road could easily be cut off in a disaster situation would mean that the township would need to have a well organised group of local residents who are capable of responding to ‘StandUp’ orders should they be issued.
Evacuation is a risk management strategy that may be used to mitigate the effects of an emergency on a community. It involves the movement of people to a safer location and their return when it is safe to do so.
This may include travellers (campers, backpackers and tourists) and their companion animals, who are unable to complete their journey or have been evacuated from the various tourist areas, including K’Gari, Inskip, and Double Island Point.
It is important that residents and visitors are advised to always follow the advice provided by emergency services during an incident or event.
The success of evacuation centre operations depends on having enough trained volunteers who can effectively manage the process.
Evacuation centres can be chaotic and stressful places, particularly during emergency situations, so it is essential to have volunteers who are properly trained and equipped to manage a range of different scenarios.
Having trained volunteers ensures that the evacuation process runs smoothly and that those who are seeking shelter receive the necessary support and assistance.
Trained volunteers can help with the registration of evacuees, the provision of basic needs such as food and water, the management of medical needs and emergencies.
Additionally, trained volunteers can provide security and safety measures to ensure that the evacuation centre is a safe and secure environment. It is also important to ensure that there are enough volunteers to manage the operation effectively, and within compliance protocols.
This means having an appropriate ratio of volunteers to evacuees, as well as having volunteers to perform a range of different tasks, including managing logistics and supplies, communications, and supporting vulnerable people at the centre and via appropriate Government agencies.
The Community Centre Committee voted at their April general meeting to form an Emergency Action Team (EAT) sub-committee to work towards gathering a group of local residents to fill the various volunteer roles that would be required to operate the evacuation centre effectively.
Residents interested in becoming involved in the Emergency Action Team or have any enquiries or suggestions are asked to call Denise Orr on 0400 567 337 or email rainbowbeachcommunitycentre@gmail.com.
