An Introduction to Disaster Mitigation

In recent years, a significant change has taken place in the philosophy of disaster management in Australia. In the past, disaster management was mainly focused on response and recovery when a disaster occurred. Now there is considerable emphasis also being placed on the vulnerability of the community and the interaction between hazards, community and the environment. Such a philosophy requires a comprehensive approach to disaster management that involves the whole spectrum: mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. The most significant implications of this are:

• a focus on the development and implementation of disaster mitigation measures,
• a requirement for diversity of emergency service provision,
• close inter-agency cooperation, and
• greater community responsibility.

Disaster Mitigation: A Definition

Disaster mitigation is defined as ‘the process of identification and analysis of potential hazards with a view to formulating options and strategies designed to reduce risk and minimise the effects when disasters occur’.

Mitigation efforts have a direct link to the whole of Queensland Government priorities of

• Safer and more Supportive Communities;
• A Better Quality of Life;
• Valuing the Environment; and,
• Building Queensland’s Regions.

The high cost of natural disasters in Queensland

Over the last decade natural disasters have caused many millions of dollars worth of damage to property and caused even greater social and economic loss through impact on families and businesses, damage to crops, livestock and infrastructure.

Queensland has a high level of vulnerability to a range of natural disasters including flood, cyclone, storm surge, severe storms, landslide, bushfire, and earthquake.

The growing population and assets in Queensland increase the exposure of the community to various hazards. Such a situation calls for a need to reduce community vulnerability and work to increase community resilience.

It is estimated that natural disasters cost Queensland on average $300 million each year. Cyclone Larry alone cost an estimated $360M.

State and Local Governments, supported by the Federal Government through its Natural Disaster Relief & Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), have spent millions of dollars each year responding to and assisting recovery from these disasters.

To date, only limited resources have been dedicated to prevention, planning and preparation to reduce the impact of disasters before they actually occur.

However, research has shown that every $1 spent on disaster mitigation saves at least $3 in economic and social recovery costs.

There is now wide acceptance, both nationally and internationally, that the traditional approach of response and restoration of communities must be supported by disaster mitigation and community resilience building.