16. evacuation centre management sub plan · pdf fileddmg district disaster management group ....

Annexure 4 Sub Plans 16. Evacuation Centre

Management Sub Plan

Abbreviations and Glossary DDMG District Disaster Management Group

LDC Local Disaster Coordinator

LDCC Local Disaster Coordination Centre

LDMG Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Group

LDMP Local Disaster Management Plan

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

QPS Queensland Police Service

Region the area under the management of Rockhampton Regional Council

RRC Rockhampton Regional Council

Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Plan – 16. Evacuation Centre Management Sub Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 CONTEXT AND ASSUMPTIONS .......................................................................................... 4 1.3 FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY .......................................................................................... 4 1.4 SUPPORT AGENCIES .......................................................................................................... 5 1.5 ACTIVATION ......................................................................................................................... 5 2 IDENTIFICATION OF EVACUATION CENTRE FACILITIES ................................................ 5 2.1 SAFE LOCATION .................................................................................................................. 5 3 CENTRE CAPABILITY .......................................................................................................... 5 3.1 ABLUTIONS .......................................................................................................................... 5 3.2 KITCHEN FACILITIES ........................................................................................................... 5 3.3 REFUSE COLLECTION ......................................................................................................... 6 3.4 VEHICULAR ACCESS AND PARKING ................................................................................. 6 3.5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESS ....................................................................................................... 6 4 MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................... 6 4.1 PETS/ANIMALS ..................................................................................................................... 6 4.2 SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................. 6 4.3 ENTERTAINMENT ................................................................................................................ 7 4.4 PUBLIC INFORMATION ........................................................................................................ 7 4.5 SECURITY............................................................................................................................. 7 5 MANAGEMENT PROCESSES .............................................................................................. 7 5.1 STAFFING ............................................................................................................................. 7 5.2 COMMUNICATIONS ............................................................................................................. 7 5.3 REGISTRATION .................................................................................................................... 7 6 RELATED DOCUMENTS ...................................................................................................... 7 Annexure A: Evacuation Centre Provision for Animals ........................................................................ 8


1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE

To detail arrangements for the management of evacuation centres established to cater for the immediate basic needs of evacuees resulting from a disaster event.

1.2 CONTEXT AND ASSUMPTIONS

An evacuation centre is – “a centre that provides affected people with basic human needs including accommodation, food and water. In addition, to enhance the recovery process, other welfare/recovery services may also be provided.” During a disaster it may be necessary to relocate some community members to a place of relative safety away from the “at risk” area. That place would usually be an evacuation centre, a place established to cater for the immediate basic needs of evacuees. It is anticipated that people will normally spend a maximum of seven (7) days in an evacuation centre, before either being returned to their primary residence or being settled in appropriate mid-long term accommodation. 1.3 FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Rockhampton Regional Council (RRC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Red Cross Queensland relating to the management of evacuation centres. RRC maintains responsibility for the management of the relevant facilities through the LDMG and the provision of a facility coordinator responsible for overseeing:

▪ facility cleaning; ▪ communications; ▪ power; ▪ health & safety standards; ▪ access; and ▪ security

Red Cross Queensland will in turn be responsible for evacuation centre welfare management incorporating:

▪ coordinating all agencies operating within the centre; ▪ establishing and maintaining the layout of the centre; ▪ being the central point of contact between the LDMG and the centre; ▪ ensuring the dissemination of information and reports approved by the Chairperson

and/or Local Disaster Coordinator (LDC); ▪ ensuring an assessment and monitoring system is in place for environmental health and

safety issues; ▪ ensuring all personnel in the centre receive briefings and de-briefings; ▪ ensuring the safety and wellbeing of personnel in the centre; ▪ ensuring basic needs (food, water and sanitation) are met within the centre; ▪ implementing a media and visitor plan for the centre/s, subject to approval by the

Chairperson and/or LDC; ▪ ensuring the closure of the evacuation centre when directed; and ▪ develop and provide to the Chairperson/LDC a final evaluation report of the centre/s

within 14 working days after closure of the centre.


1.4 SUPPORT AGENCIES

The following agencies may be required to provide assistance with the functions of an Evacuation Centre:

▪ St Johns Ambulance ▪ St Vincent De Paul ▪ Salvation Army ▪ Lifeline ▪ Centrelink ▪ Ozcare ▪ Queensland Police Service (QPS).

Queensland Health, QBuild and Department of Communities provide support through the District Disaster Management Group (DDMG). 1.5 ACTIVATION

The Chairperson/Local Disaster Coordinator will determine the need for activation of evacuation centres and notify the facility coordinator who will arrange for the centre/s to be operational.

2 IDENTIFICATION OF EVACUATION CENTRE FACILITIES

A number of facilities throughout the Region have been identified for possible use as evacuation centres. Availability and suitability of such facilities will dictate which of them will be used dependant upon the situation. Details of such facilities are recorded within the LDMP, Annexure 14. 2.1 SAFE LOCATION

The use of a particular centre shall be dependant upon the situation and its proximity to an area affected by the hazard. 3 CENTRE CAPABILITY

Facility capabilities for all evacuation centres are recorded within the LDMP, Annexure 14. 3.1 ABLUTIONS

There are limitations regarding the number of persons that can be accommodated at each centre. Such details are recorded within the information briefs for Potential Evacuation Centres listed in Annexure 14 of the LDMP. Toilets and latrines must be kept in the best possible state of cleanliness at all times and constantly inspected to ensure compliance. 3.2 KITCHEN FACILITIES

When selecting a site for the kitchen, the use of existing facilities is preferred where possible. These must offer suitable conditions for maintaining a satisfactory standard of cleanliness, and protection from the invasion of rodents and insects. Only potable water is to be used in kitchen facilities. In the event that there is no water supply connected, potable water must be transported, stored and handled in such a manner so as to avoid contamination. Where refrigeration facilities are either inadequate or non existent, perishable foods should only be accessed on a daily basis and cooked and served as soon as possible.


3.3 REFUSE COLLECTION

Sufficient waste containers are to be provided in evacuation centres for all waste. A refuse removal service must be promptly arranged as proper collection and disposal prevents many problems, particularly fly breeding, rodent invasion and fire risk. This shall be the responsibility of RRC Environment & Health Unit. Where such a service is impractical, an attempt must be made to separate refuse such as putrescibles (food scraps) and non-putrescible (boxes, paper, cans etc), and store such putrescibles in a lidded bin. Solid wastes from kitchens must be deposited immediately into lidded refuse bins. The bins must be tightly covered and removed outside for collection and disposal when full. An adequate supply of detergents, disinfectants, brushes, brooms and other housekeeping/cleaning necessities must be provided. 3.4 VEHICULAR ACCESS AND PARKING

All weather driveway access is desirable and the driveway and parking areas should be of sufficient width to permit entry and exit of buses. 3.5 WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

Wheelchair access details are recorded within the information briefs for Potential Evacuation Centres listed in Annexure 14 of the LDMP. 4 MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

4.1 PETS/ANIMALS

It is LDMG policy to discourage animal owners from bringing their pets to evacuation centres (Annexure A). Therefore, the responsibility for coordinating emergency animal shelter rests with Council’s Local Laws/Animal Control Section. It is acknowledged that their may be occasions or instances in which this policy cannot be adhered to and it may be necessary to accept an animal within an evacuation centre. The decision to accept an animal within an evacuation centre in such instances will rest with the Evacuation Centre Manager of the relevant evacuation centre. In accepting an animal within an evacuation centre the management team will take all reasonable steps to comply with health and safety requirements and where possible ensure that any animal is housed separate from areas utilised for human occupation. The responsibility for the care and welfare of any animal accepted within an evacuation centre rests solely with the owner/keeper of such animal. 4.2 SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The Evacuation Centre Manager is to ensure that there are no ethnic or cultural tensions within the centre. Every endeavour shall be made to cater for special dietary requirements. The Evacuation Centre Manager shall nominate (if available) changing/nursing facilities for mothers with infants. The QPS shall be responsible for any anti-social behaviour amongst the occupants of evacuation centres.


4.3 ENTERTAINMENT

Attempts shall be made to provide television/video facilities within the Centre as well as magazines and books. Details of availability of such equipment and materials are recorded within the information briefs for Potential Evacuation Centres listed in Annexure 15 of the LDMP. 4.4 PUBLIC INFORMATION

The Evacuation Centre Manager shall provide regular disaster updates and related information for evacuees through available means such as:

▪ Notice boards; and ▪ (PA) Announcements.

4.5 SECURITY

The QPS if available shall provide security for Evacuation Centres. All evacuation centres are to have a clear and visible Evacuation Plan in the event of a fire or other emergency situation occurring within the facility. 5 MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

5.1 STAFFING

Staff requirements and management structure are as per the MoU between Rockhampton Regional Council and Red Cross Queensland. 5.2 COMMUNICATIONS

The primary means of communication between evacuation centres and the Local Disaster Coordination Centre will be telephone and email, if available. Should these systems fail two way radio communication may be implemented. The LDMG IT Communication Officer shall ensure such systems are implemented. 5.3 REGISTRATION

Registration of evacuees is the responsibility of QPS with the assistance of Red Cross Queensland. 6 RELATED DOCUMENTS

▪ Memorandum of Understanding between RRC and Red Cross Queensland – Evacuation Centre Management

▪ RRC Local Disaster Management Plan ▪ Evacuation Sub Plan ▪ Recovery Sub Plan ▪ Communication Sub Plan ▪ LDMG Policy – Evacuation Centres Provision for Animals ▪ Evacuation Centre Checklist ▪ Environment and Public Health Sub Plan


Annexure A: Evacuation Centre Provision for Animals

LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT GROUP

POLICY

Evacuation Centre Provision for Animals

OBJECTIVE: To determine Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Group’s level of provision for animals within Evacuation Centres in the event of a disaster or major event. PREAMBLE: The Disaster Management Act 2003 provides the legislative process to develop a Local Disaster Management Plan in order to develop effective disaster management strategies to ensure effective coordination of available resources to assist communities in the event of a disaster. POLICY: ▪ The responsibility for welfare of pets and animals rests with the owner of the animals; ▪ Owners of animals are therefore responsible for and encouraged to make personal preparation

for their animals in the event of a disaster or major event; ▪ Provision of evacuation centres or emergency shelters is predominantly for human occupation

and pet/animal owners are therefore discouraged from bringing their animals to evacuation centres or emergency shelters with the exception of disability assistance dogs (i.e. guide dogs);

▪ The need for animal owners to make personal preparations for their animals welfare is to be identified within relevant public education sessions and information brochures;

▪ It is acknowledged that their may be occasions or instances in which this policy cannot be adhered to and it may be necessary to accept an animal within an evacuation centre;

▪ The decision to accept an animal within an evacuation centre in such instances, will rest with the nominated Supervisor of the relevant evacuation centre;

▪ In accepting an animal within an evacuation centre the Supervisor will take all reasonable steps to comply with Health and Safety requirements and where possible ensure that any animal is housed separate from areas utilised for human occupation;

▪ The responsibility for the care and welfare of any animal accepted within an evacuation centre rests solely with the owner/keeper of such animal.


ADOPTED: / /20 SIGNED: ……................................................. / /20 Chairperson Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Group RRC LDMG RESOLUTION 29 / 04 / 2009 It was resolved that the Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Group adopts the attached Policy- Evacuation Centres - Provision for Animals


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