Nov 2009 - Signpost Magazine

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I believe All you need to know about Emerald’s Local Emergency Plan By Wayne Collins, Principal Echo Inc Ministries Emerald is one of the best prepared communities in Victoria when it comes to the ability to respond to and recover from natural disasters. This is a bold statement; let me give you the history that forged what I believe is one of the best Local Emergency Plans in the state. Emerald’s first Local Emergency Plan was drawn up by Garry Huntington the then Police sergeant at Emerald after the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983. Garry saw the desperate need for local emergency services, medical practitioners and recovery agencies like St. Mark’s to get together and work out how they were going to respond as a team during an emergency, immediately after an emergency and then long term in aiding recovery. In those days the value of local plans was underestimated and in fact frowned upon by most authorities. So, for years the plan only saw the light Locals gathered at Emerald Community Hall to take part in an open forum Bushfire Awareness Week program with 774 ABC Melbourne’s commentator Jon Faine. Among others, Faine interviewed Premier John of day at the annual unofficial meeting of local emergency services heads, local medical staff and St. Mark’s. Thank goodness times have changed and along with the horrific experiences of Black Saturday 2009, have convinced authorities that local response plans are not just beneficial but critical. The research is clear; communities that respond quickly in an organised, grass roots, well led way, during and after an Jon Faine with local school children at Emerald Brumby and CFA Chief Officer Russell Rees. In the hot seat Minister for Sport, Recreation, Youth Affairs and Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs Member for Monbulk James Merlino fielded questions from the floor. emergency, recover much faster than those who aren’t collectively prepared. What is Emerald’s Local Emergency plan? This is the way the plan is designed to operate when a local emergency arises. An Incident Control Centre (ICC) is established when a major incident occurs. This centre is based at Belgrave CFA for our region (Region 13) and would be activated. The St. Mark’s Relief Centre coordinator (St. Mark’s is the designated relief center for this area), will then send the Relief Centre liaison officer to join the ICC team. Various sections of the community including Neighbourhood Houses spoke of the potential roles they played both pre and post bushfire and residents had the opportunity to express their concerns. Director of the youth agency ECHO Inc in Emerald Wayne At this stage the Cardinia Shire Municipal Emergency Response Officer (MERO) would also be notified and the MECC opened. The Relief Centre at St. Mark’s would then begin to mobilise volunteer teams who will be required for recovery and assistance during and after the emergency. The relief centre will also activate the Emerald Medical Centre as an emergency medical centre and maintain communications with staff. During school days Emerald Secondary College, Emerald Primary School and Emerald Pre School will be kept updated on developments by the St. Mark’s relief centre as well as the Education Department. Places like Fernlea House, The Glades and Emerald C o m m u n i t y House will also be notified about the emergency, with places like the Community House getting ready for their role in the recovery phase. St. Mark’s relief centre becomes a clearing house for information about the emergency. The mobile phone system and ABC radio are the official and preferred ways that the ...continued Page 5 Collins said a post bushfire plan formulated for the town 25 years ago had recently been updated and was ready to be activated if and when needed. In the New Year St. Mark’s will open the church every Monday evening for people who want to pray for bushfire safety. ♦ November 2009 - Signpost Community Magazine 3
Page 1: www.signpostmagazine.org.au
Page 5 and 6: fire threat situation and updates w
Page 7 and 8: Upwey & District Community Finance
Page 9 and 10: Emerald Tennis Club Marcia Barber S
Page 11 and 12: Summer Gardening ladybirds, praying
Page 13 and 14: Does your back yard swimming pool o
Page 15 and 16: Snippets of Emerald History by Grae
Page 17 and 18: Hard and green waste collections co
Page 19 and 20: Smooch... a children's serial Follo
Page 21 and 22: Oops! - I know; I’m a little earl
Page 23 and 24: Out and About with Cr Ed Chatwin Th
Page 25 and 26: What is happening in Cockatoo? By O
Page 27 and 28: throughout the community. It is ‘
Page 29 and 30: TRULY’S GARDENING SERVICE • 4WD

Nov 2009 - Signpost Magazine

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