Emergency Management

Emergency management arrangements in the Greater Taree City Council area are directed by the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (SERM Act).

An emergency is defined as “an actual or imminent occurrence such as fire, flood, storm, earthquake, explosion, accident, epidemic or warlike action which – endangers, or threatens to endanger, the safety or health of persons or animals.” The SERM Act provides the basis for emergency management in NSW. It specifies the responsibilities of the Minister, the establishment of Emergency Management Committees, production of Disaster Plans and arrangements for controlling operations.

Greater Taree City Council is part of the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC). Council is responsible for supporting, managing and maintaining the LEMC. The LEMC consists of representatives from the local emergency services and functional support agencies. Representatives on the committee are (but not limited to) agencies such as the Police, NSW Fire and Rescue, Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Services, Ambulance, VRA, Marine Rescue, Mid Coast Water, Essential Energy, Industry and Investment, Family and Community Services, Telstra, Public Works and other community support agencies. Under the SERM Act each representative plays a specific role in preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters.

Greater Taree City Council is also responsible for maintaining the local Disaster Plan (DISPLAN). The DISPLAN assigns the specific responsibilities as required by the SERM Act and puts it into a local context. The DISPLAN is supported by a number of sub plans that direct response operations for specific events such as flood and fire. The LEMC regularly reviews the functionality of the DISPLAN and updates it accordingly. Mock exercises and joint operations are held to test the plans.

The LEMC meets quarterly and is Chaired by the Local Emergency Management Officer from Council (LEMO). Council also maintains the Local Emergency Operations Centre which can be activated by the Local Emergency Operations Controller (Police Commander) whenever a multi agency response is required or alternatively in support of a designated combat agency responding to a singular event such as a flood or fire. Support for local operations from a State or Federal level are co ordinated through the Local Emergency Operations Centre.

The LEMC is also responsible for the recovery phase in any disaster response. The lead agency in this phase is the Council supported by State arrangements under the SERM Act. Council manages, drives and facilitates activities and support services to ensure the affected community is returned to normality as quickly as possible.

It is vital that communities and individuals are aware of the risks they face within this area from natural and man made disasters. Whilst Council’s plans provide a degree of security it is ultimately the awareness, preparedness and resilience of the community that will determine the impact of any event. Council has entered into a partnership with the Red Cross under is REDiPlan to provide the community with information and resources to assist in preparing for and responding to emergencies.

The contact at Greater Taree City Council for Emergency Management is the Local Emergency Management Officer (LEMO) – 6592 5107 or 0417 532 552.

A Community Information Guide from NSW Health on Staying Healthy during and after Floods is available.

Waste Services
For bins that have been washed away please contact Midcoast Waste Services Customer Information Centre on 1300 290 763 to obtain a new bin/s and to organise a waste collection service until bin arrives.

Syringes found in non Council owned property should be reported to the Syringe Hot Line on 1800 633 353. Syringes found in Council buildings/parks/reserves should be reported to Council.

Road Condtion Related Vehicle Damage
Every motorist has a responsibility to drive to conditions of the road, including directional signage such as road closure. Any claims for damage should be discussed with your insurance company and if necessary, the insurance company will contact Council. Any claims need to be made in writing.

Water Services
MidCoast Water have advised that all town water supplies are suitable for drinking.

Health and Hygiene Tips
Food - The NSW Food Authority recommends that food that has come lnto contact with floodwater or has an unusual odour,colour or texture should be thrown out. If power is cut for more than 4 hours,food stored in the fridge should be disposed of. If the freezer door is kept shut,frozen food will not spoil for 24 hours. Never refreeze food that has defrosted during a power failure. The consumption of unsafe food may cause serious illness.If in doubt,throw it out!

* Always wear gloves when handling flood-affected items or mud.Keep children out of flood-affected areas.
* Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.Use an insect repellent on exposed skin areas& reapply every couple of hours.
* Should you or any family member have severe diarrhoea or vomiting,please seek immediate medical assistance.
* Farm Chemicals-If you have any concern about flood -affected farm chemicals,contact your local fire brigade.
* Damage to septic tanks should be inspected by professional services.

Legal Assistance

What to do now
People who are affected by floods need to make sure that they stay safe. However, they should also try to take steps now to document the flood as it happens and as it affects them especially if they will have to make a claim on their insurance later.

A lot of the problems around floods and insurance are about the specific causes of damage. For instance, storm damage, damage from backed up sewers, rising rivers, flash flooding, and other forms of water damage can be treated differently under insurance contracts. Recording where the water comes from and keeping a detailed chronology of events can make a real difference for a successful insurance claim later on. For instance, if a tree damages a roof and the rain damages the carpet before a flood comes through, this damage needs to be documented as it happens.

Examples of good documentation include:

* time-stamped photos showing water damage as it happens, where the water is coming from, photos of sewer or stormwater backing up, and other damage as it happens;

* Keep a diary, a chronological record of events as they happen.

The more detailed information the better the chances of being able to make a successful insurance claim later.

Legal Information

There are a number of legal information resources for people affected by floods. The following link is a fantastic collection of information about floods and other natural disasters from a number of different places.
Legal Information