A training exercise is being held at the Port Douglas’ Cyclone Shelter on Friday December 13; on the one-year anniversary of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper making landfall in Far North Queensland.
Queensland Police Service Emergency Management will be conducting training with Council staff who’ve made a commitment, above and beyond their normal duties, to serve their community during a natural disaster.
Participants will learn and refresh their skills and knowledge on how to set up the shelter, how to process residents seeking refuge and how to provide support once the building is in lock-down.
Many of the skills will be transferrable to other identified places of refuge that may be opened across the shire.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said the Council has had a strong focus on preparation in the lead-up to cyclone season.
“On Friday, the community will take time to reflect on ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the devastating impact of the floods that followed,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
“However, Council also has an eye to the future and preparing the community for the possibility of another cyclone this wet season.
“I would like to thank the staff who have shown a willingness to work at the cyclone shelter if it is required in the coming weeks or months.
“We also encouraging people to download Council’s Disaster Dashboard and prepare an emergency kit.”
The training exercise has been organised by Council’s new Disaster Management Unit and QPS.
The role of the unit is to enhance Council’s disaster management capabilities across the four phases of the disaster being prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
The unit is placing staff into specific roles to manage the ongoing recovery process and to plan and improve Council’s response to disaster by implementing lessons learnt from previous events, reviewing plans and processes and improving the developing competence of staff.
“This is not the time for complacency and the Disaster Management Unit is encouraging everyone to be Disaster Ready,” Mayor Scomazzon said.
