Well-prepared in event of emergency

The exercises were put together by the Department for Child Protection and Family Support, with mock disasters encouraging people from different agencies to talk with each other to get the best result for the public.

Senior district emergency services officer Terry Sillitto said community management was equally as important as the role played by hazard management teams in an emergency.

‘The focus was on the welfare of community members in an emergency ” where they are going to be looked after when they can’t return home,’ he said.

‘We need to be able to minimise the disruption and stress when people need to evacuate from their homes, in a way that minimises their trauma.’

Mr Sillitto said while it was difficult to simulate an emergency, the workshop managed to get attendees to work on dealing with stressful situations.