Communication during Brisbane floods

Running head: COMMUNICATION DURING BRISBANE FLOODS
Communication during Brisbane floods
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1COMMUNICATION DURING BRISBANE FLOODS
Table of Contents
Introduction:...................................................................................................................................2
An overview of the situation.......................................................................................................2
Discussion.....................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of methods of communication used and problems faced............................................2
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................4
Recommendations for future implications:................................................................................4
References:...................................................................................................................................6

2COMMUNICATION DURING BRISBANE FLOODS
Introduction:
The main purpose of this report is to examine the tactics of communication used in
emergency situations like floods. In 2011, Brisbane was struck by one of the most dangerous
and devastating floods in recent times (ABC News 2018). In such situations, it is the onus of the
local governing body to communicate the necessary information to the concerned citizens and
local communities. The following report presents an analysis of the communication strategy
adopted by the government, the barriers to effective communication and the recommendations
for similar situations in the future.
An overview of the situation
In January of 2011, a majority of the Queensland region was hit by a disastrous flood
which was believed to have affected more than 40,000 homes and locations in the Brisbane
area. The Bureau of Meteorology, on receiving information about the impending threat,
conveyed the message to the City Council. It was then the responsibility of the City Council to
send out a warning to the other members of the local community. However, there were
numerous barriers in communication, like power outages and faulty lines of communication,
which stood in the way of effective dissemination of information (Public relations Sydney 2018).
The external stakeholders in this case would be the local citizens or the surrounding
communities who would suffer the consequences. Since a majority of the population was
unaware of the flood, the proportion of devastation and destruction was much higher than it
ideally should have been.
Discussion
Analysis of methods of communication used and problems faced
As mentioned in the section earlier, the City Council of Brisbane was responsible for
warning the members of the local community about the threat of floods. According to reports, a
communication plan or campaign had been devised by the Marketing and Communication
Branch of Brisbane’s City Council, which was accordingly implemented by the council. In more
than 30 suburbs, hundreds of people were compelled to evacuate and seek shelter on higher
ground to escape the floods. Trust and faith plays a key role in risk communication (Mayhorn
and McLaughlin 2014). However, the City Council failed to warn the local communities in time
about the intensity of the disaster that was about to affect them. Faulty channels of