Disaster Response and Recovery Plan for Bushfires in Melbourne

This report examines the disaster response and recovery efforts following the devastating bushfires in Melbourne, Victoria, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive disaster management approach. It discusses the need for effective interventions, including evacuation, reconstruction, and immediate aid such as temporary shelter, food, and medical assistance, particularly in the context of mass casualty incidents. The report emphasizes the significance of community involvement, risk reduction strategies, and the revitalization of the local economy during the recovery phase. Key principles guiding recovery planning and operations, such as understanding the context, streamlining disaster risk reduction, and promoting community-based approaches, are also explored. The evaluation of recovery programming, gender sensitivity, and the implementation of new building regulations in bushfire-prone areas are discussed as crucial components of a successful and resilient recovery process.

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Disaster Response and Recovery
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Summary
Bushfires such as the Black Saturday that claimed more lives than any other fire
catastrophe recorded in the history of Victoria continue being a nightmare not only for the
country but also for the citizens. It is for such reasons that disaster management approach is
adopted to help curb the extent of such risks occurring. As such a disaster response and recovery
plan is crucial to help assess the damage caused and the interventions used to help families of
victims. Evaluating the interventions is essential to help determine whether the interventions
were effective. Evacuating and reconstructing the houses of the victims is crucial as some of the
responses to the bushfires in Melbourne. Some of the immediate responses include providing
temporary shelter and food for the families of the bushfire catastrophe. Also, medical assistance
is provided to those injured through burns, and in this case, the concept of mass casualty incident
comes handy.
Introduction
With more than 18 homes and 40 sheds being destroyed in the recent Victoria’s worst
fires even reported which ripped the state’s South West during the weekend leaving houses,
property and livestock destroyed is a clear indication of how Melbourne is prone to fire hazards.
The bushfires happened under extreme weather conditions that led to Australia recording the
highest number in the loss of lives from bushfires with more than 180 fatalities and 400 injured.
There were more than 400 different fires reported and it after and during the aftermath that the
day became known as the Black Saturday.
The purpose of this report is to provide recommendations on how to facilitate the
recovery of victims involved in the bushfires. The communities affected should be trained in
how to rescue people trapped in houses following the outbreak of such fires. This should be

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accompanied by giving people on such communities the resuscitation skills to be used to help
those already affected by smoke. Fire assembly zones should also be established where people
assemble and take headcounts to ascertain missing persons that need to be rescued before it is too
late.
Background
However, warnings entailing watch and act are still useful in regions prone to grass fires
such as Terang, Garvoc and near Gazette and the firefighters have been able to combat the
flames due to favorable conditions during the night. The watch and act warning that entailed a
grass fire at Camperdown were downgraded to a message of advice following containment of the
fire. More than 200 fire crew remain on the fire scenes as the blazes burn within containment
zones. The fires in Melbourne according to authorities believe were as a result of lightning
strikes during the night and saw more than 14,000 hectares consumed. Residents of places such
as Terang thought to be one of the worst-hit regions have reported that most of these fires arrive
fast even before warning flaming up to more than seven meters in height.
The process of Melbourne community recovering from the bushfires can be a
sophisticated and a lengthy procedure where different communities have different rates of
recovery. The recovery component of the comprehensive mechanism for the management of
disaster such as prevention, preparedness and recovery can be deemed as the most sophisticated.
The best results are achieved be facilitating that recovery interventions are in concession with
community need and are informed by the affected community. As such this commands
collaborative, adaptable and a coordinated approach where the task for managing disaster
recovery is shared among all stakeholders of the community entailing families, businesses and all
levels of state.

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The concept of mass casualty incident arises when the medical wants of many victims
such as from those of Melbourne bush fire outweigh the medical resources available. Such
events span from car crashes to large-scale calamities such as the Melbourne bushfires where
many get injured. It is because of resource constraints during an MCI that medical practitioners
tasked with providing health care should change their approach from giving maximum care for
one victim to delivering the optimum attention for a large multitude involved in the catastrophe.
Thus, systems of mass casualty triage exist for purposes of helping providers medical care in
prioritizing MCI patients to be treated and get transported such that the limited resources can be
utilized appropriately (Lerner, et al., 2015). Accurate triaging of MCI victims can help improve
survival and results.
Many works of literature address the responses of the health system to mass burn
catastrophes that arise from wildfires. A good illustration is the Black Saturday catastrophe in
that occurred in the state of Victoria. The disaster is the worst recorded in the state of Victoria
and one of the worst in the world’s history as it claimed more than 170 lives and cost AUD 4
billion.
Injuries
In the case of bushfire such as the Black Saturday, more than 400 people got injured. As
a consequence of the speed and intensity of the fires, many casualties of bushfires succumbed to
death or survived with minor injuries. Fewer major burns were reported compared to other
bushfires, for instance, the Ash Wednesday. Some of the individuals that were subjected to
medical treatment in hospitals,20 had severe burns, and more than 350 had minor burns and
other injuries associated with bushfire incidences. Disaster plans that were nationwide and state-
oriented were affected across Australia. More than twenty patients that had severe burns were

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admitted to referral hospitals where eighteen were reported to be adults. One of the patients that
had been admitted to Royal Children’s Hospital and two from Alfred Hospital succumbed to
their injuries leading to death. Most patients were characterized by severe burns referred to as
triage were managed at referral hospitals with burns wings. Throughout the catastrophe, burns
wings at referral hospitals experienced large surge capacity.
Principles that guide the management of recovery phase
The following identified principles help facilitate the recovery planning and operations in
Australia.
Understanding the context.
It is crucial to recognize and give credit to the available strengths and capacity providing
a reference to the experiences of the past. It is such strengths that help the community to
understand the resources at their disposal to combat any natural disasters that may occur (UM
SYSTEM, 2017). The strengths are also vital in the fact that the community has leverage at all
times as they are prepared at all times and when the occurrence of any havoc takes place they are
not found by surprise, and the community can mitigate and control the situation.
Facilitates understanding the risks and limitations experienced by the community. Taking note of
the potential risks is helpful in planning for the outcomes associated with the actual event taking
place. For instance, if a bushfire occurs there should be a plan on how to handle and control such
an event.
Streamlining the process associated with disaster risk reduction in the recovery phase
The recovery phase should be utilized as an opportunity to facilitate safety standards and
incorporate risk reduction in the development to ensure elimination of chances of rebuilding the
risk.

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With regards to the bushfires, it is essential to have firemen services readily available
within the communities that are considered to be at risk. This includes having state of the art
technology that maps and gives the probability of bushfires occurring sending signals to the
communities involved. The use of a community-based approach that promotes the restoration of
services considered vital to the wellbeing of an individual and provides an opportunity to
develop resilience while improving community scenarios and preparedness beyond their status
prior to pre-disaster. Some of the immediate responses to the bushfires such as the Black
Saturday entailed quick community response, international aid, and donations.
Measures in this process should entail promoting that all proposals regarding recovery are
backed by evaluations that are a multi-hazard risk in nature and also having relevant measures
that control and reduce risks (Queensland Government, 2017). Having relevant information
regarding bushfires made available and being given priority in the process of decision making is
crucial in this process.
Developing and maintaining a criterion or a framework that outlines the acceptable levels
of risk should be encouraged. Lastly, it is essential to strengthen disaster management abilities
ate both the provincial and national levels in sectors such as facilitating capacity building at the
local levels and conducting training personnel for handling bushfires in Melbourne and this
entails formulating plans for disaster preparedness while promoting and giving moral support to
capacities at the level of municipal (Queensland Government, 2018). It is also necessary to
develop initial warning abilities with regards to Melbourne bushfires specifically at the local
level with the incorporation of both the national and regional monitoring systems.
Proper evaluation is a must in ensuring a successful recovery system

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A recovery programming should be developed and established from a sound and an
involving examination of needs, abilities and the causes among other issues. Thus, the causes
and the magnitude of vulnerability are comprehended, and the local intervention, resources, and
skills of the victims are used to full capacity during the recovery and reconstruction phases. This
could entail giving fire lessons to the victims of bushfires in Melbourne on how to minimize the
occurrence of bushfires as some are due to carelessness for instance smoking and throwing a
matchstick in dry bushes could lead to massive fires.
Contribute to revitalizing the economy of the victims
The activities at the recovery phase should be aimed at contributing to the process of
revitalizing the economy of the communities affected by reviving the production and created
income generation opportunities for such people. The goals and objectives should transcend the
restoration of the pre-disaster magnitude of economic activities. However, it should aim to create
livelihoods that are sustainable for the affected population (OECD, 2015). Constructing local and
national abilities for increased resilience, management of risks and enhancing sustainable
development.
The recovery phase should serve as a platform for strengthening structures of governance
specifically at the regional level. It taps on the vast social and the human abilities necessary for
ensuring recovery from disasters, ensuring that there is the restoration of livelihoods and the
regional infrastructure following a disaster. It is through strengthening and constructing
capacities at both the regional and national levels that recovery becomes resource efficient
enabling small external and global inputs to have a substantial impact (Saha, 2011). Attaining the
goals of developing local and national capacities portrays that technical existence from external
sources should only supplement the existing abilities and be perceived as supportive rather than

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directive. Such assistance should include technological transfers, knowledge, and capacities for
increased resilience, mitigation of risk and ensure sustainable development.
Take advantage of progressive initiatives
The process of recovery is a platform for reviewing development in progress initiatives
and restructure as vital and viable to contribute to developing resilience and abilities in the
communities affected. Thus, as a threshold, initiatives in progress should be revised to ensure
that they are not an addition to further risks.
Gender sensitivity
Attention ought to be paid regarding evaluation, and planning phases of recovery of the
crucial role women play a member of the community and leaders and the hurdles they encounter
for instance property rights and being the sole breadwinners in specific trying times (Kima, et al.,
2012). Thus, such an initiative leads to recognizing gender-sensitive programs necessary for the
recovery and facilitating development.
In response to bushfires, new regulations in buildings in some of the areas considered
bushfire-prone in Victoria got fast-tracked by having proper standards in place. The building
commission in Victoria released a variety of publications that could help people to return to their
properties by first moving into temporary dwellings, retrofitting current homes and building new
structures in bushfire-prone regions. The new standards dictate that all properties irrespective of
whether not found in bushfire regions will be mandatory to be subjected to bushfire attack
assessment and then given a rating based on Bushfire Attack Level that offers the specification
on the kind of construction to be adopted. The government is also considering banning
construction of houses in areas deemed of highest risk which happen to be some of the most
dangerous globally.

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Key strategies
Rehabilitation of built structures and regional infrastructure
In a disaster such as the Melbourne bushfire, the built environment becomes the primary
target of destructive processes at play. The destruction of structures hinders the regular
operations of the social and economic context. Simultaneously the existence of associations with
other sectors, the housing and infrastructure segment portrays an excellent opportunity in the
recovery process of any disaster. It is a crucial element in helping bridge the gap between
emergency relief and recovery that is sustainable in achieving the long-term development
through its ability to take part in a catalytic role in any incorporated and multi-faceted to the
process of development.
Reconstruction of damaged components should be conceived as an opportunity to reduce
deficits experienced during development and to meet the unmet needs (Dwyer & Horney, 2014).
This approach transcends the simple replacement of damaged structures to achieve the
development goals in reducing vulnerabilities. Some of the identified recovery activities may
entail reconstructing local water systems and educational facilities.
Employment and livelihoods
The recovery programmes of the affected people in Melbourne due to bush fires should
focus on improving the conditions of the affected communities. Particular matters need to be
addressed such as the production of agriculture and livestock by providing seeds, equipment, and
micro-credit among other means. Recovering and improving social infrastructure, for example,
the roads and markets that promote economic activities. The reconstruction of the housing

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segment by employing regional technologies, construction materials and the local knowledge in
ensuring that construction operations have a direct positive impact on the regional economy.
Primary infrastructure and lifeline facilities
The constant rehabilitation of basic infrastructures such as main roads, bridges, main
power supply, and distribution facilities can lead to a rapid restoration and progress of the
affected area (United Nations, 2005). The essential component for an effective rehabilitation
programme is having a precise and a complete damage assessment which generates information
on the reasons behind the damaging of the infrastructure and this determines the framework
incorporating risk reduction during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
Resettlement of families
Following the aftermath of bush fires in Melbourne, there is the need for experts and state
officials to have a safer location where people at risk can be resettled. However, based on
previous experiences, relocating a population to new places has become a sophisticated matter
and has many hurdles (Stefanelli & Williams, 2011). However, for resettlement to work the
following issues need to be looked at. One is that resettlement should transcend the housing
provisions and cater for other needs of the victims such as their livelihoods and economic
activities. The program has to go further and extend its scope by taking into consideration the
significant issues. With regards to management of disaster and risk reduction. This in-depth
command analysis of contemporary sites by analyzing potential risks and hazards associated with
such places. Risk mapping should be given a priority and be prepared in advance before the
construction of a new site to eliminate risks associated with rebuilding (Martin, 2017). People
have been associated with having robust economic, social and cultural motives that impact their
choice of settlement; it is thus crucial that decisions involving relocation and selection of sites to

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be used for resettlement be made in a consultative way allowing full participation of the
communities affected. The victims of Melbourne bush fires are entitled to be informed and
prepared psychologically before the accept being relocated voluntarily.
Establish relevant institutional arrangements
The primary hurdle in formulating an institutional arrangement to be used for recovery is
to incorporate an implementation structure that does not overlook the prevailing institutional
mechanisms (Argyrous, 2016). Though experience reveals that it is always prudent to base the
recovery phase on institutional frameworks if a structure is to be established and have a
significant objective in achieving cohesion and understanding among the different stakeholders.
How you would evaluate the effectiveness of the recovery phase management.
Planning
The appropriate items during the evaluating planning and implementation entail
identifying the feasibility of the evaluation, recognizing stakeholders and giving particulars with
regards to short and long terms (Gilissen, et al., 2016). For instance, it is essential for the
management to be clear and transparent as to the methods used during the evaluation and the
criteria employed in determining the need for a particular program with regards to bush fires in
Melbourne.
Priority programs always emerge weeks after a disaster. For instance, following the
bushfires in Melbourne, strategic programs such as property cleanup, Temporary
accommodation, and donations program were established.
Community engagement
For the individuals that were affected, they always look for clear guidance and evidence
that the recovery planning is on the way. After the bushfires in Melbourne such as the Black

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Saturday Bushfires, there were multiple weekly communal meetings held in many locations
across Victoria that aimed at disseminating information and receive concerns of the people.
There was also the creation of committees of community recovery that were involved in dealing
with planning and nominating people to work with the local government in helping identify the
needs and wants of the Melbourne affected families (Lebowitz, 2015). The primary function of
the Authority was to ensure that needs have been prioritized to deliver expectations of the
community.
Formative and process evaluation
When the evaluation is conducted during implementation of a program may evaluate the
success of a program in recruiting its participants by utilizing the training materials that attain the
standards with regards to accuracy and transparency while meeting the projected deadlines. Such
an evaluation should also coordinate perfectly with other programs in progress and passing some
legal measures (Janis, et al., 2010). An evaluation conducted during the implementation of a
program could serve to inform mid-corrections before execution of a program or shed some light
on the implementation of a project during the recovery phase.
With regards to initiatives involving community engagements, formative and process
evaluations can entail an assessment of the process where partnerships are developed and
sustained.
Completion
After completion of a program, the evaluation may evaluate its immediate results or the
long-term effect or may summarize its general performance taking into consideration efficiency
and sustainability aspects of the program. The outcome of a program can be defined as the social
condition that a program is anticipated to have impacted. The number of people who have