New ‘disaster resilience strategy’ to help South Australians better cope with tragedy
As South Australians reel from the latest environmental disaster, authorities have put forward ideas on how to ease the impact of future ones.
SA News
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Local businesses hit by a natural disaster should be eligible for taxpayer help while communities need to be better prepared for a tragedy, authorities warn.
For the first time, the State Government has published a “disaster resilience strategy” amid fears South Australia is dangerously ill-equipped for another major catastrophe.
Launched on Thursday and written in the wake of the 2016 statewide blackout, the co-ordinated plan outlines ways people can better cope with bushfires, drought, floods, storms, terror and cyber attacks or health pandemics.
In a series of proposals, it urges a specialised disaster fund be expanded to include businesses, an increase in volunteering, better emergency planning, improved insurance help and more Neighbourhood Watch-style programs.
Official figures show natural disasters cost the economy more than $200 million annually while almost a third of businesses never reopen.
Negotiations are ongoing between the state and commonwealth governments to expand the fund. Emergency Services Minister Corey Wingard said the five-year strategy would “better prepare communities” for disasters.
“Emergency situations and disasters have the potential to devastate whole communities and cause unspeakable trauma,” he said.
“The crippling effects of drought, unseasonably warm weather and strong winds have seen fires develop quickly and impact on lives, farms, businesses and homes.”
The 27-page report, titled Stronger Together and developed with help of 500 people from government, councils, business and charities, also reveals concerns that young people were “over-protected” and lacking self-reliance.
It said the public wanted “real and honest" government information while authorities warn that while emergencies will occur, help may not always be immediately available.
“Recent experience in extreme weather and statewide blackout, and the impacts of climate change have led to a change in thinking about how we prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies,” it states.
