Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Brisbane City Council
Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13:
Tsunami Management Sub-plan
2015
Page i of ii
Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
References
Table 1 summarises a list of related documents that provide authority for Council’s Tsunami Management Sub-plan.
Table 1 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan Reference List
References1. / The Queensland Disaster Management Act 2003, current approved edition
2. / Queensland Tsunami Notification Guidelines, 2012
3. / Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan, current approved edition
4. / Brisbane City Council Brisbane Incident Management System (BIMS), current approved edition
5. / Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Coordination Centre SOP, current approved edition
Table of Contents
References i
Table of Contents ii
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Purpose 1
1.2 The Risk from Tsunami 1
1.3 National Tsunami Warnings 1
1.4 Sequence of Watches and Warnings 2
1.5 Tsunami Warning Products 3
1.6 Queensland’s Processes to Manage JATWC Warning Products 5
1.7 Important websites 5
1.8 Use of QFES’s Emergency Alert System 6
2.0 Tsunami Risk Considerations 7
2.1 Tsunami Potential Consequences – Vulnerable Communities and Infrastructure 7
2.1.1 Table 1 7
3.0 Awareness and Capacity Building 10
3.1 Community Education 10
3.2 Training and Exercises 10
3.3 Community Resilience Measures 10
4.0 Response Strategy 11
4.1 Warning Notification and Dissemination 11
4.2 Queensland Tsunami Notification Responsibilities 12
4.3 Standard Messages to the Community 13
4.4 Concept of Operations for Response 13
4.4.1 Roles and Responsibilities 13
4.4.2 Levels of activation 13
4.4.3 Disaster declaration 13
4.4.4 Evacuation 14
4.4.5 Agency plans 14
4.5 Moreton Island Sub-plan 14
5.0 Council Tsunami Activation Level Matrix 15
Appendix 1 – Acronyms and Abbreviations 16
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this sub-plan is to articulate the tsunami-specific preparedness, prevention and response plan for the Brisbane Local Government Area of responsibility. This sub-plan is produced in accordance with the Queensland Disaster Management Act, 2003 and the Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan.
Refer to Appendix 1 – Acronyms for a list of acronyms relevant to this Plan.
1.2 The Risk from Tsunami
Much of Brisbane is located outside of the risk area for tsunamis, due to nearby coastal islands offering some protection from the worst of the ocean waves. Moreton Island and some of the bayside suburbs, however, are more exposed to adverse impacts from a tsunami.
In its land inundation warnings, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advises people to move at least ten metres above sea level or at least one kilometre away from all beaches and the water’s edge of harbours and coastal estuaries.
People living or working in areas potentially affected by a tsunami need to know that they should move to safer areas if a tsunami warning is issued for their area.
The Australian Tsunami Warning System
1.3 National Tsunami Warnings
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) was established to give Australia an independent warning capability of regional tsunami threats. The JATWC is the issuing authority for tsunami warning products for Australia.
It is a virtual centre that includes Geoscience Australia in Canberra and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) in Melbourne.
The role of GeoScience Australia is seismic wave detection and analysis.
The role of the BoM is to determine possible impacts, verify tsunami existence and forecast wave arrival times. All warning information is publicly available through the BoM website.
Note: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, based in Hawaii, is no longer regarded as an authoritative source of tsunami warnings for Australia, although individuals can subscribe to its email warning service.
1.4 Sequence of Watches and Warnings
Tsunami Warnings and Schedule
Tsunami Warnings start with detection of an earthquake by Geoscience Australia, whose seismologists assess whether the earthquake has the potential to generate a tsunami and advise the BoM of their findings. BoM completes the analysis and determines whether a threat exists to Australia or not.
If a threat does not exist then a No Threat Bulletin is issued to BoM’s Regional Forecast Centres. If a threat does exist, then a National Tsunami Watch is similarly issued.
During the Watch phase, which lasts up to 30 minutes, further information gathering and evaluation is conducted to update the threat assessment. This results in state-focussed Tsunami Warnings, if warranted, and a cancellation once the threat is over or if it does not eventuate.
1.5 Tsunami Warning Products
· National No Threat Bulletin: To advise people that the earthquake has been assessed and that no tsunami threat exists to Australia or its territories.
· National or State/Territory Watch: To advise people that a tsunami threat to Australia or its territories may exist and that they should look out for further updates.
· State/Territory Warning: To advise people that a tsunami threat to their state/territory does exist and to advise them of the level of threat (marine or land) and action they should take.
· Tsunami Watch or Warning Cancellation: To advise when the main threat to Australia and its territories has passed or a tsunami fails to eventuate.
· National Warning Summary: To provide the public, media and emergency authorities with the status of tsunami warnings nationally.
· Event Summary: To provide the public, media, emergency authorities and government with summary information that can be used in post-event analysis
JATWC warning products are issued to a range of government and non-government agencies including State and Territory Emergency Services, the media, and other agencies and individuals registered with their supporting Regional Forecast Centre
JATWC uses conventional marine forecast districts to describe the areas likely to be affected by a tsunami, with the addition of an extra district: Great Barrier Reef offshore islands and reefs (the area surrounding Swains Reef), outside central Queensland coastal waters. These are shown in the diagram ‘Marine Forecast Zones relevant to Queensland’ over the page.
Marine Forecast Zones relevant to Queensland
Near shore Tsunami Hazard Assessment – South East Queensland
1.6 Queensland’s Processes to Manage JATWC Warning Products
Queensland’s management of tsunami warnings is covered in the Queensland Tsunami Notification Guidelines, in agency plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and in District Disaster Management Group (DDMG) plans.
Warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology are issued directly to Queensland-based Commonwealth agencies such as Defence, Air Services Australia and airport authorities. BoM also issues warnings directly to the media, harbour-masters and any other registered subscriber.
The State Disaster Coordination Centre (Watch Desk) receives all warnings on behalf of the Queensland Government. Warnings are disseminated to all Queensland Disaster Management Arrangement stakeholders by SMS, telephone and email.
1.7 Important websites
Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre / www.bom.gov.au/tsunamiQueensland Fire and Emergency Services / www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Geoscience Australia / www.ga.gov.au
Queensland Tsunami Notification Guidelines, September 2012 / http://disaster.qld.gov.au
(Go to Resources, Guidelines)
1.8 Use of QFES’s Emergency Alert System
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES)’s Emergency Alert System is used to alert selected parts of the community to threats and disaster events. The system utilises the landline and mobile phone networks to produce voice and text messages that are sent to selected vulnerable areas. These areas are defined by polygons on a mapping system at the State Disaster Coordination Centre (SDCC).
Important: In the event of a LAND INUNDATION Tsunami threat where the warning time is less than 2 hours, messages will be sent directly from the SDCC to the affected areas without the need for further approval from Brisbane City Council.
Brisbane City Council has forwarded mapping of vulnerable areas to QFES for use in this type of event.
2.0 Tsunami Risk Considerations
2.1 Tsunami Potential Consequences – Vulnerable Communities and Infrastructure
The following table identifies those elements of the community vulnerable to tsunami based on nationally adopted height and distance parameters.
Elements within the Community / Exposure in Vulnerable Area*Residential Dwellings, Industrial, Commercial / See Table 1
Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds / See Table 1
Public Schools, Private Schools, Childcare Centres / See Table 1
Public Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Aged Care, Nursing Home Facilities / See Table 1
Island Communities / See Table 1
Notes:
1. Vulnerable Area is defined as less than ten metres above sea level or within one kilometre of beaches or the water’s edge of harbours and coastal estuaries.
2. Exposure likely to be dependent on nature of tsunami warning i.e. marine or land inundation.
Please note that as yet there is no detailed technical data or modelling available for tsunami events and how shorelines are affected. Accordingly the statistical information contained within this document is based on areas that lie within 1km of the shoreline and less than 10m in elevation above sea level.
2.1.1 Table 1
Elements within the Community / Exposure in Vulnerable Area / Qty Cost Zone /Population
Source: ABS 2011 Census CCD / Total Population / 35005
Population 65 years and over / 5498
Population 0-14 years old / 6624
Dwellings
Source: ABS 2011 Census CCD / Domestic Single Dwelling / 10921
Multiple Dwellings/Units / 2323
Vacant / 1057
Commercial / 242
Industrial / 97
Caravan Parks / 1
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami Management Sub-Plan / School/Educational / 7
Libraries / 1
Child Care Centres / 6
Park / 23
Medical and Public Health
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami Management Sub-Plan / Nursing Home / 2
Radiology (Qld X-Ray Services) / 1
Pharmacy / 7
Medical Centre / 7
Hospital/Medical / 1
Accommodation for Aged / 2
Accommodation, Clubs facilities
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami Management Sub-Plan / Clubs / 11
Hotel/Motel / 7
Shelter Locations / 4
Key Government Services
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami Management Sub-Plan / Police Station / 1
Ambulance Station / 1
Fire Station / 2
Waste Site (Nudgee Beach Transfer Station) / 1
Community Centre / 2
Correction Services / 1
source: Hazardous Industries and Chemicals Branch - / Large Dangerous Goods Location / 19
Workplace Health & Safety Queensland / Contaminated Land (trade waste, oils, pesticides, etc.) / 69
MORETON ISLAND
Source: ABS 2011 Census CCD / Total Population / 298
Population 65 years and over / 46
Population 0-14 years old / 13
Dwellings
Source: ABS 2011 Census CCD / Domestic Single Dwelling / 29
Multiple Dwellings/Units / 12
Commercial / 8
Vacant / 316
Source: BCC DMP Tsunami Management Sub-Plan / Community Centre
Park / 1
Shelter Locations / 4
Ambulance Station / 2
Contaminated Land / 12
Large Dangerous Goods Location / 1
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
3.0 Awareness and Capacity Building
3.1 Community Education
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology have significant tsunami information on their respective websites. The information available from these sources is considered the most up to date and reliable and persons in vulnerable areas are encouraged to familiarise themselves with it. Council may assist by combining tsunami related information with other Community Education programs.
http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/Be_Prepared/tsunami.html
http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/index.shtml
3.2 Training and Exercises
Disaster managers, including Brisbane City Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) and Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) members, should be regularly briefed on this Plan and trained on how it fits into the wider disaster management arrangements.
This Plan should also be reviewed, exercised and tested annually. This may be accomplished by a tsunami scenario being included in another pre-programmed exercise such as LDMG or LDCC exercises. District exercises including Local Government partners and the District Disaster Coordinator may also include a tsunami scenario, which may take the form of a desktop or practical exercise.
3.3 Community Resilience Measures
The most effective Community Resilience measures are based on robust early warning systems and associated public awareness campaigns. The best outcome for the vulnerable community is to have in place evacuation plans that take advantage of any early warning that may be received.
These individual household or business plans will be much the same as any existing plans. Due to the characteristics of tsunamis it is acknowledged that a shorter warning timeframe may be inevitable. As the JATWC has a sophisticated warning matrix, including media, this mechanism should be used to convey the general warning.
4.0 Response Strategy
The response phase of the Tsunami Briefing paper commences with the receipt of a Tsunami Watch Bulletin or Tsunami Warning Bulletin.
4.1 Warning Notification and Dissemination
In accordance with Queensland Tsunami Notification Protocol, the State Disaster Coordination Centre will directly disseminate tsunami warning products to State Government Departments, other State Disaster Coordination Group members, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Regional Offices, District Disaster Coordinators and Local Government authorities. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Regional Offices disseminate tsunami warning products to their supported LDMGs. This is a complementary message to the warnings received from the Bureau of Meteorology.
· Brisbane City LDMG members will be notified by individual telephone calls.
· Key Council staff will be notified directly by QFES to alert them of a tsunami situation. The key staff include:
· Manager, Disaster Management Office
· Coordinator, Disaster Management Office
· After hours Disaster Management Duty Officer (DMDO)
If time permits, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be notified and the Immediate Action Team (IAT) may be assembled to decide on a course of action for Council – this may include the standing up of the LDMG.
If there is insufficient time for the IAT to assemble, then the CEO and Lord Mayor’s Office will be notified and a course of action will be determined via telephone conference call.
NOTE: If a tsunami situation occurs during business hours (8.00am-4.30pm) the Manager, Disaster Management Office (MDMO) will be responsible for notifying the CEO and Lord Mayor. If the situation occurs after hours then the DMDO will notify the MDMO for further escalation.