Floods, fires, storms and tropical cyclones have kept authorities working hard this Higher Risk Weather Season, with 44 natural disasters declared across Australia in the past 6 months alone.
New data from the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), shows every mainland State and Territory was impacted during the most recent Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS), which starts in October and runs to the end of April.
Across the country, 192 Local Government Areas (LGAs) were impacted, including 60 areas which were impacted more than once.
It comes as all of Australia’s Emergency Management Ministers – Commonwealth, State and Territory – meet today for the last ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Emergency Management Ministers Meeting before the official end of the 2023-24 HRWS.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said strong cooperation between States and Territories played an important role in responding to disasters and planning for the future.
“We respond best to natural hazards when we respond together. This is reflected in the way we all work together to activate assistance, and the way we all lend a hand when it’s needed,” Minister Watt said.
“In the 2023-24 HRWS we had a number of personnel travel interstate to support response efforts, which is a credit to the individuals and organisations, as well as those who made it possible.
“Across all jurisdictions, personnel – both paid and volunteer – have worked tirelessly to support their communities and I thank them unreservedly for their efforts.
“I also acknowledge the residents of communities who’ve faced challenging conditions – truly in the worst of times we see the best of Australians.
“But we shouldn’t get complacent outside the Higher Risk Weather Season.
“While traditionally Australia experiences less nationally significant weather events throughout the middle of the year, individual communities can still be impacted by severe weather. It is important that individuals understand the different risks in their local area, and prepare accordingly.
“The Albanese Government is working hard to ensure Australia is better connected, better coordinated and better prepared for the disasters we know are coming in the future.
“As a Government we’re supporting States and Territories with recovery efforts in regions impacted by disasters, and pressing on with mitigation and resilience projects that will keep Australians safer through programs like the Disaster Ready Fund, Disaster Risk Reduction Grants and Betterment works.
“We are also doing all we can to alleviate rising insurance premiums through investments like the Bushfire Resilience Rating ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Self-Assessment App and the Queensland Household Resilience Program.”
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During the 2023-24 Higher Risk Weather Season, the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Situation Room (NSR) monitored 15 tropical lows, including 7 which developed into named tropical cyclones.
In Queensland, 64 out of 77 LGAs have activated Local Disaster Management Groups since early September 2023. Meanwhile across NSW, there were 17 Local Emergency Operations Centre activations to support disaster events for bushfires and severe weather/floods.
