@article {bnh-8318, title = {Improved predictions of severe weather to reduce community impact {\textendash} final project report}, number = {721}, year = {2022}, month = {02/2022}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Extreme weather often occurs at relatively small scales.\  Accurate forecasts and understanding of such small-scale processes require high-resolution modelling.\  Forecasts are especially useful in severe weather events, since they play an essential role in allowing communities, industry and emergency services to prepare for and mitigate the impacts. Because forecasts are inherently uncertain in the severity, location and duration of an event, preparation needs to be more widespread than the eventual impact {\textendash} but this over-preparation comes at a cost.\  Detailed prediction of the probabilities of severe impacts would avoid the risk of failing to alert areas with the chance of an impact, while minimising the cost of over-warning.\ 

This project has studied the dynamics, predictability, and processes of severe weather, including fire weather, with the purpose of understanding phenomena with severe impact, improving forecasts of severe weather, and better depicting forecast uncertainty in these events. These goals help facilitate better risk management, improve user preparation, reduce adverse outcomes, and enable more effective mitigation.

The project has featured two main strands.

The first strand comprised case studies of severe weather events. For these, we have combined high-resolution numerical weather prediction (NWP) with a wide range of in situ and remotely sensed observations, to better understand both the high-impact event in question, and other events of that class. All except one of the studies used a version of the Bureau{\textquoteright}s operational NWP system, ACCESS. The events comprised two severe mid-latitude systems (an east coast low, and a severe thunderstorm and tornado outbreak), two severe fires, and a tropical cyclone, thereby covering the gamut of severe weather in Australia. Two of the studies featured ensemble simulation, with the east coast low case being the first time that ensemble ACCESS had been run at this resolution within the Bureau and foreshadowing the Bureau{\textquoteright}s new operational ensemble capability. Each case discovered important fine-scale features that contributed to the severity of the event, advancing our knowledge base and ability to respond.

The second strand studied two important phenomena associated with bushfire plumes: the formation of pyrocumulus clouds and ember transport. In each case, we began with idealised, high-resolution simulations of plumes using a large-eddy model. We used this technology, in which the model is run on a 50-m grid, to capture the most energetic size range of the turbulent eddies that are prominent in fire plumes. We found that the mean travel distance of firebrands depends mainly on wind speed and fire intensity, but the spread in the landing positions shifts from being substantially crosswind at light winds, to dominantly along-wind at high winds. This spread is greatly increased by the turbulence in the plume, and the maximum spotting distance can be more than double the mean for this reason.

We also used our plume modelling to study pyrocumulus clouds and analysed the processes that lead to pyrocumulus, with special attention on the relative importance of moisture from two sources, the atmosphere and combustion, and showed that the latter is negligible except in very dry environments. This somewhat controversial result has been confirmed by a conceptual study of the thermodynamics of pyrocumulus formation.

These initial studies laid a firm theoretical framework for our subsequent development of tools to provide predictions in a form, and at a speed, that is suitable for operational use.

For moist pyroconvection, we developed a paradigm to combine the necessary meteorological and fire information, the pyrocumulonimbus firepower threshold, or PFT. The PFT is defined as the power output from a fire at which pyroCb will begin to form and depends solely on meteorological parameters. Fires hotter than the PFT will initiate pyroCb, according to this paradigm, and cooler fires do not. We also developed a way of computing an approximate PFT from either NWP or observed data and tested this in real time during the extraordinarily severe 2019-20 fire season. The results of that trial were outstandingly successful, with nearly all the 30-odd events being captured, and the forecast guidance for non-events was also reported to have been extremely valuable. The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC have provided us with utilisation funding to take this tool another step closer to operational use. The tool has also attracted significant international interest, particularly given the recent spate of events in the USA. We have begun a utilisation project to take the PFT work further, detailed in this report.

For ember transport, we developed a simple model to predict plume-dominated transport, incorporating well-known plume modelling concepts, a model of plume turbulence, and a probabilistic model of ember transport within and beneath the plume. The results agree well with our large eddy-based simulations. This model was coupled to CSIRO{\textquoteright}s Spark fire-spread model and tested on the Kilmore East fire of Black Saturday with excellent results. The combination with Spark will make this tool suitable for future operational use, and the ember transport model could also, of course, be coupled to other fire spread simulators, including the coupled fire-atmosphere model ACCESS-Fire. Working with CSIRO and AFAC, we are putting the necessary things in place to be able to convert the prototype implementation of the ember transport parameterisation in Spark, into an operationally robust and supported system. This will both facilitate further research, and provide the framework to allow users to learn, understand and apply the system.

The value of case studies has been reinforced by our being asked to undertake five case studies of severe fires from the 2019-20 summer. This work will be done jointly with our colleagues from the CRC Coupled fire-atmosphere modelling project, who further developed the ACCESS-Fire model. We expect that this work will provide an impetus to further develop and streamline that capability.

We are also very excited about the potential of the PFT and ember transport tools. While both are relatively early in their development, with the PFT being the more mature, each is presently producing very encouraging results. We are also very conscious that each is raising further scientific questions as they address others, and that both are at the beginning of a steep development and refinement curve that we expect will further improve their accuracy and utility. We are confident that further scientific investment will yield substantial dividends.

}, keywords = {community, Impact, prediction, severe, weather}, issn = {721}, author = {Jeffrey Kepert and KJ Tory and Ching, Eng and Robert Fawcett and Serena Schroeter and W. Thurston and David Wilke and Dragana Zovko-Rajak} } @article {bnh-8339, title = {Leading through crisis: the leadership experience of Major General Alan Stretton}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {37}, year = {2022}, month = {04/2022}, pages = {78-80}, abstract = {

Catastrophes present leaders with complex and significant challenges that they have not previously experienced nor have had time to deeply analyse. Leaders must collaborate and demonstrate agility. To develop such leadership skills, it is useful to reflect on the experiences of people who have faced catastrophe before. This paper examines the leadership of Major General Alan Stretton AO, CBE in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Alan Stretton{\textquoteright}s personal accounts and archival interviews with other leaders were reviewed as source material. These showed that he demonstrated decisiveness and courage and {\textquoteleft}over-responded{\textquoteright} if necessary. He worked collaboratively with community leaders and acted in a confident, empathetic and reassuring manner. He led with agility and with a focus on an overarching plan. He prioritised communication with the community and negotiated political challenges. Lessons from this experience can help to guide leaders who may be called on to lead during times of future disaster events.

}, keywords = {catastrophe, collaboration, community, disaster, leaders}, doi = {http://www.doi.org/10.47389/37.2.74}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/media/9299/ajem-19-2022-02.pdf}, author = {Andrew Gissing} } @article {bnh-8322, title = {Recognising and measuring competency in natural hazard preparation: A preparedness competency index}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {73}, year = {2022}, month = {03/2022}, abstract = {

With weather-related natural hazards increasing in number and severity, it is more important than ever for communities to prepare for all types of hazards. However, the literature does not reveal what such preparedness looks like {\textendash} how much preparation is enough and, conversely, how low levels of preparation can be easily recognised by emergency agencies. This study maps Australian emergency agency understanding of competencies that are needed by individuals and communities for effective preparation.

Using in-depth semi-structured interviews of 30 emergency agency, local council and not-for-profit organisation staff from all Australian states, participants identified a range of community and individual features that they had seen in un-prepared and well-prepared communities and which they believed were key competencies for protective action. These competencies were then mapped against participants{\textquoteright} perceptions of five different levels of preparation, resulting in a Preparedness Competency Index that allows agencies to benchmark preparation in communities, as well as to recognise when lack of preparation competency leaves groups vulnerable.

}, keywords = {community, Competency, Natural hazards, Preparedness, protective action}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.102882}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420922001017?via\%3Dihub}, author = {Barbara Ryan and Kim Johnston and Maureen Taylor} } @article {bnh-8341, title = {Recovery Capitals: a collaborative approach to post-disaster guidance}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {37}, year = {2022}, month = {04/2022}, abstract = {

Knowledge from past disasters can inform and support recovery, yet these insights are not always readily accessible to recovery practitioners. To bridge this gap, effective collaboration is needed to produce practical, evidence-based resources. This was the focus of the Recovery Capitals (ReCap) project, a collaboration between researchers and practitioners across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This paper presents a critical case study of the participatory processes involved in developing a recovery capitals framework and associated resources. The framework is based on an existing Community Capitals Framework that emphasises the social, natural, political, built, human, financial and cultural strengths and resources within communities. The Recovery Capitals Framework arose through applying the Community Capitals Framework to disaster recovery, with conceptual adaptations to reflect shared values, diverse perspectives and collective knowledge of recovery. The lessons learnt from this international and researcher-practitioner collaboration are analysed, and the application of principles of equity, inclusion and community-led recovery is evaluated. Shortcomings and innovations are examined in how resources were tailored to the cultural contexts of each country, and reflections are presented from the perspectives Indigenous and non-Indigenous contributors. These lessons can inform future collaborations that support inclusive, holistic and evidence-informed recovery efforts.

}, keywords = {capital, community, evidence-informed, framework, human capital, recovery}, doi = {10.47389/37.2.52}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-april-2022-recovery-capitals-a-collaborative-approach-to-post-disaster-guidance/}, author = {Phoebe Quinn and Lisa Gibbs and Denise Blake and Emily Campbell and David Johnston and John Richardson and Andrew Coghlan} } @article {bnh-8276, title = {Assessing community resilience for emergencies in local government policy: summary}, number = {618}, year = {2021}, month = {10/2021}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

The Yarra Ranges Council, Maroondah City Council and the Knox City Council partnered with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre to evaluate Maroondah and Knox policies to see where and how they align with and incorporate resilience. The Assessing community resilience for emergencies in local government policy (ACRE) project also highlighted some strategic issues that are potentially relevant for local government and disaster resilience policy more broadly.

All levels of the Australian Government adopted the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience in 2011 (NSDR) and its implementation is ongoing. The NSDR aims to shift national policy away from the traditional focus on disaster response toward planning and prevention to reduce the risk of natural disasters and the severity of their consequences. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework was launched in 2020 and builds on the NSDR and references resilience.

Not only that, but a resilience-based approach will improve the {\textquoteleft}capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt and grow not matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience{\textquoteright} (Mulligan et al, 2016). Local government is a key partner in achieving these goals because of its proximity to the community and the array of assets, services and programs it manages that are vital to the well-being of local communities. Local councils also have a legal responsibility to develop and maintain and review policies in critical areas, including for disasters and other emergencies. This provides opportunities to build the resilience of communities by pivoting local government policies and programs toward approaches that are proven to support resilience. In order to do this, Maroondah and Knox City Councils sought, as a first step, to better understand how their existing policies are compatible with resilience, the extent to which resilience was incorporated in policies and what areas can be improved.\ 

}, keywords = {community, council, emergencies, Local government, Policy, resilience}, issn = {618}, author = {Susan Hunt} } @article {bnh-8259, title = {Assessing community resilience for emergencies in local government policy - Maroondah City Council and Knox City Council}, number = {617}, year = {2021}, month = {10/2021}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Exposure to hazards may result in emergencies or disasters that have the potential to overwhelm the capacity of communities to respond and recover effectively. In terms of natural hazards, an increase in the incidence of extreme weather events linked to climate change is expected to result in greater disaster losses in the future. Resilience-based approaches have been adopted in Australia and overseas to deal with this problem.

Resilience is a term that is used across multiple disciplines, including in the physical and material sciences, psychology, ecology, environmental science and more recently, in emergency and disaster management (Alexander, D.E. 2013). Therefore, it has many definitions, several of which reflect its significance as the guiding principle for emergency and disaster management in Australia,

{\textquoteleft}Resilience is the ability of system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management{\textquoteright} (United Nations Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019), or

The definition developed for the 100 Resilient Cities Project in Melbourne:

{\textquoteleft}Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, businesses and systems within a city to survive, adapt and grown no matter what kinds of chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience{\textquoteright} (Mulligan et al, 2016, p.10).

A definition of resilience has also been developed as part of the Australian Disaster Resilience Index (ADRI) project:

{\textquoteleft}Resilience is the capacity of communities to prepare for, absorb and recover from natural hazard events and to learn, adapt and transform in ways that enhance these capacities in the face of future events{\textquoteright} (Parsons, 2016 p.6).

The National Strategy for Disaster Resilience was adopted in 2011 by all levels of Australian Government (Commonwealth of Australia, 2011). This marked a policy shift away from an emphasis on dealing with the aftermath of disasters toward a stronger focus on disaster preparation and planning, and the reduction and management of hazards. In 2018, a National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (NDRRF)[i] (Commmonwealth of Australia, 2018) was introduced to guide disaster risk reduction activities for greater resilience. Importantly, the NDRRF deals with the increasing problem of disasters by considering the whole system and its interdependencies.\  In doing so it incorporates sustainability and climate change adaptation goals.

While State Governments play the major role in emergency management, the hazards, risks and the nature and severity of disaster impacts vary according to highly localised social, economic and environmental factors (Cutter et al, 2008). The adverse impacts from natural disasters that are invariably experienced at the local level may be sustained for many years afterwards. Local Government is the level of government that is closest to the community and, as such, it maintains a long-term commitment to managing local issues associated with emergencies and disasters. This role is integrally linked to local government{\textquoteright}s broader responsibility for the planning and provision of the majority of services and infrastructure in their constituent communities.\  There are 597 local government areas in Australia (Australian Local Government Association, 2020) with 79 in Victoria (Victorian Local Government Association, 2020.) Therefore, the services provided by local government and the policies and plans that shape them have a profound influence on the quality of life and the wellbeing of the Australian population as a whole. Local government is in a unique position to strengthen community resilience for emergencies, both through its local emergency management policies and plans and also, and perhaps more pervasively, through opportunities to positively influence the determinants of resilience through its broad range of council policies and plans.

In order to explore some of these opportunities, Yarra Ranges Council and the Maroondah and Knox City Councils asked the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC) to evaluate their policies in terms of resilience. They were seeking answers to the question: To what extent do our council policies support resilience for emergencies or disasters? This project, titled Assessing Community Resilience for Emergencies in Local Government Policies (ACRE) was developed to examine the alignment between existing local government policies and the characteristics that enable community resilience. Maroondah and Knox City Councils were chosen as case studies. As a starting-point, councils were interested in evaluating their policies in relation to the Community Reslience Framework for Emergency Management (Emergency Management Victoria, 2017), developed by the Victorian State Government.

The idea that social resilience is intrinsic to resilience for emergencies or disasters is a central message in the Community Resilience Framework for Emergency Management (ibid). It provides policy guidance to encourage local government to embed resilience into its everyday activities, not only to improve the general health, wellbeing and prosperity of their communities, but as a way of highlighting how local communities can play their part in improving their ability to plan, prepare for, and to withstand and recover from adverse events.

In order to explore their full potential for strengthening resilience, councils also sought to evaluate their policies more broadly. The two councils{\textquoteright} policies were assessed against resilience information found in the academic literature. This research complements the Community Resilience Framework for Emergency Management (ibid) and adds to the body of evidence about local government{\textquoteright}s existing contribution and inherent potential to enhance community resilience for emergencies.

}, keywords = {community, council, emergencies, Local government, Policy, resilience}, issn = {617}, author = {Susan Hunt} } @article {bnh-8109, title = {Community organisation involvement in disaster management}, number = {678}, year = {2021}, month = {06/2021}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {MELBOURNE}, abstract = {

Severe to catastrophic disasters pose the potential to overwhelm traditional emergency management approaches, necessitating the adoption of a whole- of-community approach.

A key component of the whole-of-community approach is building collaborative partnerships between communities, government agencies, community organisations and businesses across the phases of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery to engage their full capacity.

To date there has been little research examining the role of Australian community organisations in disaster management although many organisations provide assistance. This research focuses specifically on the role and involvement of community organisations in disaster management.

Pertinent findings of the research were:

Recommendations

The following recommendations are made for consideration to improve the utilisation of capabilities offered by community organisations in disaster management.

  1. Australian disaster management doctrine should be revised to embrace a whole-of-community approach to disaster management.
  2. The role of community organisations including peak bodies should be clearly defined in relevant emergency plans.
  3. Community organisations should be involved in government-led disaster planning and exercises, including involvement in relevant emergency management committees.
  4. Local councils should form community resilience committees to promote collaboration and joint planning between government, community organisations and local businesses. These committees could be sub- committees of relevant emergency management committees.
  5. Government emergency management organisations should collectively work with community organisations to develop an understanding of community networks and community organisation capabilities.
  6. Government funding bodies should enable funding flexibility to allow community organisations to integrate disaster management initiatives into their core business activities.
  7. Specific disaster management grants should be targeted to community organisations to assist with maturing of disaster management capabilities and engagement with communities.
  8. Funding arrangements should enable collaboration between different community organisations, businesses and government.
  9. Community organisation peak bodies should take an active role in building the disaster management capabilities of their members.
  10. Emergency management organisations should work with community organisation peak bodies to develop a training strategy to upskill the staff and volunteers of community organisations in relevant disaster management roles. This could include a toolkit for community organisations to provide guidance on roles and better practice.
  11. Peak bodies and emergency management organisations should work with universities and training providers to incorporate emergency management content in relevant degree and training programs.
  12. Community organisations should work to develop business resilience plans. These can be supported by relevant toolkits tailored to community organisations.
  13. States and Territories should include community organisations within capability maturity assessments.
  14. The roles performed by community organisations in disaster management should be continually evaluated to ensure robust measurement of the value provided by community organisations.
  15. State and Territories should implement initiatives to raise the awareness of the role of community organisations in disaster management. These could include: integration of the role of community organisations within emergency management training, inclusion of community organisations in policy development and emergency management forums, specific communications outlining the role and value of including community organisations in disaster management, senior leadership involvement as champions.
  16. Community recovery programs should include the provision of mental health and wellbeing support to members of community organisations.
}, keywords = {community, disaster, involvement, management, organisations}, issn = {678}, author = {Andrew Gissing and Steve George} } @article {bnh-8194, title = {Community-led recovery - Black Summer final report}, number = {702}, year = {2021}, month = {09/2021}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Community-led approaches to disaster recovery are regarded as the optimal approach to sustainable disaster recovery, fostering self-reliance and self-determination within affected communities (Dibley, Mitchell, Ireton, Gordon, \& Goron, 2019; Olshansky, 2005). However, as noted by Dibley et al. (2019), {\textquotedblleft}[w]hat is less clear in the literature is how government might best foster and enable community-led recovery while maintaining their role and responsibilities in coordination after a disaster,{\textquotedblright} (p. 3, emphasis in original).

The objective of this research was to address this gap by examining ways in which governments can better support and enable communities to lead their own recovery after bushfire disaster events. Specifically, the following research questions were explored:

  1. How can government best support community-led deliberative decision-making processes in post-disaster bushfire recovery?
  2. How can government best leverage existing and emerging community organisations, structures, and networks in post-disaster bushfire recovery?

This project developed a set of resources to broaden the knowledge base and disseminate best practice, both within and beyond end-user organisations. Research findings from this project expand our knowledge on how community structures may modify the decision-making function of community recovery bodies (i.e., Community Recovery Committees), and shape residents{\textquoteright} perceptions of community recovery. These resources include:

These resources are intended to be utilised by community engagement staff, other state and local government staff, CRC members, and not-for-profit staff who are involved in recovery. In all, the resources developed as part of this study are intended to be useful beyond the current cohort of CRCs operating in the wake of the 2019/20 bushfire season, which formed the basis of this research analysis. We hope that these efforts will form the basis for recovery progress monitoring, benchmarking, and support activities within disaster-affected communities and risk areas. However, it is a complex field, and so a proposed agenda is also provided for next steps in research and applications.

}, keywords = {communications, community, recovery}, issn = {702}, author = {Lisa Gibbs and Collin Gallagher and Kate Brady and Claire Leppold and Greg Ireton and Andrew Haywood and Yvette Clarke and Stewart Davies and Fyowna Norton and Vaughn Brandenburg} } @article {bnh-8285, title = {Mind the gap: Contrasting operational and behavior-oriented flood warnings}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, year = {2021}, month = {11/2021}, abstract = {

During flood events, warnings issued by emergency service agencies serve to communicate risk and guide community behavior. Yet research shows that while warnings convey operational details, they may not always be understood and appropriately actioned in a timely manner by the public. Such maladaptive behavior can place multiple parties at risk of injury and fatality. Few studies empirically consider and compare the effectiveness of traditional agency-designed operational warnings with other designs such as behavior-oriented warnings. The former typically contain technical and operational detail while the latter provide immediate priority and greater emphasis on translating the situation into specific behavioral actions to be undertaken by the public. Using operational versus newly developed behavior-oriented warnings from New South Wales State Emergency Service in Australia, a total of 774 community members rated each type of scaled warning and their likelihood to engage in adaptive and maladaptive behaviors following exposure to warnings designed to convey one of five levels of an unfolding flooding scenario from its beginning to conclusion ({\textquoteleft}Prepare for flooding{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Be ready to evacuate{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Evacuate{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Too late to evacuate{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}Safe to return{\textquoteright}). Findings showed positive response to both types of warnings, with behavior-oriented warnings offering greater benefit for perception factors (e.g., risk and comprehension) and adaptive behavioral intentions.

}, keywords = {Behavior-oriented, community, Flood, risk communication, Warnings}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102685}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212420921006464}, author = {Amisha Mehta and Dominique Greer and Clinton Weeks and Lisa Schuster and Scott Murray and Paula Dootson and Andrew Richards} } @article {bnh-7784, title = {Checks and balances: A business-oriented lens on disaster management and warnings}, journal = {Disasters}, year = {2020}, month = {12/2020}, abstract = {

Following disasters, small businesses are critical to community recovery. Yet, factors that affect outcomes (e.g., planning, information needs, and response to warnings) are understudied. To overcome the research record{\textquoteright}s focus on policy favoured towards disaster mitigation rather than response, this article presents a two-phased, mixed method approach. The first study comprised interviews with businesses to elucidate disaster planning approaches, knowledge and information needs, and current warning system adequacy. It revealed opportunities to build knowledge and add business-specific content to agency-issued warnings. Through an online survey, study two examined how disaster knowledge, planning and experience related to existing bushfire warnings and those modified with business-relevant content. Findings showed that planning related to experience and knowledge but not to business-related protective action intentions. Modified messages were perceived as more effective and resulted in greater action intentions for those with bushfire experience. The article provides implications for small business-oriented disaster risk communication.

}, keywords = {business, communication, community, disaster, recovery}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/disa.12473}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/disa.12473}, author = {Amisha Mehta and Scott Murray and Cindy Hammill and Paula Dootson and Rebecca Langdon} } @article {bnh-7004, title = {The missing link in emergency management: evaluating community engagement}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {35}, year = {2020}, month = {01/2020}, pages = {45-52}, abstract = {

Community engagement programs in Australia are widely adopted by emergency management organisations as one way to get communities to recognise hazards and risks and prepare for emergency events. However, evaluation of these programs remains a challenge. A study with 30 community engagement practitioners and managers from Australian emergency management organisations, councils and not-for-profit organisations was undertaken to examine how they use measurement and evaluation of community engagement for preparedness. The findings suggest that while community engagement teams understand the importance of measuring the effects of engagement efforts and preparedness activities, most still do not link engagement activities with higher-level engagement outcomes that influence communities.

}, keywords = {community, emergency events, engagement, Natural hazards, preparation}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-january-2020-the-missing-link-in-emergency-management-evaluating-community-engagement/}, author = {Maureen Taylor and Barbara Ryan and Kim Johnston} } @article {bnh-6746, title = {Navigating Uncertainty: community experiences of bushfire}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {31}, year = {2020}, month = {02/2020}, pages = {54-59}, abstract = {

This research examined how people directly affected by a catastrophic event respond to that event, individually and as a community. It shifts from concepts of {\textquoteleft}community-led{\textquoteright} or {\textquoteleft}recovery{\textquoteright} after an event to a more pragmatic view of community disaster recovery. A catastrophic bushfire near Forcett, in Tasmania{\textquoteright}s south-east in 2013 is used to examine people{\textquoteright}s dependence on community and place to help then navigate the event. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to identify a model of {\textquoteleft}Navigating Uncertainty{\textquoteright}. This covers three phases of {\textquoteleft}Losing the familiar{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Restoring the familiar{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}Living with change{\textquoteright}. These phases illustrate how people experience the perilous situation where lives were threatened and homes, communities and livelihoods damaged or destroyed. In such situations, people{\textquoteright}s decision-making and action are often underpinned by individual and collective values.

}, keywords = {Bushfire, catastrophic events, community, recovery}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-october-2019-navigating-uncertainty-community-experiences-of-bushfire/}, author = {Fiona Jennings} } @article {bnh-6774, title = {Unpacking the meaning of resilience: the Tarnagulla community definition comparing to the literature}, journal = {Australian Journal of Emergency Management}, volume = {35}, year = {2020}, month = {01/2020}, pages = {29-37}, abstract = {

In 2018, the Tarnagulla Alternative Energy Group in regional Victoria took steps to plan futures for their town and its local community that strengthened resilience to the many challenges in the area including those from climate change. Believing that {\textquoteright}anticipation strategies work against known problems, while resilient strategies are better against unknown problems{\textquoteright} (IFRC 2012, p.5) the group turned to the RMIT Climate Change Transformations group to unpack the meaning of resilience as it related to the town and community. The purpose was to produce a locally-focused Resilience Action Plan. Despite an international consensus and media propagation of resilience as a silver bullet to address future uncertainties, the concept remains contentious and challenging to implement. This paper considers how the various framings of resilience - the {\textquoteright}conceptual{\textquoteright} (in literature) and the {\textquoteright}operational{\textquoteright} (in policy) - relate to the Tarnagulla community{\textquoteright}s lived experience and the implications. The comparison allows to unpack a mixture of the complexities in understanding the nature of values, preferences, expectations, capacities, contested knowledge, as well as, the uncertainties. Study findings show that communities are best placed to frame their resilience, collectively and from a {\textquoteright}systems{\textquoteright} perspective, and that implementing actions, which may require radical change, hinge on a political voice and sustained support from policy makers.

}, keywords = {Climate change, community, operational, resilience, strategies}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/ajem-january-2020-unpacking-the-meaning-of-resilience-the-tarnagulla-community-definition-comparing-to-the-literature/}, author = {Mittul Vahanvati} } @conference {bnh-6404, title = {It{\textquoteright}s raining news: exploring the impact of mass-SMS on preparedness for a severe weather event }, booktitle = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Day AFAC19}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Location-based telephone warning systems are a relatively new tool for emergency managers to distribute warnings and emergency information to targeted populations. Although some research has examined their impact on how they support action and decision making by community, there are gaps in the literature for many use cases. This paper presents research examining the impact of a large-scale use of a location-based telephone warning system on awareness of and preparedness for a severe weather event in the Australian state of Victoria.

}, keywords = {communication, community, location-based, Warnings}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Joan Young and Kirstin Couper and Benjamin Beccari} } @conference {bnh-6412, title = {Joining the dots: using social media to connect with more vulnerable Victorians during emergencies}, booktitle = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Day AFAC19}, year = {2019}, month = {12/2019}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

An ongoing challenge for emergency, government, and community organisations is {\textquoteleft}how can social media (social media) be best used to connect with people who may be considered more vulnerable during an emergency event?{\textquoteright} This question has three key elements. First, when using the term vulnerable who might we be referring to? Second, how is social media being used by relevant organisations and vulnerable community members? Third, how might we better use social media to connect to the more vulnerable sections of the community? This paper reports on findings from recently completed research funded by Emergency Management Victoria. This research is unique in that it combines insights and perspectives from: interviews with emergency, government and community organisations; analysis of social media postings; and interviews and a survey of community members.

Our research noted that most organisations have developed a more nuanced perspective of the term vulnerable, one which takes account of contextual and temporal factors and recognises that all Victorians are periodically vulnerable. Interviews highlighted that organisations, community groups, and vulnerable sections of the community operate in a complex informational and social media landscape. Moreover, this landscape continues to develop with changing boundaries between actors, and organisations{\textquoteright} evolving roles. Analysis of social media highlighted that the messaging was generic, with little content aimed at vulnerable sections of the community. The research also investigated how vulnerable people used social media during emergencies. Findings included a growing expectation from community members on the use of social media by emergency and government organisations and that community members increasingly prefer to obtain information from community groups on social media.

The research provides a range of suggestions to improve effective use of social media to better meet the needs of vulnerable persons during emergencies. These included the use of communities of practice, education of social media users, development of practice guidelines, standard setting, and monitoring.

}, keywords = {communications, community, social media, Vulnerability, Warnings}, url = {https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/}, author = {Peter Hayes and Stan Karanasios and Vanessa Cooper and Marta Poblet} } @mastersthesis {bnh-6996, title = {Community engagement in the post-disaster landscape}, volume = {Masters in Disaster, Design and Development }, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, school = {RMIT University}, type = {Masters}, abstract = {

The Hotspots Fire Project is a program providing landholders and land managers with the skills and\ knowledge to actively participate in fire management. It teaches how fire can be used as a land\ management technique to promote biodiversity, as well as to protect assets.\ 

Hotspots Fire Project is run jointly by the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) and the Nature Conservation\ Council of NSW (NCC). It is steered by a Committee which includes representatives from the following\ organisations: NCC; NSW RFS; Southeast Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium; Forestry\ Corporation; Local Government NSW; Local Land Services; Office of Environment and Heritage; NSW\ National Parks and Wildlife Service; and NSW Farmers.

Hotspots was recently run for residents of Carwoola NSW. Carwoola is a peri-urban area located just\ outside Canberra. In February 2017, the area was impacted by a major bush fire, which burnt 3,134\ hectares of land and destroyed over 50 buildings {\textendash} 11 of them houses.

This is the first time the Hotspots program has been run as a recovery tool for a disaster-affected\ community. The program was adapted for Carwoola to include: two series of two-day workshops for\ residents; a third workshop day that was also a community caf{\'e} session; training for local Stoney Creek\ (now Carwoola) RFS brigade to conduct bush fire risk assessments for houses; and on ongoing monthly\ community caf{\'e} with information sessions.

Workshop activities and messaging were adapted to address fears of fire. Local land-holders were\ encouraged to see fire as an integral part of the Australian landscape, and possibly as a useful land\ management tool. The overall aim was to make Carwoola{\textquoteright}s residents and landscape more resilient to\ future bush fires.

Demand for the Hotspots program {\textendash} in particular the workshops and property risk assessments {\textendash} was\ high to begin with. Fifteen months after the fire, interest from the community has waned.

This report looks at the Hotspots program with the view to identifying what worked and areas for\ improvement. Demand for post-disaster services is likely to increase given the increasing numbers of\ disasters. Understanding how all these elements come into play, along with sharing beneficial\ information and support is fundamental to future government programs offering post-disaster\ assistance.

}, keywords = {community, engagement, post-disaster}, author = {Zo{\"e} D{\textquoteright}Arcy} } @mastersthesis {bnh-5397, title = {Navigating Uncertainty: a qualitative study of resident involvement in the 2013 Forcett Tasmania bushfire disaster}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2018}, month = {03/2018}, school = {RMIT University}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

This thesis is a grounded theory analysis of resident involvement in the 2013 Forcett Tasmania bushfire disaster.\  Friday 4 January 2013 was one of the most significant fire days in Tasmania since 1967.\  The fire threatened life and left a trail of destruction, animals perished, homes, livelihood and landscape were destroyed or damaged.\  Despite this there appeared to be a level of social structure and processes evident.\  Many residents carried out a range of actions and activities before, during and after the bushfire disaster.\  It appeared that residents had a way of doing things and these actions were significant.\  In the post disaster phase, many of these local processes appeared to be overlooked by the well-intentioned external help or overwhelmed by the visitor-related goodwill.\ 

The analysis presented in this thesis focuses on the local social processes.\  The main question opening the inquiry was - What is community-led recovery in the context of a bushfire hazard and disaster?\  The qualitative research design involved in-depth interviews, to develop an explanatory account of the phenomenon of interest based on the analysis of people{\textquoteright}s experience and perspectives.\  The 40 people who participated in this study were residents of the small communities impacted by the bushfire disaster, external support volunteers, and representatives of local and state government and non-government services.

The constructivist grounded theory approach that was adopted by the researcher, constructed a theory grounded in the data that was collected by research participants.\  The grounded theory {\textquoteleft}Navigating Uncertainty{\textquoteright} outlines processes of surviving a bushfire disaster.\  A psychosocial process represents an interpretive understanding of what community members encountered before, during and after the bushfire disaster.\  The substantive theory {\textquoteleft}Navigating Uncertainty{\textquoteright} is built around community member{\textquoteright}s main concerns and what they did to resolve their concerns; their decision-making and actions underpinned by the meaning they gave to their experience.\  In a context of uncertainty community members depended on processes and systems that were familiar to them which fostered a sense of stability and helped sustain them through a period of change.\  This research concludes it is necessary to understand the holistic nature of people{\textquoteright}s lived experience in disaster events.\  Recovery includes the way people interpret and manage their context throughout a bushfire disaster, not just the post-disaster phase.\  Furthermore, the research identifies the importance of safeguarding and sustaining social stability, and approaches that support the participation of community members in a way that is meaningful and respectful of their experience.

}, keywords = {Bushfire, community, disaster, grounded theory, recovery}, url = {https://researchbank.rmit.edu.au/view/rmit:162621}, author = {Fiona Jennings} } @mastersthesis {bnh-5390, title = {Acknowledging local sociality in disaster recovery: a longitudinal, qualitative study}, year = {2017}, school = {Macquarie University}, address = {Sydney}, abstract = {

Formal recovery, reconstruction and risk reduction efforts put in place in response to major disaster events are designed to redevelop infrastructure and services for, and improve the longer-term safety of, the affected populations. However, these efforts often rely on top-down approaches that neglect the impact on and the presence of local people{\textquoteright}s everyday lives in and with their communities (local sociality). As a result, top-down recovery and reconstruction approaches may misjudge engagement with disaster-impacted communities. Existing and emerging power-relations tend to influence the aims and processes of the recovery and marginalise the voices of the affected populations, particularly the most vulnerable.

This thesis explores these issues in four case studies: the towns of St George and Grantham, in Queensland, Australia, both of which were severely impacted by flooding events between 2010 and 2012, and the Japanese towns of Koizumi and Namie, which sustained devastating damage from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and in the case of Namie, contamination from the Fukushima nuclear reactor in 2011. This study identifies a critical coherence in the human, social and political issues and challenges across all study areas, despite differences in the country, physical attributes of the hazards, types of damage and responses. In particular, the commonality identified across four different cases illuminate the importance of local sociality that is highly valued by the disaster-impacted people but often overlooked or downplayed by others.

The adopted qualitative, longitudinal research approach using semi-structured interviews through multiple site visits captured and identified long-term impacts and transitions in each study area involving individuals, households, local community groups, support persons and organisations and government officials.

}, keywords = {Australia, community, development, disaster relief, Japan, recovery, resilience, Vulnerability}, doi = {http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/1260629}, url = {http://minerva.mq.edu.au:8080/vital/access/manager/Repository/mq:70138}, author = {Tetsuya Okada} } @book {bnh-7485, title = {Co-Building with Bamboo}, year = {2015}, publisher = {Grass giants}, organization = {Grass giants}, address = {Melbourne}, abstract = {

Our new book celebrating 10 years of building with bamboo. Co-building is the process of building something together with community members who have no stake in the outcome. This book shows how we have evolved our design and construction approach over the past 10 years. Our co-building with bamboo included over\ 500 participants\ in\ 35 workshops\ building\ 23 structures.

}, keywords = {bamboo, community, construction, recovery}, issn = {978-0-9944338-0-0}, url = {https://www.giantgrassdesign.com/store/p1/co-building_with_bamboo.html}, author = {Mittul Vahanvati and Munir Vahanvati} } @conference {bnh-7446, title = {Reviving people{\textquoteright}s trust in Bamboo technology: A case-study of Orlaha settlement reconstruction in Bihar, after the 2008 Kosi floods}, booktitle = {World Bamboo Congress}, year = {2015}, month = {09/2015}, address = {Damyang, Korea}, abstract = {

There is a growing body of literature suggesting significance of technical and social guidance during post-disaster housing reconstruction projects. Social process during reconstruction includes considerations of community participation or owner-driven approaches. Technical process includes considerations for achieving a balance between the world-views of beneficiaries and facilitators in terms of multi-hazard safe house form, material, technology, and its cultural, environmental and financial appropriateness. Research suggests that it is the approaches/ process to reconstruction implementation, on which, relies the long-term effectiveness of housing reconstruction projects at imparting disaster-resilience to at-risk communities (Barenstein \& Iyengar 2010; Jha et al. January 2010; Lizarralde et al. 2010; Lyons, Schilderman \& Boano 2010; Schilderman \& Lyons 2011). However, empirical evidence suggests that despite the benefits of and socio-technical support by civil society agencies for re-adoption of traditional materials and technologies for multi-hazard safe housing reconstruction, it often proves challenging. This paper focuses on the technological and social process of reconstruction in the settlement of Orlaha in Triveniganj block in Supaul district of the Indian state of Bihar, post 2008 Kosi floods. The paper presents preliminary observations from two field-works that were conducted during November-December months in 2012 (Stage-1) and 2014 (Stage-2). The paper examines whether the process of housing reconstruction enabled reviving household{\textquoteright}s faith in bamboo {\textendash} a local traditional material for achieving multi-hazard resistance as well as met their aspirations? The research asks questions such as; what is the condition of housing, 5 years since completion of reconstruction? How satisfied are households with their housing? What are the reasons for successful uptake or failure? The paper examines whether and how a convergence can be achieved between technology and social perception. To this end, the paper{\textquoteright}s findings indicate that post-disaster context offers a small window of opportunity during which local households are open for changing their perceptions for achieving multi-hazard resistant housing, provided the technical assistance is accompanied with social assistance.

}, keywords = {community, Flood, Reconstruction, recover, resilience}, url = {http://toc.proceedings.com/28028webtoc.pdf}, author = {Mittul Vahanvati and Munir Vahanvati} }