The impact of climate change on emergency management responses
Across Australia, the start of the pandemic also coincided with more floods, bushfires and other natural disasters. The week that COVID-19 was first detected in late December 2019, was also the week that the black summer bushfires began across eastern Australia. Since then, all emergency services have been over-stretched and at times, overwhelmed. When coupled with imposed limitations on movement, resource reallocation, and team and volunteer restrictions due to quarantine requirements, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a reassessment of emergency management and pandemic response activities. Below we hear first-hand accounts from Dr Alan March, Professor, Urban Planning, Disaster Risk Reduction …
