Beyond the call of duty: the integral role of rural local government in emergency management

Abstract

As Australian state and federal governments extol the importance of resilience-building in rural communities to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, understanding the contribution of local government in supporting communities during natural disaster is required. This research examines the role and responsibilities of rural local government following a natural disaster to identify how learnings have informed subsequent disaster response planning. Framed by the local government capability requirements for managing natural disasters [Kusumasari, B., Alam, Q., & Siddiqui, K. (2010). Resource capability for local government in managing disaster. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 19(4), 438–451] this study uses survey data from affected community members, and interviews with representatives from emergency response and recovery organisations. This data provides insights from the 2011 floods and landslides in the Grampians, Victoria and demonstrates the integral role of local governments in supporting the community. Participants acknowledged the outreach provided by local government as intensive, far reaching, and ongoing while human resourcing and institutional capabilities were limited. Findings provide guidance on best practice for natural disaster planning and response.

Keywords:

• community response
• councils
• localism
• natural disaster
• resilience

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support from all research partners, research participants and from colleagues A/Prof Peter Dahlhaus, A/Prof Jerry Courvisanos, A/Prof Helen Thompson and Jennifer Corbett from Federation University Australia, and Dr Helen Sheil and Anthony Miner.

Additional information

Funding

The study was funded by the Natural Disaster Resilience Grant Scheme (Department of Justice Victoria) through a partnership with local councils and emergency organizations; project partner organizations (including emergency organizations) also provided financial and in-kind support.