Disaster Mitigation – the Bureau's Role
09 October 2013
The Bureau plays an important role in disaster mitigation by providing severe weather warnings and related advice to the community and emergency management authorities. Our Disaster Mitigation Program plays a pivotal role.
Disaster Mitigation Program
The Bureau's severe weather program aims to provide timely, effective and accessible warnings of weather conditions likely to endanger life and property, disrupt community activity, or have a major adverse social or economic impact.
The Disaster Mitigation Program aims to ensure that severe weather warnings are understood and acted on appropriately by the community. The program focusses on improving communication of severe weather warnings and the development and support of natural hazard awareness programs. The program collaborates with other areas of the Bureau to provide advice on the content and delivery of severe weather warnings.
Banana plantation damaged by Tropical Cyclone Larry. Innisfail, Queensland, March, 2006. Image: Jim Davidson
Disaster Mitigation activities assist the community in understanding, preparing for and reducing the impacts of tropical cyclones, severe storms, bushfires, other severe weather and tsunami.
The severe weather warning services are provided through the Regional Forecasting Centres, with national coordination by the Head Office, and through very close links with State and Commonwealth emergency services and disaster preparedness organisations.
The new National Centre for Extreme Weather will increase the Bureau's ability to inform and warn Australians before and during severe weather.
Sign damaged by Topical Cyclone Larry. Innisfail, Queensland, March, 2006. Imagge: Peter Otto.
National Strategy
The Australian Government's National Strategy for Disaster Resilience recognises that disaster risk reduction is a shared responsibility of governments, business, communities and individuals. It acknowledges that cooperation and coordination are essential to ensure we prepare for, withstand and recover from disasters.
The ability of government agencies, businesses, communities and individuals to make good decisions in disaster situations is underpinned by information from the Bureau.
Through our Disaster Mitigation Program, we work with Local, State and Commonwealth government agencies, community groups, non-government organisations, the media and business to support a disaster resilient community
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