Middle Beach Community Energency Managment Plan — YRD

Middle Beach Community Energency Managment Plan (2654)

Carol Muzyk 1
  1. District Council of Mallala, MALLALA, SA, Australia

In 2013 Counci undertook a Coastal Settlements Adaptation Study. The focus of the study was to evaluate how rising sea levels will impact on its four coastal settlements; to propose cost effective and achievable adaptation strategies to cope with anticipated changes in sea level; and to build community resilience to the predicted risks. 

The study concluded that while there are a number of viable immediate protection options for three of the settlements, there are no viable protection options for Middle Beach. 

The study also concluded that current access and egress from the Middle Beach during times of flood is impeded, incuding for emergency service vehicles. This will be further exacerbated with rising sea levels and more frequent storm surge events that are anticipated in the future. 

As a direct result the immediate issues for Middle Beach, Council is developing and implementing a Community Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) for Middle Beach. 

The CEMP plan will address the following:

1. education programme(s) that will assist residents and land owners to develop personal Flood Ready Action Plans.

2. Identification and establishment of flood free emergency assembly points

3. Establishment of safe, accessible and signposted evacuation routes to  the emergency assembly points that can be utilised by all members of the community regardless of age and disability. 

4. Installation of flood depth markers to alert residents and landowners to flood water depth.

5. Identification and establishment of a central communications network, with back up arrangements, that will facilitate reliable communication  and provide up to date information during a flood event.