2009MAR030157
Black Saturday +day24
update latest news
The trees in this shot are 20-30m tall. Note the leaves on all the tree are burnt. This means the flames are as tall as the trees. The house is about the same distance from the trees.
Doing the dishes
Rang Dad today (permanent phone on) to check on both how he's going and reports I read on the news today on basics being denied to residents at Kinglake and Kinglake West.
He was doing the dishes in no particular hurry. I mentioned the locals are calling the BS, contacting the media to get things done. He confirmed they closed down the food and removed the water tankers. I can't understand why? The topics we talked about included how all the native birds are back. Parrots, Wrens who escaped the fire and now moving back in. How he's assembled one of the collapsible tanks for water after moving them by hand and put them on bricks not the pallets organised.
Dad also mentioned taking the tanks back but I advised him they are there as long as required and I'll organise returning them when they are finished. The tank-man is coming out to take a look at Frank (The Tank).
Water
Water is still critical as there has been no rain, the bore works but water may become contaminated over time. Going to the trouble sourcing multiple sterile water containers, then organising and delivering water storage capacity has proved to be 100% spot on the correct priority. The inability for local authorities to supply basics on a continual basis at +day24 is poor, but not unexpected.
Police deliver legal documents
Dad also mentioned the Police letter dropped a printed page outlining how house-owners would be prosecuted for moving any rubble on the property by order of the Coroner. Never mind the asbestos. He's got food, water, power and vehicles. I mentioned that a Stat-Dec could come in handy if he wanted assistance to pull down some trees (widow-makers) near the house. This is the level we have sunk to. Using legal documents to request help if needed to get around road-blocks and restrictions. Dad also mentioned he is pretty lucent and not too effected by the event. He knows of others that are not.
So at the moment he's not doing to badly. Compared to most he's doing well.
Some observations
From comments I've left on ABC article Lessons can be learnt from tsunami response
Nice observations Andrew,
I've been closely watching the fires unfolding since Black Saturday. My Dad survived in Kinglake West with house intact and no loss of cars but lots of shed & property damage. By all accounts he is probably in the best of situations. As of +day23, Black Saturday he has shelter, power, water and vehicles to travel. This is not the norm. Most residents are without all or some of the above. Living with compromised services. So I'll give you my take of what information I've observed, collected and read:
Inability of command to ensure basics & logistics
- it's absolutely critical that basics Water, food and shelter be arranged. As of today both water and food are in short supply and only because local Kinglake residents and media (in this case The Age newspaper reporter Selma Milovanovic is on the ground) ~ www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3320803820/
- Water is critical. Why hasn't each resident been delivered say a 1000L sterile water tank and have it refilled on demand? ~ www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157614178152108/
- why was the reliable water supplies removed?
Inability of command to be flexible with legalistic demands
- from day 1 control into & out of Kinglake area has restricted by police. At first this was essential because the area was not safe. However as the safety issue was resolved bans still remained denying residents access past control lines to go back in. This is of course flouted. How else do you ensure essential water and portable power to be provided in the first 72Hrs? Do you wait for the official response?
- Now certain Kinglake areas have been hit with very harsh legal demands. Stating any removal of rubbish is punishable by severe penalties because a coroner (Judge) in Melbourne wants all potential deaths thoroughly investigated. In an office in Melbourne this appears sound. On the ground it's an inflexible PIA and needs to be resolved.
Inability of command to recognise health issues
- Anecdotal evidence I'm hearing suggests residents in the area severely traumatised are beginning to show signs of PTSD and other symptoms but the best response we have is very vague in details of how this will be attacked www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-community-services/me...
- Legal orders placed on resident cleanups are being enforced despite the fact both Asbestos and other toxic chemicals are present on properties
- Up till this afternoon basics of water & food distribution was stopped www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/02/2505337.htm as authority passed from jurisdiction in this case state DHS to local shires www.theage.com.au/national/fire-victims-relief-crisis-200...
Inability of command to listen and act on residents requests, transparently
- the poor communication lines and consultation of local residents is becoming a problem. The only access that seems to work is a lengthy story to the media, the media (The Age in particular) writes up a story and Ministers have to respond.
- there appears to be a one-way conversation. Why? Listening to the requests as they come up. Where is the liason b/w residents on the ground and decision makers? The only advocates for residents are either on-the-ground agitators, news reporters or third parties who have access to knowledge and reporting ability.
I know the article you mentioned has been on the medium to long term perspective but all I can see at the moment is pretty p*ss-poor execution. What I'd like to see is:
a) Representatives of Red Cross, media liason, government rep at each local area to source the trouble at a local level and sort it out. Bend the rules to enable survivors get what they need without unnecessary legal or political interference.
b) Get a high level political order out that 1) basics of food, water, shelter be monitored at all times for 3-6 months and any changes or reductions in service be justified to residents and the public.
c) Get high level political order out telling both Police & Coroner to work some level of compromise on both travel bans and clean ups as a priority. The living take priority over the dead.
d) Allow clear access of both commercial and state (ABC) media to the area to report what they see without interference. This allows impartial oversite.
The biggest problem I have is, authorities with resources are not delivering on what residents want and need in a timely manner. There is no liason. Authority is being wielded by certain inflexible legal bodies. There is no recognition the law in this situation is not as applicable in a disaster zone. Execution is being hampered by the in-ability of authority to adapt.
While people who are responsible for these functions are paid, tucked up in bed and fed, the perception (and as has been shown this week, reality) are being derelict in their duty to pull out all the stops and get these (simple problems) resolved. Until then, the medium to long term objectives are nice to pontificate over, but of little use.
next >>>
2009MAR030157
Black Saturday +day24
update latest news
The trees in this shot are 20-30m tall. Note the leaves on all the tree are burnt. This means the flames are as tall as the trees. The house is about the same distance from the trees.
Doing the dishes
Rang Dad today (permanent phone on) to check on both how he's going and reports I read on the news today on basics being denied to residents at Kinglake and Kinglake West.
He was doing the dishes in no particular hurry. I mentioned the locals are calling the BS, contacting the media to get things done. He confirmed they closed down the food and removed the water tankers. I can't understand why? The topics we talked about included how all the native birds are back. Parrots, Wrens who escaped the fire and now moving back in. How he's assembled one of the collapsible tanks for water after moving them by hand and put them on bricks not the pallets organised.
Dad also mentioned taking the tanks back but I advised him they are there as long as required and I'll organise returning them when they are finished. The tank-man is coming out to take a look at Frank (The Tank).
Water
Water is still critical as there has been no rain, the bore works but water may become contaminated over time. Going to the trouble sourcing multiple sterile water containers, then organising and delivering water storage capacity has proved to be 100% spot on the correct priority. The inability for local authorities to supply basics on a continual basis at +day24 is poor, but not unexpected.
Police deliver legal documents
Dad also mentioned the Police letter dropped a printed page outlining how house-owners would be prosecuted for moving any rubble on the property by order of the Coroner. Never mind the asbestos. He's got food, water, power and vehicles. I mentioned that a Stat-Dec could come in handy if he wanted assistance to pull down some trees (widow-makers) near the house. This is the level we have sunk to. Using legal documents to request help if needed to get around road-blocks and restrictions. Dad also mentioned he is pretty lucent and not too effected by the event. He knows of others that are not.
So at the moment he's not doing to badly. Compared to most he's doing well.
Some observations
From comments I've left on ABC article Lessons can be learnt from tsunami response
Nice observations Andrew,
I've been closely watching the fires unfolding since Black Saturday. My Dad survived in Kinglake West with house intact and no loss of cars but lots of shed & property damage. By all accounts he is probably in the best of situations. As of +day23, Black Saturday he has shelter, power, water and vehicles to travel. This is not the norm. Most residents are without all or some of the above. Living with compromised services. So I'll give you my take of what information I've observed, collected and read:
Inability of command to ensure basics & logistics
- it's absolutely critical that basics Water, food and shelter be arranged. As of today both water and food are in short supply and only because local Kinglake residents and media (in this case The Age newspaper reporter Selma Milovanovic is on the ground) ~ www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/3320803820/
- Water is critical. Why hasn't each resident been delivered say a 1000L sterile water tank and have it refilled on demand? ~ www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/sets/72157614178152108/
- why was the reliable water supplies removed?
Inability of command to be flexible with legalistic demands
- from day 1 control into & out of Kinglake area has restricted by police. At first this was essential because the area was not safe. However as the safety issue was resolved bans still remained denying residents access past control lines to go back in. This is of course flouted. How else do you ensure essential water and portable power to be provided in the first 72Hrs? Do you wait for the official response?
- Now certain Kinglake areas have been hit with very harsh legal demands. Stating any removal of rubbish is punishable by severe penalties because a coroner (Judge) in Melbourne wants all potential deaths thoroughly investigated. In an office in Melbourne this appears sound. On the ground it's an inflexible PIA and needs to be resolved.
Inability of command to recognise health issues
- Anecdotal evidence I'm hearing suggests residents in the area severely traumatised are beginning to show signs of PTSD and other symptoms but the best response we have is very vague in details of how this will be attacked www.premier.vic.gov.au/minister-for-community-services/me...
- Legal orders placed on resident cleanups are being enforced despite the fact both Asbestos and other toxic chemicals are present on properties
- Up till this afternoon basics of water & food distribution was stopped www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/02/2505337.htm as authority passed from jurisdiction in this case state DHS to local shires www.theage.com.au/national/fire-victims-relief-crisis-200...
Inability of command to listen and act on residents requests, transparently
- the poor communication lines and consultation of local residents is becoming a problem. The only access that seems to work is a lengthy story to the media, the media (The Age in particular) writes up a story and Ministers have to respond.
- there appears to be a one-way conversation. Why? Listening to the requests as they come up. Where is the liason b/w residents on the ground and decision makers? The only advocates for residents are either on-the-ground agitators, news reporters or third parties who have access to knowledge and reporting ability.
I know the article you mentioned has been on the medium to long term perspective but all I can see at the moment is pretty p*ss-poor execution. What I'd like to see is:
a) Representatives of Red Cross, media liason, government rep at each local area to source the trouble at a local level and sort it out. Bend the rules to enable survivors get what they need without unnecessary legal or political interference.
b) Get a high level political order out that 1) basics of food, water, shelter be monitored at all times for 3-6 months and any changes or reductions in service be justified to residents and the public.
c) Get high level political order out telling both Police & Coroner to work some level of compromise on both travel bans and clean ups as a priority. The living take priority over the dead.
d) Allow clear access of both commercial and state (ABC) media to the area to report what they see without interference. This allows impartial oversite.
The biggest problem I have is, authorities with resources are not delivering on what residents want and need in a timely manner. There is no liason. Authority is being wielded by certain inflexible legal bodies. There is no recognition the law in this situation is not as applicable in a disaster zone. Execution is being hampered by the in-ability of authority to adapt.
While people who are responsible for these functions are paid, tucked up in bed and fed, the perception (and as has been shown this week, reality) are being derelict in their duty to pull out all the stops and get these (simple problems) resolved. Until then, the medium to long term objectives are nice to pontificate over, but of little use.
next >>>