Brisbane City Council
Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13:
Tsunami Management Sub-plan
2015
Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
References
Table 1 summarises a list of related documents that provide authority for Council’s Tsunami
Management Sub-plan.
Table 1 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan Reference List
References
1.
The Queensland Disaster Management Act 2003, current approved edition
2.
Queensland Tsunami Notification Guidelines, 2012
3.
Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan, current approved edition
4.
Brisbane City Council Brisbane Incident Management System (BIMS), current approved
edition
5.
Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Coordination Centre SOP, current approved edition
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Table of Contents
References ............................................................................................................................................. i
Table of Contents................................................................................................................................... ii
1.0
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.1
Purpose ................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2
The Risk from Tsunami ............................................................................................................ 1
1.3
National Tsunami Warnings ..................................................................................................... 1
1.4
Sequence of Watches and Warnings ....................................................................................... 2
1.5
Tsunami Warning Products ...................................................................................................... 3
1.6
Queensland’s Processes to Manage JATWC Warning Products ............................................. 5
1.7
Important websites ................................................................................................................... 5
1.8
Use of QFES’s Emergency Alert System ................................................................................. 6
2.0
Tsunami Risk Considerations .................................................................................................. 7
2.1
Tsunami Potential Consequences – Vulnerable Communities and Infrastructure..................... 7
2.1.1
3.0
Table 1 ............................................................................................................................. 7
Awareness and Capacity Building ......................................................................................... 10
3.1
Community Education ............................................................................................................ 10
3.2
Training and Exercises .......................................................................................................... 10
3.3
Community Resilience Measures ........................................................................................... 10
4.0
Response Strategy .................................................................................................................. 11
4.1
Warning Notification and Dissemination ................................................................................. 11
4.2
Queensland Tsunami Notification Responsibilities ................................................................. 12
4.3
Standard Messages to the Community .................................................................................. 13
4.4
Concept of Operations for Response ..................................................................................... 13
4.4.1
Roles and Responsibilities .............................................................................................. 13
4.4.2
Levels of activation ......................................................................................................... 13
4.4.3
Disaster declaration ........................................................................................................ 13
4.4.4
Evacuation ...................................................................................................................... 14
4.4.5
Agency plans .................................................................................................................. 14
4.5
5.0
Moreton Island Sub-plan ........................................................................................................ 14
Council Tsunami Activation Level Matrix .............................................................................. 15
Appendix 1 – Acronyms and Abbreviations .......................................................................................... 16
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Purpose
The purpose of this sub-plan is to articulate the tsunami-specific preparedness, prevention and
response plan for the Brisbane Local Government Area of responsibility. This sub-plan is produced
in accordance with the Queensland Disaster Management Act, 2003 and the Brisbane City Council
Local Disaster Management Plan.
Refer to Appendix 1 – Acronyms for a list of acronyms relevant to this Plan.
1.2
The Risk from Tsunami
Much of Brisbane is located outside of the risk area for tsunamis, due to nearby coastal islands
offering some protection from the worst of the ocean waves. Moreton Island and some of the
bayside suburbs, however, are more exposed to adverse impacts from a tsunami.
In its land inundation warnings, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advises people to move at least
ten metres above sea level or at least one kilometre away from all beaches and the water’s edge of
harbours and coastal estuaries.
People living or working in areas potentially affected by a tsunami need to know that they should
move to safer areas if a tsunami warning is issued for their area.
The Australian Tsunami Warning System
1.3
National Tsunami Warnings
The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) was established to give Australia an
independent warning capability of regional tsunami threats. The JATWC is the issuing authority for
tsunami warning products for Australia.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
It is a virtual centre that includes Geoscience Australia in Canberra and the Australian Bureau of
Meteorology (BoM) in Melbourne.
The role of GeoScience Australia is seismic wave detection and analysis.
The role of the BoM is to determine possible impacts, verify tsunami existence and forecast wave
arrival times. All warning information is publicly available through the BoM website.
Note: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, based in Hawaii, is no longer regarded as an
authoritative source of tsunami warnings for Australia, although individuals can subscribe to its
email warning service.
1.4
Sequence of Watches and Warnings
Tsunami Warnings and Schedule
Tsunami Warnings start with detection of an earthquake by Geoscience Australia, whose
seismologists assess whether the earthquake has the potential to generate a tsunami and advise
the BoM of their findings. BoM completes the analysis and determines whether a threat exists to
Australia or not.
If a threat does not exist then a No Threat Bulletin is issued to BoM’s Regional Forecast Centres. If
a threat does exist, then a National Tsunami Watch is similarly issued.
During the Watch phase, which lasts up to 30 minutes, further information gathering and evaluation
is conducted to update the threat assessment. This results in state-focussed Tsunami Warnings, if
warranted, and a cancellation once the threat is over or if it does not eventuate.
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
1.5
Tsunami Warning Products

National No Threat Bulletin: To advise people that the earthquake has been assessed and
that no tsunami threat exists to Australia or its territories.

National or State/Territory Watch: To advise people that a tsunami threat to Australia or its
territories may exist and that they should look out for further updates.

State/Territory Warning: To advise people that a tsunami threat to their state/territory does
exist and to advise them of the level of threat (marine or land) and action they should take.

Tsunami Watch or Warning Cancellation: To advise when the main threat to Australia and
its territories has passed or a tsunami fails to eventuate.

National Warning Summary: To provide the public, media and emergency authorities with
the status of tsunami warnings nationally.

Event Summary: To provide the public, media, emergency authorities and government with
summary information that can be used in post-event analysis
JATWC warning products are issued to a range of government and non-government agencies
including State and Territory Emergency Services, the media, and other agencies and individuals
registered with their supporting Regional Forecast Centre
JATWC uses conventional marine forecast districts to describe the areas likely to be affected by a
tsunami, with the addition of an extra district: Great Barrier Reef offshore islands and reefs (the area
surrounding Swains Reef), outside central Queensland coastal waters. These are shown in the
diagram ‘Marine Forecast Zones relevant to Queensland’ over the page.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Marine Forecast Zones relevant to Queensland
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Near shore Tsunami Hazard Assessment – South East Queensland
1.6
Queensland’s Processes to Manage JATWC Warning Products
Queensland’s management of tsunami warnings is covered in the Queensland Tsunami Notification
Guidelines, in agency plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and in District Disaster
Management Group (DDMG) plans.
Warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology are issued directly to Queensland-based Commonwealth
agencies such as Defence, Air Services Australia and airport authorities. BoM also issues warnings
directly to the media, harbour-masters and any other registered subscriber.
The State Disaster Coordination Centre (Watch Desk) receives all warnings on behalf of the
Queensland Government. Warnings are disseminated to all Queensland Disaster Management
Arrangement stakeholders by SMS, telephone and email.
1.7
Important websites
Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre
www.bom.gov.au/tsunami
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
www.emergency.qld.gov.au
Geoscience Australia
www.ga.gov.au
Queensland Tsunami Notification Guidelines,
September 2012
http://disaster.qld.gov.au
(Go to Resources, Guidelines)
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
1.8
Use of QFES’s Emergency Alert System
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES)’s Emergency Alert System is used to alert
selected parts of the community to threats and disaster events. The system utilises the landline and
mobile phone networks to produce voice and text messages that are sent to selected vulnerable
areas. These areas are defined by polygons on a mapping system at the State Disaster
Coordination Centre (SDCC).
Important: In the event of a LAND INUNDATION Tsunami threat where the warning time is less
than 2 hours, messages will be sent directly from the SDCC to the affected areas without the need
for further approval from Brisbane City Council.
Brisbane City Council has forwarded mapping of vulnerable areas to QFES for use in this type of
event.
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
2.0
Tsunami Risk Considerations
2.1
Tsunami Potential Consequences – Vulnerable Communities and
Infrastructure
The following table identifies those elements of the community vulnerable to tsunami based on
nationally adopted height and distance parameters.
Elements within the Community
Exposure in Vulnerable
Area*
Residential Dwellings, Industrial, Commercial
See Table 1
Caravan Parks, Camping Grounds
See Table 1
Public Schools, Private Schools, Childcare Centres
See Table 1
Public Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Aged Care, Nursing Home Facilities
See Table 1
Island Communities
See Table 1
Notes:
1. Vulnerable Area is defined as less than ten metres above sea level or within one kilometre
of beaches or the water’s edge of harbours and coastal estuaries.
2. Exposure likely to be dependent on nature of tsunami warning i.e. marine or land inundation.
Please note that as yet there is no detailed technical data or modelling available for tsunami events
and how shorelines are affected. Accordingly the statistical information contained within this
document is based on areas that lie within 1km of the shoreline and less than 10m in elevation
above sea level.
2.1.1
Table 1
Elements within the
Community
Exposure in Vulnerable Area
Qty Cost Zone
Population
Source: ABS 2011 Census
CCD
Total Population
35005
Population 65 years and over
5498
Population 0-14 years old
6624
Domestic Single Dwelling
10921
Multiple Dwellings/Units
2323
Vacant
1057
Commercial
242
Industrial
97
Caravan Parks
1
Dwellings
Source: ABS 2011 Census
CCD
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Elements within the
Community
Exposure in Vulnerable Area
Qty Cost Zone
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami
Management Sub-Plan
School/Educational
7
Libraries
1
Child Care Centres
6
Park
23
Nursing Home
2
Radiology (Qld X-Ray Services)
1
Pharmacy
7
Medical Centre
7
Hospital/Medical
1
Accommodation for Aged
2
Clubs
11
Hotel/Motel
7
Shelter Locations
4
Police Station
1
Ambulance Station
1
Fire Station
2
Waste Site (Nudgee Beach Transfer
Station)
1
Community Centre
2
Correction Services
1
Large Dangerous Goods Location
19
Contaminated Land (trade waste, oils,
pesticides, etc.)
69
Total Population
298
Population 65 years and over
46
Population 0-14 years old
13
Medical and Public Health
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami
Management Sub-Plan
Accommodation, Clubs
facilities
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami
Management Sub-Plan
Key Government Services
Source: BCC LDMP Tsunami
Management Sub-Plan
source: Hazardous Industries
and Chemicals Branch Workplace Health & Safety
Queensland
MORETON ISLAND
Source: ABS 2011 Census
CCD
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Elements within the
Community
Exposure in Vulnerable Area
Qty Cost Zone
Dwellings
Source: ABS 2011 Census
CCD
Domestic Single Dwelling
29
Multiple Dwellings/Units
12
Commercial
8
Vacant
Source: BCC DMP Tsunami
Management Sub-Plan
316
Community Centre
Park
1
Shelter Locations
4
Ambulance Station
2
Contaminated Land
12
Large Dangerous Goods Location
1
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
3.0
Awareness and Capacity Building
3.1
Community Education
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology have significant
tsunami information on their respective websites. The information available from these sources is
considered the most up to date and reliable and persons in vulnerable areas are encouraged to
familiarise themselves with it. Council may assist by combining tsunami related information with
other Community Education programs.
http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/Be_Prepared/tsunami.html
http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/index.shtml
3.2
Training and Exercises
Disaster managers, including Brisbane City Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) and Local
Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC) members, should be regularly briefed on this Plan and trained
on how it fits into the wider disaster management arrangements.
This Plan should also be reviewed, exercised and tested annually. This may be accomplished by a
tsunami scenario being included in another pre-programmed exercise such as LDMG or LDCC
exercises. District exercises including Local Government partners and the District Disaster
Coordinator may also include a tsunami scenario, which may take the form of a desktop or practical
exercise.
3.3
Community Resilience Measures
The most effective Community Resilience measures are based on robust early warning systems and
associated public awareness campaigns. The best outcome for the vulnerable community is to have
in place evacuation plans that take advantage of any early warning that may be received.
These individual household or business plans will be much the same as any existing plans. Due to
the characteristics of tsunamis it is acknowledged that a shorter warning timeframe may be
inevitable. As the JATWC has a sophisticated warning matrix, including media, this mechanism
should be used to convey the general warning.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
4.0
Response Strategy
The response phase of the Tsunami Briefing paper commences with the receipt of a Tsunami Watch
Bulletin or Tsunami Warning Bulletin.
4.1
Warning Notification and Dissemination
In accordance with Queensland Tsunami Notification Protocol, the State Disaster Coordination
Centre will directly disseminate tsunami warning products to State Government Departments, other
State Disaster Coordination Group members, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Regional
Offices, District Disaster Coordinators and Local Government authorities. Queensland Fire and
Emergency Services Regional Offices disseminate tsunami warning products to their supported
LDMGs. This is a complementary message to the warnings received from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Brisbane City LDMG members will be notified by individual telephone calls.

Key Council staff will be notified directly by QFES to alert them of a tsunami situation. The
key staff include:

Manager, Disaster Management Office

Coordinator, Disaster Management Office

After hours Disaster Management Duty Officer (DMDO)
If time permits, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be notified and the Immediate Action Team
(IAT) may be assembled to decide on a course of action for Council – this may include the standing
up of the LDMG.
If there is insufficient time for the IAT to assemble, then the CEO and Lord Mayor’s Office will be
notified and a course of action will be determined via telephone conference call.
NOTE: If a tsunami situation occurs during business hours (8.00am-4.30pm) the Manager, Disaster
Management Office (MDMO) will be responsible for notifying the CEO and Lord Mayor. If the
situation occurs after hours then the DMDO will notify the MDMO for further escalation.
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
4.2
Queensland Tsunami Notification Responsibilities
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
4.3
Standard Messages to the Community
Wherever possible, tsunami warnings should be disseminated verbatim. Where this is not possible
or practicable due to delivery method or technological limitations, the following abbreviated
message format should be used:
The Bureau of Metrology has issued a (bulletin, warning or threat) for this part of
Queensland. Please call 1300TSUNAMI (1300 8786 264) or log onto
www.bom.gov.au/tsunami for the full text of the message.
Any other proposed variation should be cleared through the Bureau of Meteorology prior to use.
4.4
Concept of Operations for Response
The concept of operations to manage a tsunami event will predominantly be in accordance with the
existing all hazard arrangements. This section will focus on those aspects that have been modified
to address the sudden onset nature of this hazard.
4.4.1
Roles and Responsibilities
Responsibility for the management of a tsunami event remains with the Brisbane LDMG. The
DDMG will support the Brisbane LDMG in the management of a tsunami event.
4.4.2
Levels of activation
National No Threat Bulletin
Disaster Management Office to monitor until
status changes
National or State/Territory Watch
Notify SITREP distribution groups and Moreton
Island contacts. If after hours contact the on-call
Disaster Management Duty Officer. Contact
QFES & DDC to coordinate any actions.
State/Territory Warning
Notify SITREP distribution groups and Moreton
Island contacts. If after hours contact the on-call
Disaster Management Duty Officer. Contact
QFES & DDC to coordinate any actions.
Tsunami Watch or Warning
Notify SITREP distribution groups and Moreton
Island contacts. If after hours contact the on-call
Disaster Management Duty Officer. Contact
QFES & DDC to coordinate any actions.
4.4.3
Disaster declaration
As per the provisions of the Queensland Disaster Management Act, 2003, Part 4, section 64, the
District Disaster Coordinator (DDC) may declare a disaster situation for the district.
The DDC may be requested to make a declaration of a disaster situation following the issue of a
tsunami warning should it be considered that extra powers are required during the watch phase to
ensure the movement of people away from the tsunami hazard e.g. evacuations, road closures,
authority to enter a place, etc.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
4.4.4
Evacuation
Evacuation will involve residents moving to areas of safety until the tsunami threat has eased and
assessment of any damage can be carried out. If damage has occurred and residents are
displaced and cannot return to their homes then Evacuation Centres located across the local area
will be utilised. The Standard Operating Procedures (as per Council’s Local Disaster Management
Plan) for the setting up and running of these venues will also apply to a tsunami event. The
Queensland Police Service will lead the evacuation with the support of Brisbane City Council.
The choice of venue will depend on the magnitude, timing and warning time of the event.
Routes to the Evacuation Centre(s) will be chosen at the time of the decision to evacuate.
Queensland Police Service will manage road closures and associated traffic management issues to
enable the most efficient evacuation practicable.
4.4.5
Agency plans
Due to the limited warning times associated with tsunami events, it is not considered practical to
have in place pre-event preparations for Brisbane City Council field site locations. Key managers
will be notified via internal messaging that a tsunami event is imminent and that immediate action
should be taken to secure Council resources where possible, in particular the moving of plant and
equipment to safe sites, if time permits.
By minimising damage to and protecting its critical infrastructure, Council will maintain its optimum
response and recovery capability for the community.
Important note: These arrangements and actions should only be undertaken when there is sufficient
time to do so without putting any personnel into a potentially dangerous situation, and should be
carried out under the guidelines of Council’s Zero Harm policy.
4.5
Moreton Island Sub-plan
Please refer to the Moreton Island sub-plan (Chapter 9) for information on disaster management
arrangements for Moreton Island.
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Brisbane City Council Local Disaster Management Plan
Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
5.0
Council Tsunami Activation Level Matrix
LEVEL
ACTION
1.
2.
STANDBY
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4.
ACTIVATION
5.
6.
1.
2.
STAND-DOWN
3.
4.
5.
1.
DEBRIEFING
& RECOVERY
2.
3.
ACTION
OFFICER
Continue to monitor
situation & watching brief
– monitor BoM and
JATWC bulletins
Commence operational
planning
LDCC Level 3
Staff LDCC as required
Place additional staff on
standby
Establish comms with key
personnel/LDMG &
agencies, CEO’s office
Contact Moreton Island
(as per page16)
LDCC to Level 4
Manage event response
Key personnel deployed
Operational plan
implemented
Council’s strategic
priorities implemented
Daily operating schedule
established
LMO
Transition selected LDCC
functions to
individuals/agencies
Transition remaining
event responses to
individuals/agencies
Assess situation for
gradual scale down of
operations
Prepare briefs for
transition to recovery
phase
Stand up Recovery
Committees
Conduct “Hot Debrief”
immediately on
completion of LDCC
operations.
Conduct comprehensive
debrief within 5 days of
the event
Amend plans/processes
as required
LDC
LDC
KEY ISSUES
1.
2.
3.
MDMO
LDCC Managers
4.
LDCC staff
Public Warnings
Staff roster
DDCC/LDMG
Liaison
Community
Recovery
considerations
Disaster
Management
Office Staff
LMO
LDC
MDMO
1.
2.
3.
LDCC managers
LDCC staff
LDMG-DDMG link
Staffing relating to
scale of event
Fatigue
Management
strategy employed
for LDCC teams
Disaster
Management
Office Staff
MDMO
Recovery
Committee
Chairs
Disaster
Management
Office Staff
1.
2.
Ensure all relevant
stakeholders are
invited to Recovery
Committee Meetings
Ensure liaison
between the four
committees
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Chapter 13 – Tsunami Management Sub-plan 2015
Appendix 1 – Acronyms and Abbreviations
ADF
Australian Defence Force
AMSA
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
BoM
Bureau of Meteorology
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
DAFF
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
DCCSDS
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability
Services
DDC
District Disaster Coordinator
DDCC
District Disaster Coordination Centre
DDMG
District Disaster Management Group
DNPSR
Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing
DET
Department of Education and Training
DMDO
Disaster Management Duty Officer
DTMR
Department of Transport and Main Roads
EHSOT
Emergency Human Services Operational Team
EMT
Executive Management Team
GA
Geoscience Australia
IAT
Immediate Action Team
JATWC
Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre
LDCC
Local Disaster Coordination Centre
LDMG
Local Disaster Management Group
LDMP
Local Disaster Management Plan
LMO
Lord Mayor’s Office
MDMO
Manager, Disaster Management Office
MSQ
Maritime Safety Queensland
QAS
Queensland Ambulance Service
QFES
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
QH
Queensland Health
QPS
Queensland Police Service
QPWS
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
QTNP
Queensland Tsunami Notification Protocol
SDCC
State Disaster Coordination Centre
SES
State Emergency Services
SITREP
Situation Report
SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
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