River Murray Flooding 2022 Major Emergency Response
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WHS Emergency Service lessons from flood events Presented by Brenton Clarke SES state duty officer
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River Murray Flooding 2022 Major Emergency Response
- 1. River Murray Flooding Event 2022 AIHS Presentation 20 October 2023
- 2. Flooding Event • High rainfall across the Upper Murray Darling Basin across NSW and Victoria, water flows increased from August 2022 to reach Major Flood levels in December 2022. • Declared a Major Emergency 21 November 2022 • Usual pre-flood level of 15GL/day • The peak reached 185GL/day at the border on 23 December and reached the Lower Lakes on 11 January 2023. • The flood looked and felt more like an event akin to 1931 (210 GL/day), or slightly above.
- 3. Control Agency • Duration of the event (October 2022 to February 2023) • Footprint of flooding impact – 900kms – 7 Council areas • Briefings EMCC, SEC, ZEST, media, local government and community • Heavy resourcing – Local Govt, State and Commonwealth • SCC activated, rostered 24/7 Nov - Jan • IMT activated at Loxton in August 2022, 24/7 Nov - Jan • Across government commitment to response and recovery with imbedded Liaison Officers • Legal component – River activities restricted • Mitigation strategies – sandbags, levee banks.
- 4. Strategy 5 Lines of Effort 1. Hardening and sustaining permanent levee defences 2. Household and business preparedness 3. Contingency planning and coordination for response, relief and recovery 4. Tactical mitigation of high value assets and essential infrastructure 5. Sustain community safety through risk and hazard awareness.
- 5. 1. Hardening and sustaining permanent levee defences • A number of levees along the River Murray required assessment and remediation works to ensure their integrity and minimise the risk of failure • Assessments of levee bank network for integrity and potential risks undertaken. Areas of priority identified to triage remediation works. • Unregulated levees concern Levee works on Bookmark Creek • Levees on privately owned property in some instances are protecting critical community assets. The condition of these levees were assessed, and remediation works undertaken.
- 6. Levee Hardening & Construction • Access and land ownership • Governance • Priority levee banks • Approval process • Data base • Maintenance
- 7. 2. Supporting household and business preparedness • Established 6 staffed community sandbag stations • National shortage of sandbags • Engagement with Indigenous Community • SES met with DPC Aboriginal Affairs to define the impacts of flooding on Aboriginal heritage sites along the River Murray. • Community outreach • Systematic door knocking of properties at risk • Over 600 houseboats and 700 premises visited • Emergency Alert (EA) – approx. 9,000 SMS messages and 3,500 voice messages sent Loxton Primary School students learning to sandbag
- 8. 3. Contingency planning and coordination • SCC and IMT activated, Divisional Commands established • Cross-government working groups established: • Levee remediation coordination • Blackwater response coordination • Public Information – cross government coordination • Water Quality for Safe Aquatic Activities coordination • Air Operations coordination • ZEST meeting weekly • SASES, DEW and Council CEs meeting weekly to discuss Council mitigation plans, response strategies and resources • Operational plans and contingency plans prepared Houseboats at Mannum Waters
- 9. 4. Mitigation of high value assets and infrastructure 1. & 2. Deployment of ‘bulka-bags’ to protect critical SA Water pump 3. ‘DefenCell’ deployment at Murray Bridge Rowing premises 4. ‘DefenCell’ deployment protecting Mannum main street 1 2 4 3
- 10. 5. Increasing community risk and safety awareness • Key safety messaging • Community meetings • Street Corner meetings • Brochures and Fact Sheets • Information provided in a variety of languages
- 11. Control & Coordination • External agencies involved: • SAPOL, BOM, DEW, CFS, MFS, DIT, LGA, NPWS, PIRSA, SAAS, SA Housing, SA Water, SA Health, LSA, SAPN, Electranet, SATC, EPA, DPC – Aboriginal Affairs, LGA and Councils. • Approximately 120 people per day involved in coordination and response over extended period • 570 personnel SASES Staff and SA Govt agency and volunteers ( incl interstate) • 58k volunteer hours and 66k hours in IMT and SCC • Resources from WA, NSW, VIC, QLD and the Cwlth (ADF)
- 12. Contingency Planning • Operational plans and contingency plans prepared, including: • Houseboat Mooring & Management Plan • Inland Waters Marine Rescue & Access Plan • Renmark Paringa Hospital/Aged Care – River Murray Flood Plan • Renmark Evacuation Plan • Levee inspection plan • Levee failure response plan • Relocation and Isolated Residents Plan - ERFSG
- 13. Specialist Resources • Swiftwater Rescue teams deployed • SASES & NSWRFS aerial platforms for reconnaissance & rescue • Levee Observers • On-call levee safety assessment teams • Marine Skippers and Crew • Ground Observer Crews • ADF personnel carrier trucks • Unimog High Clearance Vehicles from NSWSES
- 14. Public Information • Door knock of all properties in forecast flood area • 22 x Emergency Warning messages • 34 x Watch and Act messages • 27 x Advice Messages • 17 x Community Meetings – over 4,000 people attended in person or online • 9 x Community Newsletters • Numerous street corner meetings • Digital media – multiple platforms • Traditional media (Newspapers, weekly radio interviews and weekly media conference and radio interviews)
- 15. Technology • Extensive use of GeoHub • Interactive inundation apps for community developed • Use of new Information, Decision & Tasking tool to record activities • Just in time app development for levee monitoring and ground recon • High resolution imagery from European Copernicus and ADO satellites • High resolution aerial imagery from Fixed wing platform • Cross government data consolidation and analysis
- 16. Impacts • Property & infrastructure impacts • 3295 residential properties (367 primary residential) • 3,646 SAPN connections disconnected and 15 powerlines deenergised • Economic consequences • Tourism – caravan & camping parks closed • Over 78,946 ha of agricultural production inundated • Transport • 1188 kms of roads impacted, approx. 185 roads closed • 9 of 11 ferry crossings closed • Only 6 of 162 boat ramps remain open to the public • Other consequences • Health – mosquito bites • Water quality • Wastewater systems Martins Rd, Gurra Gurra – 17 Jan 23
- 18. Impacts • Levee breaches • Washout of roads • Inundation of properties
- 19. Impacts • Flood waters entered stormwater discharge pipes • A stormwater pipe under the Mannum Rowing Club ruptured due to water pressure • Flood waters broke through rowing club foundations • Work to equalize the water around the pipe undertaken • Outlet pipes were capped by divers • The levee remained sound
- 20. Impacts • SA Water raw water pump station, provides source water for a Water Treatment Plant. • The water-level, wind and wave action eroding the protection levee. • Drinking water supply to 506 properties at risk. • Levee protection measures undertaken, involving the laying of geo fabric and bulka bags installed via a helicopter. • Long lead time to repair (up to six months) if damaged.
- 21. Water Quality • Daily testing of algae levels at Lake Bonney - water quality alerts were published online for the public • SASES pumping and aeration operations • E-coli detected in Pipi - Goolwa Beach closed to recreational fishing of bivalve molluscs, including Pipi (Goolwa cockle)
- 22. PIRSA received a Fishwatch report on 19 January regarding hundreds of deceased juvenile European Carp on Goolwa Beach. Subsequent reports were received of carp carcasses spanning Impacts • Carp carcasses spanning from Goolwa Beach to Victor Harbor • Event classified as a Level 2 incident • The location of the fish kill coincides with where fresh water from the River Murray floods is entering into the ocean and mixing with salt water • Fish kill clean up at Victor Harbor 1 February 2023
- 23. Impacts • Key potential issues during recession: • Stranded boats etc, due to rapid drawdown of water • Smell impacts – mud/organics as well as any blackwater related impacts • Falling trees • Crumbling, undermining and collapse of riverbanks & levee • Salinity Shack at Walker Flat (29 Jan) Water line
- 24. Mental Health The SA Flood Mental Health Response includes: • More psychological and mental health nursing services in the local area • Increased access to telepsychiatry • More child mental health support with additional staff to provide assessment, care plans and therapeutic interventions. • An extended hours service for young. • Community resilience and wellbeing programs in affected communities conducted by Wellbeing SA • Existing community programs will be expanded, with extra support to regional Suicide Prevention Networks.
- 25. Safety – Emergency Personnel • Fatigue and Stress • The nature of emergency response, particularly volunteers, exposes a higher risk of fatigue and stress impacting operations. • Personnel working rostered 12hr shifts, weeklong rotations • Water Safety • Flood waters generally dirty, can be fast flowing in areas, carrying debris and contaminants. • Manual Handling, Body Stressing, Slips, Trips & Falls • Operating in difficult locations, unstable ground, operating in nighttime conditions near waters, damaged levees
- 26. Safety – Emergency Personnel • Utilities • Flood inundation of utilities, power, gas, sewage • COVID • Monitoring health, especially in SCC & IMT, maintaining social distancing • Other Persons • Stressed, anxiety due to flooding, property damage, road closures, imposed restrictions, unknown future impacts, loss income • Heatwave • Hot and dry conditions, long working hours
- 27. Safety – Emergency Personnel • Plant & Machinery • Installation of ‘DefenCell’, bulk bag installation, movement of trucks for logistics, air operations – increased exposure to heavy plant • Snakes and Dangerous Animals • Rising flood waters will displace animals, increasing potential contact with persons
- 28. Safety Messaging & Bulletins • Fatigue • Dehydration • Extreme Heat • Falling Trees • Working Near Water • Plant & Machinery • Social Distancing • Contaminated waters • Blackwater • Food Allergies • Asbestos Exposure • Wildlife in Floodwater • Strong Wind Hazards • Working in flood environments • Driving in floodwater • Powerlines in flood water • Driving on private property • COVID-19 • Domestic animals & pets • Mosquito borne disease
- 29. Incidents Reported • Laceration • Personnel cut hand whilst installing ‘DefenCell’. Transported to hospital. • Contact with object • Contact with wire to forearm, minor laceration • Fall from height • Personnel fell off ‘DefenCell’. Transported to hospital. • Assault • Assault on volunteers from public • Contaminated Water • Contact with effluent water to face • Exposure • Exposure to damaged asbestos sheet during ‘DefenCell’ installation • 2 non-work related – viral infection, chest pains
- 30. Safety Success? • Early adoption of safety officer in IMT • Generally sound training provided to volunteers • Good teamwork & leadership • Early adoption of contracting staff • Ensure availability of personnel • Manage fatigue • Coordinated efforts with other agencies • Underreporting • Is a possibility for minor incidents • Always promoting a positive reporting culture
- 31. Safety Success? • Primary safety issue from this event is Fatigue Management • Some personnel have multiple roles • For some specialist roles, there are limited personnel • SES Personnel have a can-do attitude, get the job done • This can lead to fatigue issues long term • In a volunteer organization, managing fatigue this is an ongoing concern
- 32. Public Safety Some public safety considerations identified with flooding event • Health impacts • Mosquito borne disease risk increase following peak flows • Potential impacts to health services • Access to hospitals • SAAS access and egress • Mental health considerations • Displaced persons, economic impacts, property loss • Hygiene concerns including contaminated waters • (e.g., sewage, hazardous waste) • Severe heatwave warning
- 33. Public Safety • Potable drinking water • Resupply • Water quality meeting guidelines • Taste and odour impacts • Limited wastewater impacts in some locations • Transport • Closure of roads and operating ferries • Debris hazards in river less than expected • Directions • Restrictions in various zones on Murray River, restrictions on vessels operating, recreation and movement
- 34. Public Safety • Infrastructure damage • Property inundation – electrical and sewage impacts • Hazardous materials in waters • Utilities impacted – power outages • Economic Impacts • Supply chains • Business closures • Floodwaters • Driving through flooded roads – unknown damage • Vessels operating in fast flowing waters, increased debris and unseen obstacles • Displaced wildlife
- 35. Post-Event Review • Debriefs of personnel in SCC and IMT • Debrief of Zone Emergency Support Team • Partner agencies – SAPOL DEW, DIT, CFS, DPC, PIRSA, Relief • SES Volunteers and responders from interstate agencies • Review of Capabilities • Review of existing relevant plans • Lessons Management process • comprising collection of data • analysis and development of recommendations Elements of a lessons management process
Editor's Notes
- Introduction
- As a result of high rainfall across the Upper Murray Darling Basin across NSW and Victoria, water flows in the River Murray increased from August 2022 to reach Major Flood levels in December 2022. Declared a Major Emergency 21 November 2022 Usual pre-flood level of 15GL/day The peak reached 185GL/day at the border on 23 December and reached the Lower Lakes on 11 January 2023. Compared with previous flooding events, water levels have measured higher relative to flow, meaning that the flood looked and felt more like an event akin to 1931 (210 GL/day), or slightly above. Largest flooding event in 50 years
- Duration of the event (Oct – Feb) Footprint of flooding impact – 900kms – 7 Council areas Briefings EMCC, SEC, ZEST, media, local government and community Daily, weekly briefings Heavy resourcing – Local Govt, State and Commonwealth SCC activated, rostered, seven days per week IMT was activated at Loxton SES Unit Rostered for day shift, seven days per week Extended to 24 x 7 between 15 December 2022 and 12 January 2023 Across government commitment to response and recovery Liaison Officers were embedded within the IMT and SCC from DIT, SAPOL, ADF, SAPN, DEW and CFS Marine operations integrating assets and operators from VMR, SES, SLSSA, SAPOL and DIT Legal component – River activities restricted Mitigation strategies – sandbags, levee banks, houseboat strategy etc.
- A number of levees along the River Murray required assessment and remediation works to ensure their integrity and minimise the risk of their failure Levee Remediation Coordination Committee established AssessmentsA number of levees along the River Murray required assessment and remediation works to ensure their integrity and minimise the risk of their failure Levee Remediation Coordination Committee established Assessments of levee bank network for integrity and potential risks undertaken. Areas of priority identified to triage remediation works. Unregulated levees Reports of private caravan park owners installing unregulated levees Significant concern regarding lack of engineering design and integrity Levees on privately owned property in some instances are protecting critical community assets. The condition of these levees were assessed, and remediation works undertaken. To support council progress, the SASES Chief Officer delegated emergency functions and powers to the CEOs of the relevant councils Powers include: entry into any land, excavation or other earthwork, construction, and removal or destruction of any structure
- Remediation works across most council areas Fast track approvals for mining of clay materials from borrow pits on Crown Land and private land Powers under Harbors and Navigation Act were used to restrict vessel speeds in order to protect levees Levee patrol and emergency response plans developed 12 Breaches 10 overtops 4 at risk
- Established 6 staffed community sandbag stations National shortage of sandbags SES worked with a number of international suppliers to secure additional tactical flood protection materials including sandbags and DefenCell Engagement with Indigenous Community Engagement with Indigenous communities including: Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Empowered Communities, Njarrindjeri Regional Authority Inc, and Gerard Community SES met with DPC Aboriginal Affairs to define the impacts of flooding on Aboriginal heritage sites along the River Murray. Sites include canoe trees, burial sites, and rock art At 180GL/day, over 750 heritage sites are expected to be inundated Community outreach: systematic door knocking of properties at risk of flooding took place between 29 November and 7 December 2022. 1,100 properties reported being impacted by water Over 600 houseboats and 700 waterlocked premises visited In addition to door knocking, people have been contacted by outbound or captured inbound calls through Emergency Alert (EA) – approx. 9,000 SMS messages and 3,500 voice messages sent
- SCC and IMT activated Cross-government working groups established through the SEC for: Levee remediation coordination Blackwater response coordination Public Information – cross government coordination Water Quality for Safe Aquatic Activities coordination Air Operations coordination ZEST meeting weekly SASES, DEW and Council CEs meeting weekly to discuss Council mitigation plans, response strategies and resources A number of operational plans and contingency plans were prepared, including: Houseboat Mooring & Management Plan Inland Waters Marine Rescue & Access Plan
- Key safety messaging Community meetings SES Community Engagement Officers together with Local Councils and several different SA Govt agencies facilitated 14 community meetings Total number attending in person and online was 4,346 people Street Corner meetings New Brochures and Fact Sheets developed Information provided in a variety of languages
- Incident Management Team activated in Loxton mid-August 2022 Operating on a 24/7 roster during Nov – Jan SASES State Control Centre activated 16 October 2022 North & South Divisional Commands established External agencies involved: SAPOL, BOM, DEW, CFS, MFS, DIT, LGA, NPWS, PIRSA, SAAS, SA Housing, SA Water, SA Health, LSA, SAPN, Electranet, SATC, EPA, DPC – Aboriginal Affairs, Local Councils. Approximately 120 people per day involved in coordination and response over extended period 570 personnel SASES Staff and SA Govt agency and volunteers ( incl interstate) 58k volunteer hours and 66 k hours in IMT and SCC Resources from WA, NSW, VIC, QLD and the Cwlth (ADF)
- Danger - overwhelming
- Property & infrastructure impacts Property – 3295 residential properties, including 367 primary residential homes Essential infrastructure 3,646 SAPN connections points disconnected and 15 powerlines deenergised Economic consequences Tourism – caravan & camping parks closed Over 78,946 ha of agricultural production incl. vineyards & other primary production inundated Transport 1188 kms of roads impacted, approx. 185 roads closed 9 of 11 ferry crossings closed (two have now re-opened) Only 6 of 162 boat ramps remain open to the public Other consequences Health – mosquito bite Water quality Wastewater systems
- The SA Flood Mental Health Response includes: More psychological and mental health nursing services in the local area Increased access to telepsychiatry More child mental health support with additional staff for CAMHS to provide assessment, care plans and therapeutic interventions. An extended hours service for young. Community resilience and wellbeing programs to be run throughout affected communities by Wellbeing SA Existing community programs will be expanded, with extra support to regional Suicide Prevention Networks
- Fatigue and Stress The nature of emergency response, means fatigue and stress can come from a variety of sources. Members should consider their stress and fatigue levels before and during response to any task (particularly when responding after a full day of work, study, and/or family commitments) and monitor their stress and fatigue whilst responding. Personnel working rostered 12hr shifts, weeklong rotations Water Safety River Murray water is dirty, and in places can be fast flowing and carry debris and contaminants. Do not enter water for response operations unless trained to do so. Do not drive through floodwaters, it is the leading cause of death in flood conditions. When working within 3 metres of the river, it is advised that staff have access to Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) and Throwbags as appropriate, and not to work alone near waters. Manual Handling Operating in difficult locations, unstable ground, operating in nighttime conditions near waters, damaged levees
- Utilities River Murray water is dirty, can be fast flowing in areas, carrying debris and contaminants. This is exacerbated during the flooding event COVID Monitoring health, maintaining social distancing Other Persons Stressed, anxiety due to flooding, unknown impacts, road closures, restrictions Heatwave Hot and dry conditions, and high temperatures overnight, can be harmful to human health. The SES issues a heatwave forecast each day during the summer, and a heatwave summary table. Stay informed of heatwave conditions, keep cool where possible, stay hydrated and monitor symptoms of heat stress and heatstroke in yourself and others.
- Snakes and Dangerous Animals Rising flood waters will displace animals. Some of these animals are particularly dangerous including venomous snakes. Snakes will defend themselves if they are startled, feel threatened or are cornered. If you do come across a snake, keep well clear and do not try to touch it. If you are bitten by a snake, remain still or move slowly to a safe area and immediately seek first aid. ·
- No notifiable incidents
- Debriefs of personnel in the State Control Centre and Incident Management Team Zone Emergency Support Team in the Riverland Partner agencies including DEW, DIT, CFS, DPC, PIRSA, Relief Volunteers from SASES and responders from interstate agencies Review of Capabilities including Swiftwater Rescue, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, DefenCell deployment, Marine capability State Emergency Centre Review of existing relevant plans including State Control Plan, State Flood Plan, Riverland Flood Plan; and evaluation of performance in relation to plans Lessons Management process comprising collection of data; root cause analysis; classification according to national themes; and development of recommendations for continuous improvement