Australia is now on ‘La Niña watch’ status, meaning there is an increased likelihood of flooding and cyclones in the upcoming regular cyclone season. The continuing impacts of climate change also means these weather events may be more intense than in past years.
This year, COVID-19 restrictions are also an additional factor that will impact on flood and cyclone preparedness, response and recovery.
Join us in this event to hear from climate scientists and emergency services practitioners about the prospects of a La Niña season with increased flood risk, along with the practical difficulties COVID-19 imposes on emergency service, other agencies, and communities.
The presentations will be followed by breakout room sessions, for discussion and consultation with the audience on either operations or communications and community engagement. If you would like to opt in to either of the breakout rooms, please select the appropriate ticket when registering. If you would like to attend the presentations but do not want to be involved in the breakout room discussions, please select the ‘General admission – no breakout group’ ticket.
Event programme
9:30am – Event begins. Acknowledgement of country, introduction of the event and individual speakers.
9:35am – Short opening statements and presentations from all speakers.
10am – Question and Answer session with the audience.
10:15am – Those who have registered to do so will be allocated into breakout rooms for discussion and consultation.
10:35am – Everyone rejoins for feedback summaries from the breakout room discussions.
10:55am – Closing statements and overview of what will follow.
11am – Event concludes.
Moderator
Georgeina Whelan – ACT Emergency Services Agency Commissioner
Speakers (in alphabetical order)
Brendan Moon – Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Reconstruction Authority
Daniel Austin – Deputy Commissioner, Operations, NSW State Emergency Services
Dr Steven Crimp – Climate Applications Scientist, The Australian National University
Final speaker TBC
Image credit: Coast Guard News / Flickr
This event has been organised by the Climate Change Institute and the Disaster Risk Science Institute at The Australian National University, and is co-hosted with AFAC, the National Council for Fire and Emergency Services.
