After the Disaster

All hazards

Risks spanning across multiple hazard types and across the emergency management system.

Biosecurity

Exotic animal and plant disease outbreaks and pest incursions can have significant economic, community and environmental impacts.

Bushfire and other fires

Bushfire and other fires have potential consequences including loss of life and property, and damage to infrastructure and environment.

Climate change

Risks include more days of extreme heat, harsher fire weather, less rainfall and rising sea levels.

Communications disruption

Communications services are crucial in keeping communities safe, connected and informed before, during and after emergencies.

Cyber security and ICT systems failure

Risks relating to the confidentiality, availability, integrity of information and data and disruption of services.

Energy supply disruption

Reliable energy supplies are critical to many social and economic activities.

Flood

Major flood events have occurred in Victoria every 10 to 20 years, with much of the increasing risk created by human settlement.

Hazardous material incident

Potential risks relate to many places where Victoria’s hazardous materials are manufactured, stored, transported, used and disposed.

Heatwave

Heatwaves are considered to be the ‘silent killer’ of extreme weather events and are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Australia.

Public health emergency

Risks may relate to the delivery of public health services, with impacts on community health and wellbeing and potential for loss of life.

Supply chain disruption

Geopolitical, environmental, economic, societal and infrastructure-related shocks can expose supply chains to wide ranging consequences.

Terrorism and extremism

Attacks carried out by individuals or non-state groups with ideological, political or religious goals can result in loss of life, severe injury and/or material damage.

Water supply disruption

Risks include collection, storage, treatment, delivery, availability and allocation of water for consumption and environmental, recreation and cultural uses.

Workforce and resourcing

Risks may relate to human resource supply and skills to support emergency management operations.

After the Disaster is a podcast series produced by the ABC (External link) drawing on Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC (External link) expertise, and supported by the Australian Red Cross (External link).

After the Disaster series offers practical tips and evidence-based advice, and covers many topics including:

what to expect after a disaster
what recovery is and when to know you’ve recovered
helping children recover
navigating insurance, legal and financial needs during recovery
what recovery looks like for different communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
how to talk to someone who has survived a disaster.

The podcast series is hosted by Dr Kate Brady who speaks with people who have been where you are, and people who have researched the best way forward. Dr Brady also presents the latest advice for how to manage 'all the stuff' that comes after the lights and sirens have finished up.

Disasters take time to work through — and it's ok to ask for support. There are often counsellors and psychologists connected to any recovery centre, you can turn to them. You can also go to your GP who will give you a referral to a professional. www.beyondblue.org.au (External link) has a lot of information and live chat facilities. Or you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Access all the episodes of After the Disaster on the ABC website (External link), ABC Listen app or wherever you get your podcasts.

About Kate Brady

Kate Brady is the National Recovery Adviser for the Australian Red Cross, has been a disaster recovery practitioner for more than 10 years and is a Research Fellow with Melbourne University.

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