Review of the SES Response to the Northern Rivers Floods of 2017

Independent review

Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie formed on the 25th March 2017 in the Coral Sea and made landfall as a severe tropical cyclone near Airlie Beach in central Queensland on the 28 March 2017. After steadily strengthening offshore to a Category 4 system, Debbie weakened into a tropical low by late 28 March, but continued to travel south, causing significant damage and flooding in the populous areas of South East Queensland and Northern Rivers.

In total, the storm caused A$3.5 billion in damage and fourteen deaths across Australia, primarily as a result of extreme flooding. This makes Debbie the deadliest cyclone to hit Australia since Cyclone Fifi in 1991.

As a result, a review was initiated to examine the response to the cyclone and subsequent flooding by the NSW State Emergency Service. The Review, conducted by Risk-e Business Consultants CEO and former NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens, was to provide an assessment of the NSW SES operational preparedness and response at various levels of operational management.

This was achieved through a review of documentation (policies, procedures and statistical data), interviews with stakeholders, agencies and individuals involved in the event at all levels of the State Emergency Service. Having been at the forefront of similar critical natural disasters and life threatening emergencies, Dave Owens had the experience and knowledge to examine the practises utilised during this incident and assist with the formulation of recommendations.

These recommendations were made and addressed the pre-deployment of incident management teams, pre-emptive situational reporting, along with improvements to systems, processes and recording. Changing of ingrain practices to a risk-based approach and communications policies along with operational practice changes for consideration. All 35 recommendations were accepted by the State Emergency Service.