Mayor warns about ‘ unnecessary panic’

THE region’s response to natural disasters has been found to be highly effective but one mayor has warned overplaying threats can raise panic unnecessarily and make the community complacent for future events.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford yesterday released the findings of a Review of Capability into the Townsville Disaster District by the Inspector- General Emergency Management.

The Townsville district covers seven councils including Burdekin, Charters Towers, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Richmond and Townsville. Mr Crawford said the district’s disaster management capability was “advanced and highly effective”.

“One of the strengths of disaster management practitioners in the North is their commitment to improvement, and this capability review has delivered the information and data to allow that to occur effectively,” Mr Crawford said.

Burdekin Mayor Lyn McLaughlin questioned the media response to the threat posed by Cyclone Iris and early announcements by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Cr McLaughlin said it created “unnecessary angst” in the community, adding: “It’s a major problem.

“I’m concerned when you do have a cyclone crossing the Burdekin people are going to be saying: is this real?”

The disaster management meeting was told Cr McLaughlin’s concerns were genuine and that while you couldn’t control too much of the media’s response, what could be controlled was the language used by community leaders.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said she sometimes did not agree to interviews with national media if the threat was small and there was a sense media were trying to create a major story out of an event.

Inspector- General Emergency Management Iain MacKenzie said appearing in the media also presented an opportunity to get the right information out.

“If there’s no wind, stand there and say there’s no wind,” Mr MacKenzie said.

According to the review, Charters Towers needed to improve its relief and recovery standard and Palm Island had limited ability to address relief and recovery and needed to improve its hazard identification and risk assessment, its preparedness and planning and disaster response.

Also, Richmond needed to improve its disaster response and relief and recovery.