Volunteering Queensland and West End Community House are holding a community Forum seeking input into a Be Prepared Kurilpa Plan that will identify the organisations, buildings and leaders in the community in the event of a future natural disaster.
“At a community forum, local residents will be asked to identify sites for the local distribution of supplies whether it is sandbags or tarpaulins for damaged roofs. This will prevent the frustrating and time wasting travel across the river for emergency supplies” local Councillor Helen Abrahams said.
“The strategy is to do the pre planning before another disaster hits so that when it does happen, community leaders and emergency services can roll out the emergency response locally” said Helen Abrahams.
“The Plan shall identify the best locations for distribution of water and food, where to take perishable waste and community halls that can serve as a community information and meeting place” said Cat Green, Volunteering Queensland. I would encourage everyone who was in West End, South Brisbane or Highgate Hill during the 2011 flood to come to the Forum as your experience and ideas on how to better respond to a natural disaster is what is needed to create the Be Prepared Kurilpa Plan.
“This is a showcase project of a local community taking the lead to be better prepared for future disaster. A number of Government agencies are watching what the resourceful community of West End can achieve with this Plan” said Helen Abrahams.
A reference committee has been formed with members from local organisations, schools and Government services.
“These organisations were invaluable during the flood and have proven they will play an active role in a future disaster. It is important to get better coordination of their efforts and skills” said Cr Helen Abrahams.
The plan is scheduled to be released in January 2013.
The forum is on 21 November from 7 -9 pm at the West End State School Library and it is open to all residents from West End, South Brisbane and Highgate Hill.
The development of the plan has been funded by the Federal Government NDRRA funds via the State Government and Brisbane City Council.
