Emergency Management and Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Agreement (NDRRA) Municipal Services Conference Central Australia October 2015 Peter Mclinden Manager Transport and Infrastructure Services Local Government Association of the Northern Territory

Emergency Management Planning Regional Councils have Emergency Management Plans includes individual Community Plans. This is good governance. DOES NOT MEAN the Council is in full control of emergency management or is totally responsible: identify responsible persons contact details within Council regional government agencies and who manages what. Plans should be reviewed once a year in collaboration with your local IOC Police.

Emergency Management Principles P reparedness - Cyclone Clean ups Review of Emergency Plans Cyclone Kits Fire breaks Fire Tenders/Equipment P revention- Mitigation, cyclone shelters, community responsibility, individual responsibilities, R esponse – Police and Emergency Services All local councils (first response) All government agencies R ecovery - Chief Ministers Department All local councils (first response) All government agencies

Emergency Management Prevention Response Recovery Preparedness Resilience Leads to

Resilient Communities Communities that develop a high level of resilience are better able to withstand a crisis event and have an enhanced ability to recover from residual impacts. Communities that possess resilience characteristics can also arrive on the other side of a crisis in a stronger position than pre event. For example, a community with: – well rehearsed emergency plans; – superior hazard mitigation processes; – appropriate building controls suitable to local hazards and risks; and – widely adopted personal and business financial mitigation measures.... is likely to suffer less during an extreme… event and is likely to be able to recover quickly; financially, physically, and as a community Insurance Council of Australia 2008, Improving Community Resilience to Extreme Weather Events

Shared Responsibility “The Commission uses the expression ‘shared responsibility’ to mean increased responsibility for all. It recommends that state agencies and municipal councils adopt increased and improved protective, emergency management and advisory roles. In turn, communities, individuals and households need to take greater responsibility for their own safety and to act on advice and other cues given to them before and on the day of [an event].” (Victoria Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report 2010)

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Overview of NDRRA Claimable activities Non-eligible items The claims process Record keeping Acquittal and audit process

NDRRA Local Government Councils can seek reimbursement through NDRRA for both response and recovery actions during and after eligible events. There is no requirement for a State of Emergency or State of Disaster to be declared. However, the NTG must liaise with the Commonwealth concerning the eligibility of an event and the anticipated costs. NTG agencies have a part to play – all are eligible to recover costs thru NDRRA.

NDRRA NTG must expend a minimum of $240,000 per event to be declared under this scheme. Financial assistance is made in accordance with the NDRRA principles and assessment criteria (Treasury Guidelines). Local government councils can seek reimbursement for both response and recovery actions during and after eligible events. A Treasurer’s Advance is available to DLGCS to allow for the quick release of funds as required

NDRRA Immediate eligible response measures may include: – Evacuation (DPF&ES) – Clean up of debris (Dept Transport/Housing and Local Government) – Emergency shelter, temporary accommodation (C&F) – Provision of food (Dept Health) – Environmental health and building inspections (DH / DI) – Repairs to essential public infrastructure (P&W/IES/Dept Housing) – Replacement of essential furniture and personal items (DH)

NDRRA LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS Eligible Financial Assistance Clean up of debris Tree replacement programs Repairs to local government infrastructure Local road repairs Public housing building inspections and repairs (agency Dept Housing) GEH housing building inspections and repairs (Agency agreement)

NDRRA Claims process There are essentially 3 ways a council can claim NDRRA: 1. A council can expend its own funds and seek reimbursement at a later date 2. A council can submit an application to DLGCS and if successful receive funds in advance of work being done 3. A hybrid mix 4. Claims are invalid if submitted more than 2 financial years after the event

NDRRA Councils incur expenditure – properly annotated tax invoices etc Claim made for reimbursement – Coordinated through DHLGRS regional office – Submitted by regional office to DHLGRS Territory Office Claim assessed by DHLGRS

NDRRA What records must be kept? Separate financial records for NT NDRRA expenditure incurred including: – tax invoices (annotated for each disaster) – Tenders/quotes/purchase orders – before and after photos (if available) – any other proof of expenditure (over time, contract labour documentation) Supporting documentation (financial records) must be properly annotated referring to the event and the location of the asset

NDRRA Examples of non-eligible measures include: – Where insurance is or should have been planned – Activities that would be part of ‘normal’ business and planned and budgeted for – Normal wages – GST – Results of poor planning or lack of mitigation measures – “Add-ons”, landscaping

Sample submission for Roads

NDDRA Acquittal and Audit Process Funding provided in advance still needs to be acquitted – actual proof of expenditure Acquittal should happen immediately after expenditure has occurred – not necessarily the end of the financial year Sept/Oct Commonwealth audit occurs – comprehensive Should audit reveal an ineligible claim the NT will not be reimbursed Future claims of a similar nature will be rejected at the assessment phase NT is never fully reimbursed – payment is made on a sliding scale varying between 0 and 75%

NDRRA ‘BETTERMENT’ PROVISIONS Under the NDRRA guidelines assets cannot be improved thru the restoration/replacement process. A grey area arises though when standards have improved over time (eg building, engineering etc). Under review following Productivity Commission Report.

Mitigation/Accessibility

State of Disaster An event or threat, natural or otherwise May cause death, injury or loss or damage to property NT Government cannot resolve alone

State of Emergency An event or threat, natural or otherwise May cause death, injury or loss or damage to property NT Government can resolve alone

Emergency Situation Having regard to: – magnitude or threatened magnitude of an event – facilities available Satisfied that special assistance is required for: – protection of life or property; or – to assist community recovery

NDRRA

Eligible events are ‘per event’ not ‘per region’ so what you consider a small claim could still be eligible. If unsure whether your claim is eligible contact your DHLGRS regional office.

Why Me A lesson in warnings and personal resilience

God Will Save Me.. There came a big flood, and the water around Noah's house was rising steadily.. Noah was standing on the porch, watching water rising all around him, when a man in a boat came along and called to Noah, "Get in the boat and I'll get you out of here. Noah replied, "No thanks, God will save me."

Noah went into the house, and the water was starting to pour in. So, he went up to the second floor. As he looked out, another man in a boat came along, and he called to Noah, "Get in the boat and I'll get you out of here." Again, Noah replied, "No thanks. God will save me."

The water kept rising. So, Noah got out onto the roof. A helicopter flew over, and the pilot called down to Noah, "I'll drop you a rope, grab onto it, and I'll get you out of here." Again Noah replied, "No thanks. God will save me."

The water rose and rose, and soon nearly covered the whole house. Noah fell in, and drowned!

When he arrived in Heaven, he saw God, and asked Him, "Why didn't you save me from that terrible flood? Did I not show you my faith?" With a loving but irritated tone God replied, "What more would you have me do? I sent people in two boats and a helicopter God helps those who help themselves! Message RESILIENCE!