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There is a critical need for information when a disaster occurs, and it is important for this information to be targeted at the needs of the affected citizens, organizations and/or governments. Typically, a specific organization is used as the case study for review of the challenges and problems that face the case study, however instead of focusing on one organization this case focuses on using the major natural disasters in Australia between January 2009 and February 2011 as the case study. This allows for greater research into the phenomenon of how society as a whole has (over that short period of time) accepted the use of SNTs, particularly for emergency management and providing information.
It has been stated that natural disasters are one of the major problems facing society (Strömberg, 2007). As they are indiscriminate they affect all citizens, organizations and governments combined in a geographic area and have the potential to lead to loss of life, economic loss and environmental damage. Natural disasters include: floods, fires, earthquakes, low-pressure storm systems (cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes), tornadoes, tsunamis and landslips. To minimize the effects of natural disasters, citizens in the vicinity of an event are given essential information about their situation for decision making purposes, and the best strategies to avoid harm. Thus the information provided is vital for connecting people and aiding in their decision making processes.
Strömberg (2007) stated that worldwide research of natural disasters between 1980 and 2004 had found that two million people have been killed; five billion people have been affected by the reported 7,000 natural disasters. When it comes to their economic impact in Australia, Crompton and McAneney (2006) state that Australia’s historical average annual insured loss due to natural disasters is approximately AUS$1billion in today’s monetary terms (historic data 1974-2006), with the worldwide effects of natural disasters constantly increasing.
Natural disasters create a mass emergency for the citizens, organizations and government in the geographic area affected by the disaster and these groups are provided with large amounts of information that they need to evaluate to make decisions on what are the best possible actions that they should follow. The three case studies that will be used for this research are: Victorian bushfires (2009) (bushfires are also known as wildfires in the United States and Canada); Queensland floods (2010/2011); and Tropical Cyclone Yasi (2011).
Victorian Bushfires
During the period of January – February 2009, there were a large number of bushfires that were burning throughout the state of Victoria in Australia. On February 7, 2009, extreme weather conditions were recorded in most of the state, with the media and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) of Victoria reporting up to 400 separate blazes. These fires led to the death of 173 people and 414 people were injured. This was Australia’s highest ever death toll from a bushfire. A Royal Commission into the fires was conducted by the Victorian Government (http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/). In their report, they stated that it was reported that AUS$1.2 billion worth of insurance claims were made for damage to property. In this natural disaster there was limited usage of SNTs in providing information to help the decision making processes by authorities. This was the first significant Australian natural disaster where the media and citizens took it upon themselves to provide information via SNTs gathered from traditional means (for example, media releases) to inform citizens about the bushfires.