QLD:Qld councils receive guide for disasters

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2011
QLD:Qld councils receive guide for disasters

BRISBANE, Dec 23 AAP - Queensland councils will have a more uniform approach to handling
floods and cyclones after the release of a disaster management guide.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) prepared the guides after consulting
local and state government agencies and the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry's
interim report.

LGAQ president Paul Bell said the guide assists councils on how to fulfil their responsibilities
in dealing with natural disasters.

"We have got to keep in mind that councils are there before disaster strikes, they
are there during the disaster and they are there after to pick up the pieces," he said.

"They are core to community based disaster management."

Councils can also access the guide by using smartphones.

More than three-quarters of Queensland was under water last summer and category five
Cyclone Yasi struck the state's north coast, fully testing the ability of local, state
and federal governments to deal with major natural disasters.

AAP dac/gd/jel

KEYWORD: RECOVERY COUNCILS

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