Lessons in emergency response and recovery from the 1989 Newscastle, Australia, earthquake

ABSTRACT

Newscastle city council did not have a Disaster Plan at the time of the earthquakethat occurred on the 28th December, 1989. While the organization had quite capably addressed problems of fooding, cyclonic winds and bust fire the earthquake introduced new elements into council's disaster response capabilities. This paper adressed issues associated with the emergency response and recovery process of the City council and other emergency response agencies. It includes emergency managements planning, disaster coordination and post disaster damage assessment, and other issues which have been reviewed in the aftermath of the event (AU)