Be prepared: Perspectives from the Northern Territory

In the tropical top end of the Northern Territory, between November and April, we have our wet season. Monsoonal rains revive the environment and make the landscape lush and green after months of cloudless skies and dry weather. Along with the rain, the wet season also brings with it the potential for fierce tropical storms and cyclones.

Preparation begins well before a cyclone appears on the radar. In the lead up to each wet season, the library service, along with all areas of council, makes preparations. This includes ensuring all staff are aware of our procedures and plans, staff contact details are correct and up to date, work areas are tidied to remove potential projectiles and cyclone-response equipment is checked and in working order. Underpinning the disaster preparation work is an Emergency Management Plan, Business Continuity Action Plan and a Cyclone Hazard Inspection Checklist. Reviewed and updated annually, these plans state the roles and responsibilities for each team and key personnel, as well as providing a clear course of action in the lead up to and aftermath of a cyclone or other disaster.

The library service is considered an important part of disaster recovery. In the Emergency Management Plan, the library building is identified as a community support centre where members of the community can seek refuge, have access to power and internet, and to get disaster recovery updates. The library is prioritised in recovery operations to quickly provide a safe space to the community. Leveraging the customer service skills of the library team, staff are also trained to assist with staffing the call centre for the Emergency Operations Centre where they will gather information and respond to community requests for assistance.

Aimee Hay, Library Services Manager, Community and Culture, City of Palmertson

Public libraries as ‘places of refuge’

Public libraries are, by definition, a place of refuge. A community haven where you can lose yourself in a book, an activity or a conversation, and escape from the world. But when extreme weather is forecast, Moreton Bay Regional Council’s libraries take that concept to the next level and open their doors as ‘places of refuge’ for those affected by natural disasters.

In October 2021, Moreton Bay Region Libraries began working in partnership with the council’s disaster management team, preparing to activate our 10 branch libraries as ‘places of refuge’. Library team members were provided with comprehensive and ongoing training, and appropriate signage and resources were sourced. An administration kit was developed, which contained operating procedures, templates and fact sheets. This planning was designed to support library team members to feel confident in understanding their role, should Moreton Bay Region Libraries be stood up as part the council’s disaster management response.

In February 2022, the first test of this planning occurred. Devasting wet weather lashed the Moreton Bay community, with phenomenal storms and flooding. The Library Services branch libraries were held up as an alternative safe haven for the community to shelter while evacuation centres were organised. Over the course of four catastrophic days, our 10 libraries provided safe and dry venues, sharing resources and technology as well as food, drinks, towels and blankets. Library team members provided vital support in the form of a friendly face, an empathetic ear, and the knowledge and skills to link displaced people to vital services. Our libraries enabled stranded community members to contact family, friends, neighbours and emergency services to plan their next steps.

This initiative established libraries as community carers that provide enhanced service delivery at a critical time. It has demonstrated the role of public libraries as trusted community pillars with a can-do attitude. Community response and support for this initiative was overwhelming.

Council’s website and Facebook page were full of positive responses reflecting the value the community placed on this service. The community loved the kindness and community spirit demonstrated by libraries being open as ‘places of refuge’, welcoming everyone in a time of great need. Much was learned operationally during the February 2022 weather event, but the biggest takeaway was the value the community placed on this service and the ability of our team to rise to the challenge.

Lisa Bateman, AALIA Library Services Manager, Moreton Bay Regional Council

Disaster lessons from regional Queensland

With annual monsoonal events, major flood disasters and four cyclones over 17 years of living in regional and tropical Queensland, you become well-versed in preparation and planning for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. There have been many lessons learned along the way that help with futureplanning, supporting teams, management of collections and service delivery for the community during disasters.

Key things I’ve learned along the way:

• Preparation is key! Experiencing a cyclone or large-scale flooding event can be overwhelming, and the protection of life takes priority over anything else.

• Positive partnerships with Council’s emergency management team provide great opportunities to connect with and support the community by providing library staff to assist in disaster recovery processes. Consider development of a community outreach trailer with resources and technology that can be taken to evacuation centres to support community members in the recovery process.

• Whilst we are always keen to provide safe and welcoming spaces for our community, our focus is on ensuring library staff and their families remain safe during any weather event. It is essential to have a well-documented and up to date staff communication tree that also includes details of how many people staff members need to care for, including children, parents, extended family, neighbours and pets. Do they reside in areas that may be at risk? Do you have strategies to support their wellbeing if they are unable to return home both during the event and afterwards? Are there medical conditions that need to be supported? Does the team have the ability to step away from their personal space to assist with disaster support and recovery?

• Access to devices and internet – depending on the scale of the disaster, many homes will be without power, which limits the ability to recharge devices and connect to the internet or services. The ability to provide access to power, internet, computers and scanning/ copying equipment as soon as possible can provide a lifeline to vulnerable members of the community during a disaster, particularly where insurance claims may be required. Many customers will need to be supported through these processes.

• Providing support for families in evacuation centres through the delivery of children’s programs and resources to help keep them engaged while parents or guardians deal with the important stuff is greatly appreciated.

• Maintaining regular collection management practices can be beneficial, particularly when dealing with library collections in humid areas. Mould growth can occur quickly in locations with little to no air-conditioning and may result in significant loss to the collection.

• Maintain an up to date disaster kit in each branch that can be accessed before and after an event – this should include tarps, cleaning equipment and other materials.

• Be patient and flexible with ‘rules’ around collection replacement following a disaster – be proactive and ready for customers who may come in to the library from a disaster impacted-area. Do you have the ability to write-off items for these customers in a quick and positive way to help reduce stress in their lives?

• Most importantly, be kind to yourself, your team and others. People accessing library services may be at breaking point and, as a result, may not present their best selves. A kind word and the support of the library team can reap great results for everyone during the recovery process.

Nicole Hunt, AALIA Team Manager,

Libraries and Community Hubs / Acting Director Galleries, Community, Environment and Lifestyle, Townsville City Libraries