As humanity leaves a larger and larger stamp on earth, with cities of increasing size, and vulnerability to extreme weather, it will become increasingly important that all aspects of society, from government, to community to private industry are involved in the response and relief. Government has a valid role in this, it is only government who can afford the assets which must be maintained in a state of rapid response. As a result government's immediate responsibility to the deployment of those assets, and the command, control and organisation of other immediate response assets.

Government Responsibilities

The government has two roles in an emergency. They are;

• Rapid Response
• Immediate Relief

Government must take the responsibility for the rapid response, as only it has the resources, and can economically afford to maintain assets in a state of rapid response. A company, organisation or community would not support a service such as the Fire Brigade. Fire fighters spend a lot of time doing situps, washing their trucks, or under-going training. They are maintained in this way so they are in a state of permanent readiness. This is so they can respond immediately. Only government has this kind of money, resources, and patience with an asset that is only called on to perform in extreme circumstances.

With the assets that are in a state of permanent readiness, comes the responsibility to command, co-ordinate and control these assets, as well as other assets such as charities, non-governmental organisations, communities and individuals. Without direction to the application of the rapid response assets will come mayhem, disorder and massive inefficiencies which can lead to loss of human life, property and confidence in public institutions.

The command and control structure that is necessary for a rapid response must also coordinate the immediate relief. This includes public goods such as water, food and emergency healthcare. Command and control must be more than a call to "evacuate" with no infrastructure being provided outside of the evacuated area. The rapid response component must supply that immediate relief infrastructure. This will require the co-ordination of governmental and non-governmental assets.

Theoretical Study: Newcastle

As a scenario, assume Newcastle in NSW is hit, citywide, by an earthquake. Like the San Franciscan earthquake of the 1920s, it leave the much of Newcastle city in rubble, and destabilises the buildings in surrounding suburbs so that they are not safely inhabitable. This scenario requires a levels of immediate and sustained responses that would coordinate assets from all levels of government, private, community and non-profit.

Immediate assets;

• Local Emergency Services (Fire and Ambulance)
• State Emergency Services (SES, Police, Fire and Ambulance)
• Australian Defence Force (Airlift, Medical)
• Local charities and community organisations

Short response assets;

• Bush Fire Brigade
• Local charities and community organisations
• Private Industry

Long Term Response and Relief;

• State Services
• National charities
• National and Statewide community response
• Private industry

Immediate issues would be communications infrastructure. Co-ordinating groups from the military, state emergency, non-governmental organisations and community will require the ability to communicate amongst these groups in order to co-ordinate efforts. In addition, communications infrastructure between a temporary local command and control centre, and a more permanent command and control centre in (most likely) Sydney will be needed.

This would be best provided by the military and private contractors. It would also be dependent upon the damage to the communications infrastructure during the disaster. In communications, many private companies have rapid response groups that can repair infrastructure within a four hour response. However, these private industry groups are task driven. Having them respond without a task is a waste of money, effort, time and resources. it is necessary for a command and control centre to exist, to organise these private industry assets so that they aren't wasted, misused, or left hanging around and waiting.

Medical care, and distribution of supplies such as medical, water and food will require the Australian Defence Force to airlift in supplies. Any evacuation centre will need to be as close to surrounding airfields as possible. Especially ones that can support the aircraft of the Australian Air Force. This will not only enable supplies to be flown in, but also to evacuate patients which require more specialised care in Sydney. To control this rapid influx of air assets, the military will need to either supplement or provide the air controllers for any non-ADF airfields used.

Once the response becomes less time sensitive, the longer term relief and response can start being organized. This will include assets such as charities, and community organisations proving medium-term shelter, or public and private industry rebuilding area's, returning people to their homes, and re-establishing the local economy.

In the earliest moments though, it is imperative that there be a local command and control centre, through which a competent individual directs the response and relief efforts.

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More Reading on Emergencies

• Emergencies
• Government Response
• Katrina And The Federal Response
• Government Response To Large-scale Emergencies