Introduction
In February and March 2012 significant flooding impacted close to 80% of NSW. The impact was most severe in southern NSW, especially in the Snowy Mountains, South West Slopes, Riverina and Murrumbidgee Irrigation areas, with over 2000 homes in 22 communities inundated with floodwater over floor level, thousands of people evacuated, and many communities suffering significant damage. In many communities the recovery process is likely to continue for many months and years.
The NSW State Emergency Service is the lead agency for floods and storms in NSW. As typically happens in major disasters,in the recent flood events much was learned by individuals, organisations, communities and government agencies. The NSW SES is keen to learn from those involved and impacted in these floods with a view to making preparedness and prevention systems more robust, and ensuring that response and recovery operations are conducted more effectively.
In this we are seeking your assistance. The SES has been collecting data, opinions, stories and flood related intelligence since the beginning of flood operations in southern NSW in late February. While much of the information collected to date has been very focussed on the collection of flood intelligence, the NSW SES is keen to collect wider opinions and information on the performance of various parts of the preparedness, prevention, response and recovery cycle. This survey is one part of that wider process, with focus groups, town hall style meetings and individual discussions where appropriate. While responses are anonymous and all treated within normal NSW government privacy guidelines, if you would like to provide a more detailed response or wish to have a discussion with the NSW SES please feel free to contact Murrumbidgee Region by email at aar.murrumbidgee@member.ses.nsw.gov.au, or by phone on 02 6932 9199. In many communities in coming months there will be the opportunity for communities, groups and individuals to meet with the SES to discuss how we can make Local Flood Plans and future flood responses more effective.
This survey is designed to capture your opinions. For those individuals, groups and organisations with data and information relating to flood behaviour the NSW SES has established a Flood Data Questionnaire which is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au .
We welcome all views and appreciate the time people will spend on this survey, which should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.