What are local flood and disaster plans: As the title implies these are action plans for areas with significant flood risk. These plans describe “the various measures to be undertaken before, during and after a flood including warning, evacuation, resupply, recovery and other procedures”(DIPNR, 2005). These plans are extremely important for government agencies involved in emergency response as they typically outline roles and responsibilities at each stage of a flood event.

Improves community access and recreational use:

Not applicable. Why? Local flood and disaster plans are a set of procedures and measures to be undertaken before, during and after floods of various sizes. As a result they do not improve community access and recreational use.

Does not disadvantage individual members of the community:

Local flood and disaster plans generally do not disadvantage individual members of the community. Why? These plans are designed to plan for and reduce the greatest risks in the community with the resources available. As such they generally do not disadvantage individual members of the community.

 Provides safety to the community during flooding:

Local flood and disaster plans generally provide safety to the community. Why? These plans describe the various roles, responsibilities and procedures of various agencies before, during and after floods. This ensures that emergency response agencies know their role and responsibilities which leads to an increased ability to provide safety to the community prior to, during and after a flood event.

Raises community awareness and understanding of the local flood risk:

Local flood and disaster plans generally do not improve community awareness and understanding of the local flood risk. Why? Members of the community would rarely read a local flood and/or disaster plan.

Does not threaten local plants and animals and their habitat:

Not applicable. Why? Local flood and disaster plans are a set of procedures and measures to be undertaken before, during and after floods of various sizes. As a result they do not threaten or generally take into consideration local plants and animals their habitat.

Does not cause water quality issues:

Local flood and disaster plans can improve water quality Why? These plans can assign responsibility for the safety of hazardous substances or materials and as a result reduce the potential impacts of these substances or materials washing into nearby rivers or streams causing water quality issues.

Initial Costs (i.e design/construction) require minimal council expenditure:

The preparation of local flood and disaster plan have minor initial costs to council Why? Costs generally relate to Council, State Emergency Service (SES) and other agencies staff time to prepare the plans.

Requires minimal ongoing council expenditure after implementation:

Local flood and disaster plans have minor ongoing costs to council. Why? Ensuring that these plans are up to date and current is extremely important particularly if there have been changes to the catchments landforms or there is newer flood intelligence information available. Costs therefore generally relate to Council, State Emergency Service (SES) and other agencies staff time to update the plans.

Reduces flood damages to the community:

Local flood and disaster plans can reduce flood related damages to the community. Why? These plans can ensure that procedures for prompt dissemination of information to the community occurs which may give individuals a chance to pack, raise or relocate valuable objects. Note: This may not always be possible as the dissemination of information in flash flood environments may be very limited only providing enough time for community members to evacuate or move to refuge areas. 

Does not cause negative flood impacts to other areas (both upstream and downstream):

Not applicable. Why? Local flood and disaster plans are a set of procedures and measures to be undertaken before, during and after floods of various sizes. As a result generally do not cause negative flood impacts to other areas.

DIPNR (2005). Floodplain Development Manual: the management of flood liable land. NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. Sydney, Australia.