Natural disaster preparation and response: a guide for state housing authorities

Abstract

This Positioning Paper is the first publication from a research project that examines how SHAs in the various Australian states and territories prepare for and respond to natural disasters and other environmental emergencies. Section 1 introduces the research project by describing its overall aim and specific objectives. It also provides a context for the research by setting out the incidence and impacts of natural disasters and other environmental emergencies in Australia, the roles of population and demography, climate and climate change, and key housing stakeholders. Section 2 reviews the international literature on disaster management, uses three case studies to illustrate the housing issues that can arise, and notes the possible lessons learned for Australian policy and practice. Section 3 summarises the arrangements that have been adopted by the Commonwealth, state and territory, and local governments to manage disasters. Section 4 outlines the gaps in knowledge and the methods devised for the project to address these gaps. Section 5 provides a conclusion, including a brief distillation of the evidence collected.