❓ Mr Catania asks about flood preparedness in the Pilbara following recent flood warnings. The Minister for Emergency Services provides advice on preparing for floods, highlighting the dangers of crossing flooded roads and acknowledging the work of emergency services.
AnsweredQoN 342Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PILBARA — FLOOD WARNINGS
342. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
In light of the flood warning issues
in the Pilbara region in the past 48 hours, can the minister update the house
on how residents can prepare themselves and their communities for a flood
event?
342. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the
Minister for Emergency Services:
In light of the flood warning issues
in the Pilbara region in the past 48 hours, can the minister update the house
on how residents can prepare themselves and their communities for a flood
event?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for North West for the question. I know
that the member knows firsthand the damage that significant floodwaters can
inflict upon a community, and having been to Carnarvon, where the member lives,
and having looked at the situation some time ago —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right. The minister.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Can I place on the record that I share the sympathy of all people in this
place, I am sure, for the people of the Pilbara, who are currently undergoing
what is a fairly major flood event. We are at near record rainfall; in the past
24 hours, some 209 millimetres, or 21 centimetres, of rain has fallen on
Karratha alone. It is a significant amount of water. This is a timely reminder
to all Western Australians to be aware of the dangers presented by floodwaters.
In fact, members might like to know—it is an unfortunate fact—that
the biggest cause of loss of life during significant flood events is people in
cars who are trying to cross flooded roads and flooded causeways and are washed
away. That is actually the biggest contributor to the loss of life during flood
events. It is worth noting some of the things people can do to prepare for an
oncoming flood. Early preparation is obviously essential, and it is essential
to monitor local news and TV and radio stations and to prepare an emergency
kit. People should think about very basic things such as torches, batteries,
food, drinking water and pets and livestock. They should move livestock to
higher ground early rather than at the last minute when it is probably too
late. People should not try to escape danger by putting themselves in greater
danger—a very important principle to remember for people in a community
that is about to be impacted by floodwaters.
In the north overnight, nine people
were rescued from floodwaters. I think every single one was in a car, and four
of them were children. Those nine people are very lucky to be alive because
they risked their lives trying to cross floodwaters and had to be rescued. I
place also on the record my gratitude to the police officers, the State
Emergency Service and other emergency service workers who are on the ground
right now in the electorate of the member for Pilbara, in the north of our
state, doing everything they can to protect human life. Once again I emphasise,
I am sure, the sentiments of everyone in this house that we wish and pray for
all the best for the people of the north west.
that the member knows firsthand the damage that significant floodwaters can
inflict upon a community, and having been to Carnarvon, where the member lives,
and having looked at the situation some time ago —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right. The minister.
Mr J.M. FRANCIS :
Can I place on the record that I share the sympathy of all people in this
place, I am sure, for the people of the Pilbara, who are currently undergoing
what is a fairly major flood event. We are at near record rainfall; in the past
24 hours, some 209 millimetres, or 21 centimetres, of rain has fallen on
Karratha alone. It is a significant amount of water. This is a timely reminder
to all Western Australians to be aware of the dangers presented by floodwaters.
In fact, members might like to know—it is an unfortunate fact—that
the biggest cause of loss of life during significant flood events is people in
cars who are trying to cross flooded roads and flooded causeways and are washed
away. That is actually the biggest contributor to the loss of life during flood
events. It is worth noting some of the things people can do to prepare for an
oncoming flood. Early preparation is obviously essential, and it is essential
to monitor local news and TV and radio stations and to prepare an emergency
kit. People should think about very basic things such as torches, batteries,
food, drinking water and pets and livestock. They should move livestock to
higher ground early rather than at the last minute when it is probably too
late. People should not try to escape danger by putting themselves in greater
danger—a very important principle to remember for people in a community
that is about to be impacted by floodwaters.
In the north overnight, nine people
were rescued from floodwaters. I think every single one was in a car, and four
of them were children. Those nine people are very lucky to be alive because
they risked their lives trying to cross floodwaters and had to be rescued. I
place also on the record my gratitude to the police officers, the State
Emergency Service and other emergency service workers who are on the ground
right now in the electorate of the member for Pilbara, in the north of our
state, doing everything they can to protect human life. Once again I emphasise,
I am sure, the sentiments of everyone in this house that we wish and pray for
all the best for the people of the north west.
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