New open data service shares knowledge on everything from tsunamis to terrorism.
Every year Australians experience the damaging effects of disasters caused by severe weather or human behaviour. Bushfires, floods and storms wreak havoc on lives, property and livelihoods. Transport accidents or health emergencies can wipe millions from the economy. Criminal acts strike fear in local communities. These disasters and their impacts remind us of the need to continue improving our resilience to disasters.
To be better prepared, the Australian Government has just launched the Resilience Knowledge Hub, a shared resource for building better preparedness for both natural and man-made disasters.
Developed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, the knowledge hub provides our response agencies, business, volunteers and everyday Australians with a one-stop-shop for Australian disaster resilience information.
While the hub is in its early days, it already houses resources such as the Emergency Management Library and Australian Journal of Emergency Management collections, as well as various disaster resilience and emergency management handbooks and manuals.
Additional resources and information are expected to be added shortly, including guest collections from emergency services agencies and relevant national and international organisations.
The knowledge hub also maps previous disasters that have happened across the Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia region, across 17 categories: Biosecurity, Fire (Bushfire), Fire (Urban), Criminal, Cyclone, Earthquake, Environment, Flood, Health, Industrial, Landslide, Maritime/Coastal, Storm, Tornado, Transport, Tsunami, and Other Disasters.
The Knowledge Hub maps disasters that have happened across Australia and surrounding regions.
The map and resources available on the website will also expand as time progresses, and those with resources are encouraged to contribute to the Knowledge Hub.
The Federal Minister for Justice Michael Keenan welcomes the Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub, describing it “an invaluable source of expertise and information for government and communities working to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.”
Keenan is also the federal minister assisting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on counter-terrorism.
“This will be an invaluable resource for students, teachers, researchers, historians and emergency services staff and volunteers to better understand lessons from the past and ways to mitigate risks into the future,” Keenan said.
“I encourage all Australians to visit the new website and contribute to strengthening Australia’s disaster preparedness.”
