Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
Fire or life threatening emergencies: 000
Emergency Information: 13 3337
SES Emergency Assistance: 132 500
The local emergency management arrangements sets out the local government’s commitment, approach, arrangements and resourcing for emergency management across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery within its local government district.
Local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) must set out (s41):
Local emergency management arrangements are to be available to members of the public (s43).
Two or more local governments may have a combined LEMA subject to State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) approval (s34(1)).
The community and key stakeholders must be identified and consulted during the development of LEMA.
LEMA should be endorsed by the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) prior to approval by Council. The approved documents are then progressed to the District Emergency Management Committee (DEMC) and SEMC for noting.
The EM Act sets out the minimum requirements for LEMA. The specific form these arrangements take will vary based on each local government’s capacity and community profile. The following guidance describes what the key components of a LEMA typically look like:
The LEMA Guideline provides more information and templates to assist with the preparation of LEMA documents.
The LEMC will contribute to the development of LEMAs and endorse the final document(s). Key stakeholders must be consulted as part of the development process.
When preparing LEMA, local governments should assess the types of emergencies most likely to occur in their area and consider how these events could affect their communities. See Emergency Risk Management for more information.
It is recommended that Council approve high level strategies and plans for emergency management, such as a local EM Plan and appropriate delegations. Operational and work plans within the LEMA may be maintained and updated by the CEO and staff as needed.
The Local Government must provide a copy of the LEMA documents to the DEMC and SEMC for noting.
Local governments are also required to make LEMA documents available to the community for viewing, such as at the library or on the website. Confidential materials should be removed or redacted from the public documents.
Provides guidance to support local governments in preparation of LEMA and the current template for a model LEMA.
Template and guidance on developing a Local Recovery Plan.
An incident support handbook, a Work Plan and an EM Plan template are under development through the LEMA Project.
The handbook should identify a local government’s capacity to undertake functions assigned, to ensure availability of local support and resources is understood by the HMA. It may also be referred to as Grab and Go, Resource and Contacts Register, Incident Support Plan, Incident Toolkit.
An overview of the ERM planning process local government is required to undertake to support LEMA development.
The DFES District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) can provide advice and support to local government.
Local government documents that will be useful in preparing LEMA:
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Local governments should engage communities inclusively to raise awareness of local risks, promote preparedness actions, and ensure emergency communication meets diverse needs.
Community engagement is an underpinning principle of emergency management in WA (s2.1.3).
Local government should undertake programs to support and educate communities to increase preparedness for emergencies (s4.5).
Community engagement plans should include specific arrangements for engaging with people at higher risk about emergency preparedness and during emergencies (s.4.6.1).
Local governments should have strategies for engaging with their community about disaster preparedness and for sharing information during and after emergencies. This should build on the local government’s usual community engagement processes.
Community engagement for preparedness aims to increase community understanding of:
Local governments should plan community preparedness activities relevant to the hazards in their local government district and the needs of their community. Hazard Management Agencies (HMA), such as Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Department of Health, can provide resources and advice about community preparedness for specific hazards.
In an emergency, local governments have a role to share information with their community in support of the HMA. To plan for this, local government should identify relevant staff and should plan for communication with individuals and communities who may be at higher risk, including arrangements for translation of information or alternative engagement approaches for communities who do not engage with online material.
These arrangements will also be important in recovery when local governments can share information about available recovery support and activities.
Created by Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience the handbook outlines the principles, approaches and core elements of effective community engagement.
The Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub includes resources for engaging with CALD communities and with young people.
Resources for disability inclusive emergency management and planning.
P-CEP promotes inclusive preparedness through collaboration with support networks and service providers, focusing on capabilities rather than impairments.
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A local government must convene one or more Local Emergency Management Committees to provide them with advice on emergency management matters and assist with preparing and maintaining local emergency management arrangements (LEMA).
Local governments must establish and administer a Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) for their area (s38 (1)).
A local government may establish more than one LEMC or may decide to combine with other local governments to establish a combined LEMC (s34 and 38).
The function of the LEMC is to advise and assist the local government to develop, review and test local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) (s39).
Each LEMC must prepare an annual report to the District Emergency Management Committee (DEMC) (s40).
Sets out the LEMC functions and requirements as per the EM Act and states the function of the Local Emergency Coordinator on the LEMC (s2.5).
Provides an overview of how LEMC’s should function, including suggested membership, meeting agendas and meeting frequency (3.7) and annual reporting (3.17).
Local governments are responsible for establishing a LEMC, including setting their terms of reference, inviting members and setting the meeting schedule. Guidance is provided in the State EM Preparedness Procedure 3.7 and the LEMC Handbook includes further detail and templates.
The Chair of LEMC should be an elected member of Council, but the LEMC does not need to be established as a committee under the Local Government Act 1995. The membership, function and operation of a LEMC is more suited to being an advisory group than a Committee of Council.
LEMC membership should not be limited to response agencies and should seek to engage broader parts of the community in preparing for emergencies. The membership could include other state agencies based in the district, non-government organisations, businesses that operate hazardous or critical facilities within the district, as well as representatives from key industry sectors and community groups at higher risk during emergencies.
Terms of Reference for the LEMC should be reviewed regularly and at least every 5 years, however best practice is to review every 2 years following the local government election cycle. An example Terms of Reference is included in the LEMC Handbook.
LEMCs should meet at least quarterly or more frequently as required to:
To ensure an effective LEMC, local government should work with LEMC members to develop and maintain a two-year business or work plan to establish priorities and a work program.
Where the LEMC identifies a risk or issue that cannot be managed or resolved locally, it may refer the matter to the DEMC via the District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) for advice or assistance.
The LEMC must also submit an annual report to the DEMC summarising its work over the previous 12 months. Annual reports must be completed in accordance with State EM Preparedness Procedure 3.17.
Provides guidance on how to establish and administer LEMC, the work they should undertake and their reporting requirements. The DFES District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) can also provide advice and support to local government.
Provides advice about the Local Government Act 1995 and establishing a LEMC.
A Work Plan template is under development through the LEMA Project.
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Regular capability reviews and exercises help local government stay prepared, identify gaps and improve their local emergency management arrangements.
Local governments must (s4.8.8):
Provides further guidance about requirements for exercising, training and lessons in sections 4.7 and 4.8.
Each year, local governments must review how ready they are to handle emergencies. An annual capability review looks at the people, resources, governance, systems and processes in place to respond to and recover from an emergency, and should assess core capabilities for prevention, preparedness, response and recovery as defined in the Emergency Management Capability Framework.
Findings from the capability review will inform priorities for training, exercising and updates to the local emergency management arrangements (LEMA).
Local governments must conduct at least one emergency exercise each year to test their plans and capabilities. It is recommended that local governments invite organisations listed in their LEMA to take part in or observe the exercise and share observations and insights.
Local governments are required to create a three-year exercise schedule based on gaps and issues identified from the annual capability review and lessons from past exercises and emergencies. The State EM Preparedness Procedure 3.19 and Managing Exercises Guideline provides further detail about how to plan and undertake exercises.
Local governments may also participate in exercises organised by Hazard Management Agencies or the State Emergency Management Committee. This participation will meet their annual exercise requirement.
After every exercise and emergency, it is good practice to debrief participants and identify lessons that can improve management of future emergencies – for example, where changes to the LEMA or additional staff training is required. Observations, insights and lessons identified should be recorded with recommended actions. Further information is available in the Lessons Management Handbook.
Exercise schedules must be updated every year to reflect new priorities and provided to the District Emergency Management Committee (DEMC) along with post exercise and emergency reports.
The LEMC should assist local government to develop the exercise schedule, participate in the annual capability review and annual exercise as required, review post exercise reports and provide advice to the local government on amendments required to the LEMA.
Provides guidance and templates for undertaking an annual capability review.
Provides guidance and templates for exercising.
Provides guidance on systematic processes for collecting, analysing, sharing and applying learning from exercises and emergencies.
The DFES District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) can provide advice and support to local government on exercising.
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It is important to keep local emergency management arrangements current and up-to-date to reflect changes in resources, risks, processes and lessons.
The local government may amend or replace local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) whenever required and, at minimum, in accordance with the review procedure established by the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) (s42).
LEMA must be reviewed:
The LEMA must be reviewed after an emergency that involved an Incident Support Group or required significant recovery coordination to capture learnings from that incident.
A major review of the LEMA is needed at least every five years to ensure the whole document is consistent with the State EM Framework and accurately reflects changing risks and the capacity and capability of the local government.
Reviews and updates should be undertaken in consultation with internal and external stakeholders.
Where a major review has taken place or major amendments to the LEMA are proposed, the local government must follow a full review process, including stakeholder engagement, endorsement by the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) and approval by Council (strategic documents only). This process is described in State EM Preparedness Procedure 3.8.
If the amendments are minor, then these may be made by the local government and advice provided to the LEMC, District Emergency Management Committee (DEMC) and SEMC.
Provides guidance on the LEMA review process and approval requirements.
The DFES District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) can provide advice and support to local government on the process of reviewing LEMA.
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Animal welfare is ultimately the responsibility of individual owners or carers, however in an emergency they may be unable to keep the animals safe. Local governments are encouraged to undertake planning for arrangements to support animal welfare during emergencies.
Local government may develop an emergency animal welfare plan (s2.1.4).
Arrangements for animal welfare in emergencies may be activated by the Hazard Management Agency (HMA) where animal welfare is a risk in an emergency. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is responsible for coordinating animal welfare when activated.
Local governments may develop, maintain, and review emergency animal welfare plans to support HMAs or DPIRD during an emergency response, and to meet the needs of their community in a smaller emergency.
The purpose of a Local Plan for Animal Welfare in Emergencies (PAWE) is to document arrangements, identify local facilities and resources such as kennels, stables, evacuation locations, feed sources, transportation, wildlife carers and veterinarians, that can assist with managing animal welfare when needed. To the best of their ability, local governments should engage with these facilities to confirm their capacity to assist in an emergency.
The Local PAWE should reflect the animal profile of the local government district. This may include pets and companion animals, horses and livestock, intensive farming and animal shelters or boarding kennels.
Local governments with livestock industries and/or transport routes in their district should consider the management of wandering, injured, stranded or deceased livestock in an emergency, including arrangements for feed and temporary holding and for euthanasia and burial/disposal where required.
During emergency response, the Incident Controller may request DPIRD to activate State AWiE arrangements for all animals, in which case DPIRD should coordinate with the local government.
In recovery, animal welfare considerations for wildlife, horses and livestock, and companion animals should be included in the Local Recovery Plan if there are ongoing requirements.
The Local Plan for Animal Welfare in Emergencies Guide has been developed by DPIRD to provide guidance for development of a Local PAWE.
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Local governments should develop plans and arrangements that are inclusive of people who may be at higher risk in emergencies, including evacuation arrangements for people who may require extra assistance.
Emergency management planning should consider where special arrangements will be required (s4.6).
Local emergency management arrangements (LEMA) should consider specific requirements for people and groups at higher risk (s4.6.1).
LEMA should document specific plans and arrangements for the evacuation of people at higher risk during emergencies (s3.3.4).
Emergency management planning should consider the needs and safety of people in the community who may be at higher risk in an emergency.
LEMA should identify the groups at higher risk who require assistance during evacuation, e.g., a register of higher risk sites such as schools and aged care facilities. Where plans have been developed, this information should be documented in the LEMA so they can be accessed by the Hazard Management Agency or Controlling Agency.
The Disability Inclusive Emergency Management (DIEM) Toolkit outlines best practice frameworks to engage people with disabilities and their families and carers to ensure emergency management plans are person-centred and encompass community needs.
Local governments may also include strategies for emergency preparedness engagement with individuals and communities who are at higher risk. This includes strategies for sharing of emergency information with at-higher risk communities and ensuring that evacuation facilities are inclusive and accessible. This may include consideration of:
The Emergency Evacuation Plan Template provides an example of registers of higher risk sites.
Resources, tools and information to support agencies and their staff in bushfire emergency planning.
Resources for including people with disability and other at-higher risk communities in emergency management and planning.
P-CEP promotes inclusive preparedness for individuals at higher risk through collaboration with support networks and service providers, focusing on capabilities rather than impairments.
The Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub includes resources for engaging with CALD communities, young people and LGBTI inclusion in emergency services.
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