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
Local governments are responsible for managing recovery and must prepare and plan to ensure they can effectively support their communities through the recovery process.
It is a function of local government to manage recovery following an emergency affecting the community in its district (s36(b)).
Local emergency management arrangements are to include a Local Recovery Plan and the nomination of a Local Recovery Coordinator (s41(4)).
Local governments need to plan how they will manage recovery long before any emergency occurs, so that they are ready and able to support the recovery of their community if required.
Local governments are required to appoint one or more Local Recovery Coordinators (LRC). The local governments should ensure the LRCs undergo training prior to any event and have relevant knowledge, skills and authority to coordinate recovery activities when required.
Local governments must have a Local Recovery Plan that identifies recovery arrangements and operational considerations, such as the roles of local government staff in recovery and management structures for recovery. The State EM Framework provides guidance on the development and maintenance of the plan.
The Local Recovery Plan should also:
Local governments need to test the Local Recovery Plan through activation or exercising to make sure the Plan is working and is well understood. Regular exercising should involve elected members, local government staff, state agency personnel and community groups who will also have a role in recovery.
To support and guide local governments plan for and manage local recovery.
Outlines hazard recovery information, financial assistance programs and current and past recoveries, to assist communities and local governments with recovery preparedness and planning.
Examples of local government documents that will be useful in preparing a Local Recovery Plan.
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An Impact Statement will be provided to local government where required, as a point-in-time overview of known and emerging impacts arising from an emergency.
The Controlling Agency is responsible for preparing an Impact Statement (s6.2.1).
For Level 2 and 3 emergencies, the Controlling Agency must prepare an Impact Statement, unless there are no recovery needs arising from the emergency.
The Impact Statement is a point in time summary of the impacts of an emergency. It is intended to inform the management of residual risk and assessment of needs for recovery planning.
The local government will be asked to contribute information about the social, environmental, economic, and built impacts they are aware of, including damage to local government infrastructure and assets, and impacts that would impair the service delivery of the local government or present health and safety risks in the community.
Other agencies and essential service providers are also asked to contribute to the Impact Statement, so the local government does not need to chase information about other agencies and asset owners.
The Controlling Agency will provide the local government with a draft copy of the Impact Statement for review, before final approval by the Incident Controller, local government Chief Executive Officer and endorsement by the State Recovery Coordinator. (State EM Plan 6.4.1).
The guide is an Attachment to State EM Recovery Procedure 5.4 and provides information regarding the Impact Statement.
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The Model for Recovery Coordination guides the arrangements for recovery coordination between local and state governments, with roles and responsibilities determined by the complexity of recovery and the capacity and capability of local government.
It is a function of a local government to manage recovery following an emergency affecting the community in its district (s36(b)).
In some circumstances, the State Government may have an increased role in recovery (s6.6).
Local governments are responsible for managing recovery in their district. When the complexity of recovery exceeds the capacity and capability of the local government the State will get involved to support the local government and assist with coordinating recovery activities. The State Recovery Coordinator will work with the Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) and local government to decide what support is needed.
Proposed amendments to the State EM Framework establishes a four-level model that defines different levels of state support and coordination, depending on the complexity of recovery needs and capacity of the local government.
For R1 recovery events, local governments lead recovery, drawing on existing State government services when needed. In R2 events, local governments continue to coordinate recovery but may receive enhanced support from the State, facilitated by the State Recovery Coordinator.
For more complex events – R3 and R4 – the State Government assumes overall responsibility for recovery coordination. An Event Recovery Coordinator is appointed for R3 events, while an Event Recovery Controller is appointed for R4 events. In both cases, local governments remain responsible for leading recovery activities and engagement within their communities.
There is no relationship between recovery levels (R1-R4) and incident response levels.
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The Hazard Management Agency (or Controlling Agency) is responsible for initiating recovery activities during response and handing over responsibility for recovery management to the local government. Early recovery includes the transition phase and assessment of recovery needs.
It is a function of a local government to manage recovery following an emergency affecting the community in its district (s36(b)).
The Controlling Agency must initiate a range of recovery activities during the response to that emergency (s6.2.2).
The Controlling Agency is responsible for initiating recovery activities during the response phase, including:
These actions help the local government assess recovery needs, determine appropriate governance structures and commence recovery activities.
The local government should activate their recovery arrangements as early as possible. The District Emergency Management Advisor is available to provide guidance and support during this time. For more complex recoveries, the State Recovery Coordinator can also offer assistance.
When safe to do so, the Incident Controller will liaise with the LRC to transition management of recovery activities to the local government and, where appointed, to the Event Recovery Coordinator or Controller.
Depending on the nature of the hazard, the transition may occur before response activities are finished, subject to the local government being able to safely manage recovery activities in the impacted community or communities. In shorter incidents, such as fires, the transition to recovery is likely to occur when the incident is handed back to the local government.
When transitioning recovery activities to the local government, the Controlling Agency should brief the local government and provide clear information about:
Relief and support services initiated during the response phase—such as those provided by the Department of Communities and other organisations— must be reviewed and considered for continuation or transition into recovery management.
Where an Impact Statement has been developed it will include most of this information. The Incident Controller should provide a draft or final version of the Impact Statement to the local government to assist the transition of recovery activities.
The guide is an Attachment to State EM Recovery Procedure 5.4 and provides information regarding the Impact Statement.
The DFES District Emergency Management Advisor (DEMA) can provide advice and support to local government.
To support and guide local governments plan for and manage local recovery.
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Local Government is responsible for leading and managing the community recovery process by establishing appropriate governance groups and coordinating the development of a Local Operational Recovery Plan. Where the State has a role in recovery coordination the local government still has a role to manage local activities and facilitate community involvement in recovery.
It is a function of a local government to manage recovery following an emergency affecting the community in its district (s36(b)).
Local governments are required to nominate a Local Recovery Coordinator (s41.4).
Local governments may adopt a coordinated approach where the emergency affects multiple local governments (s6.3.4).
A local government may establish a Local Recovery Coordination Group (LRCG) (s6.3.5)
In some circumstances, the State Government may have an increased role in recovery (s6.4.1).
Additional local recovery subcommittees may be established to support the LRCG (s6.5).
During recovery, the Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) is responsible for coordinating recovery activities on behalf of the local government. This includes:
The LRC will be supported throughout the recovery by the LRCG, relevant State agencies, and local government staff and business units. The State Recovery Coordinator and Team are available at any time for advice and information.
The LRCG - comprising representatives from local businesses, community organisations, the broader community, and State agencies - will play a key role in identifying recovery needs, setting priorities, and contributing to recovery planning.
State agencies, such as the Department of Communities, which may already be involved in providing emergency relief and support during the response phase, may continue their support into the early stages of recovery and participate on the LRCG and/or its subcommittees.
The Local Operational Recovery Plan sets the strategic direction for recovery and will guide related activities. Developed by the LRC with input from the LRCG and subcommittees, the Plan outlines recovery needs, objectives, programs, activities, and funding requirements. A template is available in the Local Recovery Guideline.
For complex recoveries, the State Government will provide additional support. The State Recovery Coordinator will work with local government to identify needs. Support may include:
When the State takes a greater role in recovery, the LRC and state-level Coordinator or Controller should work closely together to ensure a coordinated approach. The LRCG should still be established to manage local issues and enable community input, with the Coordinator or Controller, or proxy, participating in its meetings.
To support and guide local governments plan for and manage local recovery.
Appendix 2 of the Local Recovery Guideline includes a checklist to guide the LRC.
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Communication plays a vital role in disaster recovery, ensuring impacted communities have the information they need to recover, and the tools and support to manage their recovery.
During the recovery phase, the relevant local government is responsible for provision of public information, such as information on impact and services (s5.6.20).
The Hazard Management Agency (HMA) and local government must communicate with the public in a coordinated manner until the HMA hands over responsibility for public information to the local government (s5.3.1).
Local government is responsible for providing information to the community about the recovery process.
The provision of timely, clear and relevant information in recovery means that people who need support
know where to get help. Well planned communication can bring people together and help set up affected individuals, or a community, for a successful recovery.
Local governments should prepare a plan in advance for how they will manage recovery communications – in the Local Recovery Plan itself or a supporting communications plan or strategy – and ensure that staff with responsibility for communications understand their role and responsibilities.
The plan should also consider:
The resources listed on this page provide guidance and templates that can assist.
State agencies should assist local governments by providing information about recovery programs and support. The State Recovery Coordinator and Department of Fire and Emergency Services Recovery Communications Team is also available to provide guidance and support to the local government, including coordinating information from state agencies when required.
Supports local government with recovery communication activities at each stage of an emergency.
A guide from the Australian Red Cross on ‘Communicating in Recovery’, for people or organisations working and managing information in a post emergency/disaster environment.
To support and guide local governments plan for and manage local recovery.
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Funding support for recovery may be available from a number of sources, depending on the type of emergency and the eligibility criteria of available funding programs.
The primary responsibility for safeguarding and restoration of public and private assets affected by an emergency, rests with the owner.
In some cases, additional financial disaster relief measures are available to assist (s6.7.1).
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) is the State’s administrator of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements Western Australia (DRFAWA) (s6.10.1).
Local government are to inform DFES of any potential eligible costs as soon as practical after the impact of a disaster event.
A formal agreement between the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments.
Local governments - like individuals, businesses and state agencies - are responsible for making sure their assets and equipment are properly insured. If damage occurs, they should first contact their insurer to arrange repairs or replacements.
In some cases, additional recovery funding support may be available through:
Where DRFAWA has been activated, local governments can claim eligible costs for repair and reconstruction to essential public assets. DRFAWA also has provision for other financial assistance for individuals and families, small businesses and primary producers and broader community recovery programs. More information about DRFAWA is available online at DFES Resilience and Recovery Funding.
The below three criteria must be met for the FES Commissioner to proclaim a disaster event under DRFAWA:
If the local government believes there are potential costs that may be eligible under DRFAWA, they are to contact the Recovery Funding team at DFES, as soon as possible after an event.
In some circumstances the State government may provide additional funding to assist with recovery, for example where costs are ineligible under DRFAWA but essential for community recovery. This funding is entirely at the State’s discretion. Local governments should contact the State Recovery Coordinator for more information.
Other recovery assistance for impacted individuals may be available through the Premier’s Relief Payment, Premier’s Natural Disaster Recovery Fund, the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund and Commonwealth grants including the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment.
T: 1800 920 659
Provides advice and resources for funding assistance for eligible disasters.
Provides financial support to individuals, households, local businesses and community groups facing ongoing disruption and losses as they recover from natural disasters.
Provides immediate financial assistance to individuals affected by emergencies. Availability and eligibility for these payments depend on the specific event and its activation.
Provides financial assistance to individuals for the alleviation and relief of distress, suffering and personal hardships, brought about by any disaster or emergency within Western Australia declared by the Western Australian Government or for which the LMDRF Board considers assistance is warranted.
Australian Government assistance may be available when there’s a declared natural disaster event.
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