Trauma arrangements

How do we define a disaster?

A disaster is a serious disruption to within a community which threatens or causes death or injury in that community and damage to property which is beyond the day-to-day capacity of the prescribed statutory authorities and which requires special mobilisation and organisation of resources other than those normally available to those authorities. 

A disaster can result in:

• loss of human life, or illness or injury to humans
• widespread or severe property loss or damage
• widespread or severe damage to the environment.

Disasters create disruptions that are often life threatening and lead to mental anguish and community anxiety about security and safety. Assistance from others within a structured response may be required.

SA Health has obligations under the Emergency Management Act 2004 and a range of national, state and local plans and protocols for strategic planning, preparedness and response to disasters.

Planning to be prepared

The South Australian State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP) sets the framework for the management of disasters by supporting systems and processes that form a coordinated approach to disaster management. This involves the following principles:

1. Prevention

Prevention relates to measures that eliminate or reduce the incidence or severity of emergencies. These measures can be physical or legal measures, such as clearing leaf litter from a household or Total Fire Ban days.

2. Preparedness

The process of preparing for an emergency is called ‘preparedness’. Preparedness is a variety of measures designed to ensure that, should an emergency occur, communities, resources and services are capable of coping with the effects.

3. Response

Responding to emergencies is referred to as ‘response’. Response is action taken and measures planned in anticipation for, during and immediately after an emergency to ensure that its effects are minimised and that people affected are given immediate relief and support

4. Recovery

Recovering from emergencies is referred to as ‘recovery’. Recovery is a coordinated process for supporting emergency-affected communities in the reconstruction of the physical infrastructure and restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing.

For further information, please contact the Emergency Management Unit:

Email: emergencymanagement@health.sa.gov.au
Telephone: (08) 8226 7115