What are Disasters?

Disasters of all kinds and sizes happen when hazards seriously affect communities.  They can occur anywhere and they are generally unpredictable. Hazards are dangerous conditions or events with potential for injury, loss of life, and/or damage to property, agriculture or environment.  They can be categorised in various ways but, based simply on how they originate, hazards can be grouped in two broad categories; Natural hazards; or Unnatural hazards (those with human caused or technological origins).

In the Rockhampton Region we are at potential risk from natural hazards such as cyclones, floods, storms, tsunami and bushfires.  Disasters (natural or unnatural) can cause severe disruption and major damage to communities and services.

To ensure the Rockhampton Region community have appropriate management strategies in the event of disasters, Rockhampton Regional Council has prepared a Local Disaster Management Plan in accordance with the requirements of the Disaster Management Act 2003.

Whilst the Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Group and relevant emergency services will do all they can to assist the community in times of disaster, it should be remembered that individuals are ultimately responsible for their own safety – individuals need to be aware of the hazards that could affect their community and disaster management arrangements, which include the Local Disaster Management Plan, that are in place to deal with them.

A link to the Rockhampton Regional Council Local Disaster Management Plan and other important emergency service agencies and community awareness information to guide residents to prepare for and cope in time of disaster, can be found towards the bottom of this page.