Tropical Cyclone
Preparedness and Response.
Tropical cyclones (TC’s) are rapidly rotating storms characterized by a low-pressure center (eye), very strong sustained winds, heavy rain and/or squalls. Occurring in the tropical / subtropical northern (anti-clockwise rotation) and southern (clockwise rotation) hemispheric belts, they are referred to differently depending on where they are: Hurricanes over the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeast Pacific, Typhoons over the Northwest Pacific Ocean and Tropical Cyclones over the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. These annually occurring seasonal storms, categorised 1-5 and given a unique name, cause devastating, widespread damage to property, injury and death costing millions. There is a consensus among the scientific community that the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones is increasing.
While there have been significant advancements in the early warning and preparation for TC’s, it is not possible to completely eliminate the risks. Therefore, there needs to be a robust, well-trained and equipped response capacity able to mobilise rapidly in the wake of a TC.
DART's tropical cyclone preparedness and response
From experience gained in deploying to multiple high profile TC’s, DART’s SME’s have designed and developed a scalable, customisable TC Preparedness and Response Programme, which can be delivered to volunteer community groups through to professional responders. As is the case with all major sudden onset disasters, spontaneous community response plays a vital SAR role in the immediate aftermath. This novel, scalable, theoretical and practical, blended learning, programme is designed to effectively harness that inevitable spontaneous community response and augment the capacity of emergency responders to maximise their impact in saving lives.
The programme consists of:
Preparedness:
- TC Response Safety Awareness
- Response Coordination Methodology
- Strategic Prepositioning
- Preparing for Impact
- Requesting Regional / International Assistance
- Preparing for Arrival of Regional / International Assistance
- Response Team Training
Response:
- Rapid Damage and Risk Assessments and Reporting
- Search Methodology
- Use of Ladders Hand Tools (e.g. bush saws)
- Mechanical Tools (e.g., chain saws)
- Rigging, lifting, pulling loads (e.g., winch operations)
- Night SAR operations
- Emergency Medical Response
- Temporary Shelter
DART TC Response Kit
To compliment the training, DART has developed TC Response Kits, designed to be strategically located or pre-positioned in areas likely to be impacted. The kits are scalable, ranging from smaller kits for response teams, to larger kits located in strategic hubs.
The kits include:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Emergency water purification equipment
- Communication equipment
- Coordination equipment
- Electricity supply equipment
- Portable lighting
- Search and rescue equipment
- First aid equipment
- Temporary shelter equipment
