Last week the Flood Inquiry Report was released with 28 recommendations made by Professor Mary O'Kane Mick Fuller to make the Northern Rivers and the rest of NSW's flood-affected regions more prepared, and better organised with less risk to life than was the case before February 28 2022.

Today, the Lismore App will focus on the role of the NSW State Emergency Services (SES) and the improvements that will be made.

The Inquiry Report said the NSW SES received very positive feedback about the actions and commitment displayed by SES volunteers during the 2022 flood emergency.

"Some SES units worked tirelessly, with volunteers risking their lives to help communities across the state. There were, however, criticisms of the decision-making processes employed by SES head office, and the lack of support provided to local units, particularly during the peak February, March and April weather events".

The inquiry report says "there were capability gaps in the SES operational response, including inadequacy in the warnings to residents and business owners, and there was also a failure to respond to emergency calls".

"The capability gaps in the operational response overseen by the SES were particularly evident in the Northern Rivers. The Inquiry heard a number of criticisms, including:

• personnel structure not fit for purpose
• approach to resource deployment reactive not proactive
• SES response centres inappropriately located
• flood warnings inadequate
• emergency calls not answered
• general preparation lacking.

The Inquiry said the SES was overwhelmed by the number of calls received, and that the volume of calls exceeded its ability to respond. The SES does not use a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system (as used by NSW Police Force, FRNSW and RFS) which would greatly assist in processing urgent and non-urgent calls for assistance.

The SES’s Beacon system used to log and record requests for assistance from members of the public was not fit for purpose and did not allow for jobs to be adequately tracked and actioned. This led to duplication of resources, with potentially multiple services attending to the call, and uncertainty of the safety of the callers".

The flood inquiry also stated that there was a general lack of preparation and failures in coordination of flood rescue. You can read the 335 page inquiry report here.

In response, an NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) spokesperson told the Lismore App, "During the catastrophic flooding earlier this year, NSW SES members faced extreme challenges. Our people were exhausted, and yet they kept showing up day in, day out. Without the support and efforts of our people – both staff and volunteers – the situation would have been far worse".

"As an emergency service organisation, the NSW SES will always be looking out for what we can do better. Disaster strikes, we respond and we reflect and learn from that response through formal after-action reviews and other inquiries".

"While the independent and Parliamentary reports have only recently been released, many of the recommendations and findings are aligned to findings from AFAC’s independent review into the 2021 flood event". 

"As a result of the 2021 AFAC report, the NSW SES submitted a business case to the NSW Government for improvements in resourcing, capability, capacity, facilities and local community support and services, in particular in the Northern Rivers region and western NSW.

In June 2022, the NSW Government announced $132.7 million to undertake these improvements. This program of work is now underway, and by continuing with this, the NSW SES is already proactively positioned to address both the 2021 AFAC report and a number of the findings of the independent and Parliamentary reports".

"Earlier this week, the NSW SES launched a public information campaign in six languages, which aims to improve flood safety communication in diverse communities in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley".

"The NSW SES will also be transitioning to the new nation-wide Australian Warning System next month".

"The NSW SES has also been working with the Department of Customer Service on the development of HazardWatch, an online platform to display critical emergency warning information regarding floods".

The SES use Beacon, a job logging system to record requests for assistance (RFAs) received from community members, and manage the operational tasking of NSW SES teams. It is a web-based system. This is separate to the 132 500 call-taking system.

When asked about the job logging system, we were told "During the February-March flood emergency, the NSW SES responded in accordance with existing emergency management arrangements. The NSW SES can confirm its beacon system, which is used for operational management, was not turned off at any time during the response."

"While the NSW SES acknowledges the number of calls received via both 132 500 and Triple Zero (000) outweighed the capacity to respond, this was due to the sheer scale of the event rather than any system being switched off".

The inquiry also recommended that the NSW Government develop a ‘Community First Responders program, in response to the many incredible humans who supported rescues, day and night in their Tinny's, Kayak's and Ski's.

The Inquiry heard of the personal toll when people were told they could not assist in the rescue efforts: "Telling the volunteers not to get in the water leaves people with a lot of guilt and people are quite upset that this happened."

There was dissatisfaction from the community that the SES would not undertake night-time rescues due to health and safety concerns for members, despite community rescuers doing so themselves. This matter should be reviewed by the SES to establish if night-time flood rescues can be undertaken while ensuring the safety of members and the community.

During Town Hall meetings the Inquiry heard community frustration that NSW Maritime would not launch its vessels or undertake flood rescues because ‘insurance wouldn’t cover them’ and its boats sat unused in the flood rescue response. It is understood this is because NSW Maritime is not an accredited rescue agency, and its staff, while experienced mariners are not trained in swift water rescues and that its vessels are not designed to work in swift water".

One such rescuer, an experienced Swiftwater Rescue Technician and former Fire and Rescue, SES and NSW Police Rescue Officer, Tully Benfield, was concerned for civilian rescuers safety, and offered swift water rescue courses following the floods to anyone who wanted to learn how to be a safer rescuer in the future.

Radio operator John Miller has supported a radio program for better communications for the region, in the case of telecommunications failings, and Starlink Satellites were distributed by various people, one a Business Owner and Surfrider Foundation Board Member Chai in Mullumbimby, to ensure more coverage for those in area's where service drop-outs were of major concern.

The flood inquiry also stated "Whether trained or not, the 2022 floods saw a diversity of the community’s bravest participate in a community-led response to rescue thousands in need of assistance. Under international Maritime Law, a longstanding convention exists through which a shipmaster is obligated to render assistance to other vessels in distress. This is outlined in the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue and enshrined in Australian law through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990.358

"For example, the Tasmanian Marine Search and Rescue Act 1971359 establishes the obligation to render assistance if another vessel is in danger, in need of assistance or if those on board are suffering from illness or injury. Under such circumstances, it is an offence not to respond with all speed. This convention highlights the importance of first responders rendering assistance in times of crisis. This is a longstanding tradition on the seas and should apply on Australia’s river system and floodplains".

In June 2022 Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke announced a Record investment in Emergency Services.

"$400 million will be invested over the next four years in Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW), the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), bringing the NSW Government’s investment in emergency services in 2022-23 to more than $4.2 billion to make communities safer and stronger".

Minister Steph Cooke said, "funding emergency services was critical to protect communities from natural disasters".

With another La Nina event likely this spring and summer, it is more important than ever that the training and coordination of rescuers be a priority through our rescue organisations.