1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Now, as we mentioned a little earlier, we were indeed 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: expecting the Bureau of Meteorology to release two release, I 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: should say, the latest tropical cyclone four cast track map, 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 1: and they have just done that now. As expected, it 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: is looking as though tropical Cyclone Fena is heading towards 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: well Miller Carpety at this point in time at four 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: am or November twenty two, so I think that works 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: out to be Sunday if I am looking at that correctly, 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: and then it is looking like it's still going to 10 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: be heading down our way towards Darwin. So certainly a 11 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: time for us to all make sure that we are 12 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,519 Speaker 1: organized and that we are all prepared. Now joining me 13 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: in the studio is Wayne Snell, the Chief Officer of 14 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: NT Emergency Services. Good morning to. 15 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:49,879 Speaker 2: Your Wayne, Good morning Katie. 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: Great to have you in the studio, and no doubt, 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,639 Speaker 1: busy day, busy few days for you. 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 2: Ahead, busy few days for us. Already we started planning 19 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: for this event with the police in last Wednesday, so 20 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: we're fairly much ahead of it at this point, but 21 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: we will be busy over the next few days I expect. 22 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, no doubt about it. Now with that latest cyclone 23 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: tracking map. I guess for you guys, you plan for 24 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: every scenario, really. 25 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: Don't you. 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: That's it. 27 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 2: So what we try and plan for is the most 28 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: likely scenario, and then we do a branch plan or 29 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: a parallel plan for what might be the most dangerous scenario. 30 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: So what might be the most hazardous for territory in 31 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 2: And then what we do is we do at least 32 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 2: one other plan where we look at what might be 33 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 2: an outlier from the plan. 34 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 1: Yeah, so at this point in time, how into emergency 35 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 1: services or what are you planning for? 36 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, so what we're planning for at the moment is 37 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: a potential for a category two cyclone to track across 38 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: the top of the top end, and potential for it 39 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 2: to turn and come south at some stage or another 40 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: and cross onto the coast. All of the planning that's 41 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: in place at the moment is to try and make 42 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 2: sure that the communities are prepared, that we don't have 43 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: that much interruption, and that people have taken the precautions 44 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: that that we've been talking about now for the last 45 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 2: sort of month or so about preparing for our season. 46 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 2: So those plans are now coming to fruition. 47 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: So which communities at this point in time. Obviously Darwin, 48 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: you know, for all of us in the Greater Darwin region, 49 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: we're hearing those messages. But what other communities along the 50 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,920 Speaker 1: coastline are you sort of keeping a focus on. 51 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, so at the moment, the focus for me is 52 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:25,360 Speaker 2: the Kobeg Poninsu and the Tea Islands you know, from 53 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: Willigimpy to Point Forces basically, and we're also having a 54 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: bit of a look at some of the surrounding areas. 55 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 2: Of course, you know, the Bureau do a fantastic job 56 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 2: of their modeling and they do a fantastic job of 57 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: producing their track max and things, but there is always 58 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 2: an element of variation in them. So whilst we whilst 59 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 2: we mentioned a couple of areas that we're looking at, 60 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 2: we're also looking at the areas adjacent to and then 61 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 2: potential for other paths of travel for the event for 62 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: tropical cyclone Fleina. 63 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: Now, what do anti emergency services and our police, all 64 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 1: of our frontline services and agencies sort of do to 65 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: make sure that we're prepared, I guess. 66 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 2: First off, Yeah, so the plan that's been going on 67 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: from last week is to come up with a plan 68 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: for what we might do. It's also about planning for 69 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 2: what resources might be required, what community messaging needs to 70 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: go out. So in the preferedness stage, you know, where 71 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: we're just transitioning now from prepare from preparedness to response. 72 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 2: But in the preparedness stage, to make sure that people 73 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 2: understand that the way that the warnings will come out, 74 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: what those warnings mean, what sort of plans that they 75 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: need to play have in place personally and for their families, 76 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: and then some of the artifacts that they need, you know, 77 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: some some things like their emergency kit being prepared and 78 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 2: just doing a quick check of that. And I think 79 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: we're at that stage now where basically everybody should have 80 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: done that by now, and that the their plans have 81 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: now been discussed with their family about how they're going 82 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: to do things, what their expectations are if the tropical 83 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 2: cyclone does across and make landfall and then and what 84 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,119 Speaker 2: is the most appropriate cause of action for their families. 85 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:05,119 Speaker 2: But also looking at the individual communities. So the communities 86 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: have also been working hard, working with the police and 87 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory Emergency Service with the development of their 88 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 2: local emergency committees, So making sure their committees are meeting 89 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 2: and that their plans are out they were all updated 90 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 2: this year. All plans are all updated this year, and 91 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 2: that those plans are able to be put into place. 92 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 1: Well and for all of you know, for all the 93 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: territorians listening this morning, anybody that's got a family, or 94 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 1: maybe doesn't have a family, they've got animals, you know, 95 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: whatever their situation might be, what steps should they be 96 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:37,280 Speaker 1: taking at. 97 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 2: The momat you know, the first thing is to think 98 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 2: about all of those things you've just described, Katie, and 99 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 2: that's really important is to get to have it and 100 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: have a plan. So you need to decide if you 101 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 2: are going to stay in the event. Usually the advice 102 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: that we give is that if your house is built 103 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: to code, then the safest place for you is actually 104 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: in your home. But if you are going to evacuate, 105 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: to do that once we get to the an act 106 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: stage and you are backed and you go, so your 107 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 2: plan is in place to achieve that if you do 108 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 2: intend to as part of your plan, if you do 109 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: intend to go to an emergency shelter, Emergency shelters are 110 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: for very short periods of time and they don't provide services. 111 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,559 Speaker 2: So if you are planning to go to an emergency shelter, 112 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: and there are a number of them across the top 113 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 2: of the territory. Then you need to bring all of 114 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 2: your own resources with you. That includes water, food, blankets, 115 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 2: all the stuff that's basically in your emergency kit. You 116 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: need to take that with you. You also need a plan 117 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: about how you're going to deal with your pets, and 118 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: pets are generally not welcome in the emergency shelters there are. 119 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 2: They usually only welcome in the underground car parks around 120 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: the place, So you know that should help influence the 121 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: decision making around your personal emergency plan. 122 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: When do those shelters open. 123 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: Generally speaking, they open once the risk is once the 124 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 2: risk is identified and the area of impact is identified, 125 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: and then messaging go out. But that's going to be 126 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: opened up so at this stage that the triggers a 127 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 2: little bit different from time to time, so there's no 128 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: set trigger. We are working towards that and being able 129 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 2: to communicate that nice and early, which is one of 130 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 2: the reasons why you'll see mister Gill, myself and others 131 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 2: on the radio to try and help people with that 132 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 2: and to try and communicate that nice and early. 133 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,720 Speaker 1: Now, Wayne, at this point in time, from emergency services perspective. 134 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: You know, the communities like Minjolaying, Miller Carpady, those that 135 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: are you know, within the area of this cyclone potentially 136 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: going to are any residents needing to be evacuated or 137 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:34,120 Speaker 1: anything at this. 138 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: Point, So that planning, now that it's starting to form up, 139 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 2: is being done right now as we speak. So I 140 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 2: can't answer that question right now. No advice has been 141 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 2: given to me about evacuations at this point. So what 142 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: what I would be looking at at the moment is 143 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: what the level of impact is potentially going to be 144 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: on those communities. If that is the case, then that 145 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: will be communicated fairly rapidly. So that assessment is going 146 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 2: on right now. 147 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: Yeah. Now, in terms of the level of rainfall that 148 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: we are potentially expecting, I guess it's still you know, 149 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: like it's still hard to say. We never know exactly 150 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 1: what these systems are going to do. But are we 151 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: expecting a huge amount of rainfall and what could that 152 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: sort of mean in the days following? 153 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, so the police and the Northern Church Emergency Service 154 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: are definitely planning for a large amount of rainfall at 155 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 2: this page. We can't put a number on it. Or 156 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: that sort of thing at this particular time, but we 157 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: are planning for that. Some advice that we have been 158 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: given is likely to be localized within the coastal regions. 159 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: It's not likely to penetrate too far in land. So 160 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 2: it's a little bit helpful for us because we do 161 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: have some wet catchments a little bit further south which 162 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: would create floating problems. But we can't rule it out. Again, 163 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 2: as the situation develops and as the risk is further 164 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 2: identified with the path of travel for tropical cyclones, Fleena, 165 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 2: that advice could very well change, all. 166 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: Right, Wayne, to anybody out there listening this morning, I 167 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: mean if you could give them one piece of advice 168 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: that you really hope that they take in what is 169 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: a yes? Okay? 170 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,560 Speaker 2: So the piece of advice is to stay connected at 171 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: this point and keep the information, keep the information channels 172 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 2: open to you wherever you are around the place, so 173 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: that you are able to make that decision about implementing 174 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 2: your emergency plan about make decisions nice and early. If 175 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,440 Speaker 2: your plan has you evacuating or your plan has you 176 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: going to a place of safety, that you are able 177 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: to do that early. Make sure that you have organized 178 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: all the bits and pieces that are important to you 179 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 2: to go into your emergency kit that you may have 180 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: to protect during that period of time, including things like 181 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 2: passports and birth documents. Those sorts of things are really 182 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,040 Speaker 2: important documents that are difficult to replace. And also to 183 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 2: make sure that you maintain situation awareness around you about 184 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: what's going on so that you can act immediately upon 185 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: receiving that information. 186 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: Well, Wayne Snell, Chief Officer of NT Emergency Services, I 187 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: anticipate that we may talk again in the next twenty 188 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: four to forty eight hours. Thank you so much for 189 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: your time. 190 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 2: More than happy, Katie, talk to you and your listeners 191 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 2: all the any time.