VICSES puts tsunami preparedness to the test in Lakes Entrance
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers from across the Gippsland region have today put tsunami response arrangements to the test, working alongside emergency services, partner agencies and the East Gippsland community as part of an international tsunami exercise.
Lakes Entrance was selected as the Victorian community exercise location for PacWave26, with more than 50 people involved across VICSES staff, volunteers, partner agencies and community participants in a simulated evacuation to test how agencies communicate warnings and support communities during a real-life tsunami threat.
The exercise simulated a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand’s north island, testing a range of potential impacts to Australia, from a significant tsunami through to a minimal or no impact event.
VICSES volunteers were highly visible throughout Lakes Entrance as they worked with partner agencies to test decision making, public information, warnings and evacuation arrangements.
While tsunamis are rare in Victoria, the exercise provided an important opportunity for emergency services, partner agencies and the community to test their plans and procedures in a controlled environment.
The exercise reinforced the importance of knowing what to do if a tsunami warning was issued, including moving inland and away from the coast and following advice from emergency services.
VICSES Bruthen Unit also had a volunteer participating in the exercise who had experienced a major tsunami while on a boat in Indonesia, bringing valuable first-hand experience to the training.
The exercise was conducted in Victoria in partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia, Victoria Police, East Gippsland Shire Council, Ambulance Victoria and other emergency services and partner agencies, as well as concurrently in other jurisdictions across the world.
The Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia operate the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre, which monitors, verifies and issues warnings for tsunami threats to Australia's coastline and offshore territories around the clock.
PacWave exercises have been conducted nationally since 2006 and are designed to test and strengthen Australia's tsunami warning, response and coordination arrangements.
This was the first time an in-person community exercise had been conducted in Victoria as part of PacWave, providing an important opportunity to test tsunami arrangements in a real community setting.
Exercises such as PacWave allowed emergency services and partner agencies to test plans and procedures, identify areas for improvement and strengthen preparedness before a real event occurred.
Quotes attributable to VICSES Chief Officer Operations Alistair Drayton
““While tsunamis are rare in Victoria, we know they can happen, and exercises like this give us an opportunity to test our plans and make sure our volunteers and partner agencies are ready to respond.”
“Today is about putting those arrangements into practice in a controlled environment, working alongside the community and identifying anything we can improve before we are faced with a real emergency.”
Quotes attributable to Bureau of Meteorology Exercise Coordinator, Shenagh Gamble
“The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning System (JATWC), run by the bureau and Geoscience Australia, together with other agencies and emergency services, forms an effective and responsive Australian Tsunami Warning System (ATWS).”
“Since tsunamis are so infrequent, simulated exercises are run annually to ensure we can rapidly swing into action if an actual tsunami threatens to impact our coasts.”
"We value the opportunity to work with our partners in this space. Every second counts when responding to a tsunami – each exercise provides a learning opportunity to strengthen our systems and inter-agency response across the ATWS."
