Housing agencies’ roles in preparing for and responding to natural disasters
Stewart Williams and Keith Jacobs
University of Tasmania
Contact Email:   Stewart.Williamsutas.edu.au

Natural disasters are rapid onset events that have huge consequences for individuals and communities, causing injury and death as well as extensive damage to private property and public infrastructure, and requiring a broad government and multi-agency response to facilitate recovery. Most significant in Australia are bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones. It is generally accepted that climate change, population growth and other demographic shifts have accentuated the risks faced by populations. In nearly all such disasters, there is a need to provide emergency shelter, temporary forms of housing, repairs to damaged property and welfare support for the households affected. While there is considerable understanding of the procedures that are used in disaster management, there is a gap in knowledge with respect to how key actors engage in the various planning and response activities and negotiate the complex array of tasks required. This paper reports on the findings from an investigation funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute to explore the role of housing agencies in preparing for and responding to natural disasters. It discusses the opportunities as well as conflicts and tensions that arise when housing agencies seek to implement procedures, and the insights gleaned from recent disasters in the ACT, NSW and Queensland.

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