North Queensland’s Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry response and recovery (A) 2008-67.1

As dawn broke on Monday, 20 March 2006, the people of Innisfail were hunkered down in their homes, hoping to ride out the worst that Tropical Cyclone Larry could throw at them. This storm was predicted to be the strongest yet experienced, with winds around 290 kilometres per hour like those of Hurricane Katrina which, six months earlier, had brought death and devastation to the US city of New Orleans. At the headquarters of Emergency Management Queensland in Brisbane, Frank Pagano would have a central role in the emergency response. The cyclone would severely test the many participants poised to play their part in the emergency response. Pagano was determined to set new standards of co-ordination and collaboration.

This first part of a multi-part case is designed for discussion about preparedness for emergency and whether the structures in place in Queensland and Australia will help or hinder the response; how far is it possible to plan for the inherently unpredictable?

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• part B can be used to discuss the effectiveness of the immediate response and the reasons for it; also to examine community expectations for the State and Federal government response; and to debate the issue of whether a figurehead or “supremo” should be appointed to lead the long term recovery.
• part C studies on Cyclone Larry can be used for discussion of the strategies used to rebuild the rural economy and the recovery of the region. Was the centrally-directed “road map” approach the only option or were there others?