More than 40 natural disasters were declared across Australia in the past six months, impacting more than 190 local government areas.
As the nation’s Emergency Management Ministers meet to discuss the 2023-24 Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS), new data shows 60 local government areas (LGAs) were impacted more than once in that period.
The data, from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), shows every mainland State and Territory was impacted by either floods, fire, storms or cyclones during the most recent HRWS, which started in October and runs to the end of April.
Across the country, 192 LGAs were impacted by 44 declared natural disasters.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said strong cooperation between states and territories played an important role in responding to disasters and planning for future events.
“In the 2023-24 HRWS we had a number of personnel travel interstate to support response efforts, which is a credit to the individuals and organisations, as well as those who made it possible,” Minister Watt said.
During the 2023-24 season, the National Situation Room monitored 15 tropical lows, including seven which developed into named tropical cyclones.
In Queensland, 64 out of 77 LGAs activated Local Disaster Management Groups since early September 2023.
