Case study: Emergency response to a supercell storm at the Australian National University

Abstract

At 9.30pm on 28th February, 2007, a supercell storm hit Canberra, causing major damage to the city and the Australian National University, which has its main campus located on the western fringe of the city centre. As a consequence, the university was closed for five days, while the buildings were checked for structural/electrical damage caused by hailstones and flooding. This paper provides a case study on the emergency management strategy employed by the university in response to damage caused to campus facilities and consequent disruption to academic activities. It focuses on the immediate response, with particular emphasis on organisational arrangements and communications. While the response strategy was largely effective, several gaps in procedures were identified, including broadcast communications to the campus community, controlling access to ‘closed’ buildings and managing the impact of the campus closure on new students in residential halls.