Logan students build disaster resilience
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Published: 11th October 2024
The fence of Flagstone State Community College has been covered with hundreds of lifelike cutouts depicting students’ experiences and ideas about getting ready for severe weather events.
The display is the culmination of a Queensland-first program delivered by Logan City Council ahead of the summer storm season and held during Get Ready Queensland Week (October 8-13).
Mayor Jon Raven said the Voice of Students in Disaster Resilience project had been adapted from a highly successful Victorian bushfire project to suit Queensland.
“Flagstone is prone to severe weather events – it gets isolated during floods, and in 2023 a bushfire came closer to the area than we would have liked,” Mayor Raven said.
“More than 120,000 people will end up living in Flagstone, and with so many new residents coming to the area we need to make sure they understand what to expect.”
“Logan is one of the youngest cities in Queensland which is why it’s important to engage and empower young people. We want them to understand how they can help during a natural disaster.
“The students and teachers who have shared their ideas and experience with Council and other emergency agencies are doing their part to improve our planning for and responses to these kinds of events.
“These lifelike cutouts are powerful because they provide unique insights about how young people can contribute to our enter storm and bushfire season preparation.”
Voices of Students in Disaster Resilience is supported by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and its flagship disaster preparedness initiative Get Ready Queensland.
QRA CEO Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd) said the project was a great example of encouraging resilience and readiness for extreme weather.
“Wherever you are, whatever you’re up against, being able to call on resilience in the face of a challenge is incredibly powerful,” Mr Ellwood said.
“Get Ready Queensland Week is a time to take stock, to prepare for events like storms, floods, cyclones and bushfires, and to ensure your loved ones and property are well protected from extreme weather.
“Regardless of where you live or how long you’ve lived there, it’s important every Queenslander understands their risk, makes a household emergency plan, and packs an emergency kit.
“Get Ready Queensland’s new campaign sums it perfectly – weather doesn’t plan, but you can – and it’s fantastic to see Logan City Council and Flagstone State Community College helping raise that awareness in the community.”
Suncorp Executive Manager of Disaster Response Lilly Broodbank welcomed the school initiative and said it was important that young people understood the potential impact of extreme weather on their local community.
“As one of Queensland’s largest insurers and the major program partner of Get Ready Queensland week since 2020, Suncorp understands just how important it is for the community to prepare ahead of disaster season,” Ms Broodbank said.
“Disaster planning doesn’t just involve checking your insurance policy – it's an opportunity for the entire family to get involved in and is particularly timely given the recent storms across the state.
“We encourage everyone to take the time this Get Ready Queensland week to get your disaster planning in place – it's never too early to Get Ready for extreme weather.”
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Logan’s Disaster Dashboard also offers essential information that is useful before, during and after disaster events, as well as details about how to register for Logan Early Warning Alerts and the Logan Flood Portal.