Council’s role in an emergency is coordinate relief and recovery activities in partnership with agencies such as the Victoria Police, Red Cross, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, The Salvation Army and Victorian Councils of Emergency Ministry.
Depending on the scale of the emergency, Council may activate a Municipal Emergency Operations Centre (MECC) where Council runs emergency management activities. This could include coordination of tree crews to clear debris and fallen trees, building surveyors to inspect damaged homes and buildings, resourcing Emergency Relief Centres and communications with key agencies.
The recovery process will be coordinated by Council's Municipal Recovery Manager through a Recovery Plan to enable the reconstruction of the physical infrastructure and the restoration of emotional, economic and physical wellbeing of the community. Depending on the scale of the emergency, Council may establish an Emergency Recovery Centre in conjunction with a range of various agencies and organisations to offer a range of services, information and support to the community. This includes:
- community information
- emergency shelter
- food and water
- psychosocial support
- first-aid
- reconnecting family and friends
- emergency financial assistance
- support for displaced animals.
If an ERC is established, the location will be advertised through various channels such as radio, the VicEmergency app and social media.