WA’s biggest-ever dedicated recovery team is to be part of a multi-million-dollar program to help the State respond to, and recover from, natural disasters.
A total of 70 full-time officers are to staff the recovery team, enhancing the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ ability to provide support following a natural disaster.
There will be 29 permanent full-time officers concentrating on the establishment of sustainable State recovery capability.
A taskforce will manage and support recovery in the Kimberley in the wake of flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie.
The Minister for Emergency Services, Stephen Dawson said the resources being poured in to the program recognised the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters in the State, with flooding in the Kimberley, Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja in the Mid-West and major bushfires in the Perth hills and regional WA in the past two years.
Mr Dawson (pictured) said these significant resources from the Government would provide the biggest dedicated recovery team the State ever had.
“It will enable the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to meet the increased demand for State recovery by having more people on the ground, which will help our communities recover and rebuild faster,” Mr Dawson said.
“The State Government is committed to making sure communities are flexible and resilient, making it easier for them to bounce back and recover from these devastating weather events.”
