Black Saturday 2009 Australia Flashcards
(9 cards)
When was the Black Saturday wildfire?
7th February 2009
Where was it located?
Southeastern Australia
What was it’s scale?
Over 400 fires and 450,000 hectares burnt
Environmental impacts
Over 1 million acres of forest, grassland and farmland lost and large areas of eucalyptus woodland (fire prone)
Estimated 1 million animals killed, including endangered species such as the Leadbeater’s possum
Air pollution - smoke reduced air quality in surrounding cities like Melbourne which caused respiratory problems.
Soil Erosion - Fires destroyed topsoil structure, increasing the risk of erosion, landslides and siltation in rivers
Water Quality - Ash and debris entered catchments like the Yarra River which harmed habitats and water supply
Social Impacts
170 killed with more than 400 injured
Around 7,500 people displaced and over 2,000 homes destroyed
long-term trauma led to depression and a rise in suicide rates
Entire towns like Marysville almost wiped out with schools, churches and community centres destroyed
Economic Impacts
Estimated $3bn in damages
Over 2,000 houses and 1,400 buildings destroyed
$1.2 billion AUS in insurance claims
Roads, power lines and telecommunication lines destroyed
12,000 head of livestock died
62,000 hectares of grazing pasture and 32,000 tonnes of hay lost
Loss of tourism
Political Impacts
Immediate public pressure led to 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission which exposed failings in emergency preparedness, communication and land management
Criticism of ‘stay or go’ policy which led to many dying trying to defend their homes
Utility companies faced legal action over power lines thought to have sparked fires
Introduced reforms to wildfire policy, planning law and emergency management
Billions of dollars funded into ensuring powerlines are up to date
Human Responses - short term
Over 4,000 firefighters, 2,000 police officers and thousand of volunteers responded from all over Australia
Military aid sent by Commonwealth governor-general
Some communities evacuated but some trapped due to shifting winds
Relief centres established in Whittlesea and Melbourne for shelter and food
National media coverage triggered wave of public support with Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund raising over $380 million
Failure of warnings - Emergency communication systems outdated and many received no warning or warnings were too late
Human Responses - long term
Federal and State governments provided funds for rebuilding homes, community buildings and mental health services
Introduced stricter building codes with bushfire resistant construction standards in high risk zones
Land use planning changed to restrict housing in areas of extreme risk
Royal Commission published 67 recommendations (2010) such as state wide shelters in prone areas, shift to compulsory evacuations in code red areas and increased controlled burns to reduce fire spread
Introduced emergency alert system and launched campaigns like Fire Ready Victoria to alert citizens about wildfire survival.
