SHOULD the Highlands fall victim to a large-scale emergency, the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) is prepared.
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Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON) Inspector John Klepczarek said the group came together each quarter, with the most recent meeting held last Thursday.
"This quarter we have focused on fire preparedness," he said.
"Two weeks ago we thought we were in for a bad fire season and then it rained for a week.
"But it didn't stop it, it only delayed the threat.
"All we'd need would be two to three weeks of extreme heat and we'd be back to what it was, if not more so because more fuel has grown with the rain."
Insp. Klepczarek said the Highlands community had to be ready in case of an emergency.
"We have a focus on isolated communities where there is one road in and one road out, such as Balmoral," he said.
"People there don't have a lot of options if a fire is coming in, they don't have six or seven different roads out, they have one.
"Communities like that must be prepared to evacuate."
In terms of an evacuation, Insp. Klepczarek said it was important to have a short term plan and a long term plan.
"The short term plan is a meeting place and how to get there in the event that you have to leave your home for a few hours, " he said.
"The long term plan is for if you have to leave for a day or two.
"Ringing 000 is not your answer."
Insp. Klepczarek said in times of wide-spread emergencies, such as the Halls Road Fire of 2013, emergency services couldn't answer all calls due to limited resources.
"You call 000 as a last resort after all your other plans," he said.
"Too often it's the only plan.
"We're asking the community to help us by being self-sufficient to some point."
The LEMC is made up of combat agencies, police, fire and rescue, the Rural Fire Service, ambulance and State Emergency Services, with a series of functional areas, agriculture, welfare, utilities and transport, that come into play in the event of an emergency.
"When there's an incident, for example flooding, the SES remain in control of the incident, but my job is to co-ordinate the support effort and advise the organizations," Insp. Klepczarek said.
"We all do it together and it's a united effort to support the agency in charge and ensure the community gets the best service."
