A new survey will help establish what residents think about how they and their community plans to support high-risk and vulnerable communities and individuals during emergencies

The Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) Tony Pearce is inviting a number of residents across six municipalities to talk about natural-hazard risks in their area and how well prepared they are to respond.

IGEM’s phone survey asks how people receive information on local emergency risks, whether they believe vulnerable residents will receive the assistance they need during emergencies and who might assist them in the event of an emergency.

Mr Pearce said the information gathered from the surveys will be used to improve how Victoria identifies people and communities who need additional assistance and how that information can be included in plans for emergencies such as fires, floods, storms and heatwaves.

“This is a good opportunity for people to talk about potential risks in their community, and what steps are being taken to prepare for possible emergencies,” Mr Pearce said.

“The emergency management sector is constantly evolving to provide the best possible support and protection to Victorians, and it’s important for communities to have their say on anything that needs to be done better.”

“While the survey is voluntary, I encourage as many people as possible to take the time to share their views.”

The survey will take about 30 minutes to complete, and will involve randomly-selected residents from the Wyndham, Warrnambool, Yarra Ranges, South Gippsland, Northern Grampians and Yarra municipalities.

IGEM undertakes independent reviews, evaluations and assessments of Victoria’s emergency-management arrangements, in order to identify what is working well and where improvements can be made.

Find out about IGEM's review 'Emergency management for high-risk Victorian communities' in its Annual Forward Plan of Reviews - 2017