Learning about floods: a SES perspective

Keys, C (1997) presented at the 37th Annual Conference of the Floodplain Management Authorities of NSW, Maitland

It is now nearly eight years since the State Emergency Service (SES) was restructured in New South Wales (NSW) and began to operate under its present legislation (the State Emergency Service Act 1989). This Act defines the SES as the 'combat agency' for dealing with floods in our state and, unlike earlier legislation governing the Service, gives it a clear direction with regard to the flood management role. Significantly, the management of flooding is the first function which is listed. To fulfil its charter the SES now seeks actively to develop and maintain its expertise in the flood management field - a field which is broad and complex and which covers a considerable range of disciplines. To understand floods and how they should be managed requires an acquaintance with hydrology and various of the environmental sciences as well as some of the social sciences. It also requires an understanding of the principles of management.

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