Journal Article

Author

Clarke, Michael

Title

For Whom Does the Bell Toll? The Conservation of Heritage in Disasters

In

Australian Journal of Multi-disciplinary Engineering

Imprint

vol. 6, no. 1, 2008, pp. 11-19

Url

https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.167019675381536

Description

Paper presented at the National Engineering Heritage Conference (14th: 2007 : Perth).

Abstract

Emergency management has come a long way in the last 20 years, and certainly since the Newcastle earthquake of 1989 and the Nyngan flood of April 1990. Planning now includes dissemination of information, provision for warning and evacuation, ensuring speedy mobilisation of personnel, provision of equipment and post disaster activities; it also involves definition of roles and coordination of the efforts of agencies, such as the emergency services, police, ambulance, fire services, volunteer agencies and defence service personnel, should they be needed. In recent years, the potential for terrorist attacks has been added to the list of long-recognised disasters, and the creeping impact of climate change has begun to exacerbate many weather-related disasters. While in many disasters there is potential for damage and destruction of heritage assets, most post-disaster action is at present aimed at rescue and return to normality. Despite its advances, disaster planning still does not include mechanisms for assessing and conserving vulnerable heritage assets. Consequently, their preservation becomes the lowest priority of disaster-related activities. A response plan is therefore required that is integrated into emergency services' plans and manuals to safeguard heritage assets. The plan must recognise that the necessary decision-making requires the expertise of heritage professionals and cannot be left to emergency personnel that lack the required knowledge. The plan should be championed in each state and territory by its heritage agency, and when disaster occurs, managed by it in a cooperative manner within the emergency service framework. A register should also be prepared of skilled heritage personnel who can be called on in an emergency; it should be kept up-to-date and categorised according to capabilities. It is the heritage community's responsibility to pursue the introduction of such reforms.

Related Published resources

isPartOf

• '14th National Engineering Heritage Conference - Selected Papers (2007 : Perth)', Australian Journal of Multi-disciplinary Engineering, 6 (1) (2008), 128, https://search.informit.org/toc/ajmde/6/1. Details