Victoria’s thunderstorm asthma event of 21–22 November 2016 affected the health of thousands of Victorians and sadly, is thought to have contributed to the death of nine people.

The Victorian Government requested the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) to identify opportunities to learn from this event in order to improve future preparedness and response arrangements and performance.

IGEM’s Final Report documents what is known about thunderstorm asthma and analysis of the facts relating to the emergency response, and provides 25 findings and 16 recommendations to support improved preparedness and response to future health emergencies and other types of unexpected, rapid-onset emergencies.

The Final Report also includes exploration into:

  • surge capacity strategies for emergency response
  • sharing of operational communication and information
  • provision of public information, warnings and health advice
  • effectiveness of Triple Zero (000) and ambulance response.

Government released IGEM’s Review of response to the thunderstorm asthma event of 21–22 November 2016 – Final Report on 27 April 2017.  The report is available below.

Read the Victorian Government media release: Thunderstorm asthma: new systems, training and resources to better prepare and respond

Publisher
Department of Justice
Date of Publication

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