Geological events have always played a part in the Australasian emergency management scene. The Newcastle earthquake of 1989 considerably raised public awareness of such an occurrence while other hazards, such as cyclone and bushfire, have long captured the public's imagination. Although infrequent in Australia, the potentially catastrophic impact of geological events must be aknowledged and prepared for.

Since the Newcastle quake, events such as the Thredbo landslide, the Asian tsunami and the Kalgoorlie earthquake have reminded emergency responders that they need to effectively manage geological incidents both at home and on overseas deployment. Of course, this ability has long been understood in the New Zealand emergency management landscape where catastrophic geological events have been experienced in the past and may repeat in the future.

This area of the Knowledge Web collects information about preparation, response and recovery for geological events. It also provides links to national and international resources.

Be sure to consult Industry Positions and Policies and the members-only Geological Events: Case studies for further information.