Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more intense — and fleet teams are increasingly on the front line when these events strike. At the 2025 IPWEA Fleet Conference, a panel of experienced fleet professionals shared how their organisations prepare, respond and recover from extreme weather events like floods and cyclones.
The discussion featured Lynette Connor from Victoria State Emergency Services, Aimee Walter from City of Gold Coast, and Rick Thompson from Logan City Council. All three brought insights from recent disaster responses, including events that saw fleet assets damaged or operations severely disrupted.
Preparedness Starts with Planning
“Flooding is premium where we are,” said Rick Thompson. “We’ve got good at it.”
For Logan City Council, natural disaster planning is embedded in its Business Continuity Plan (BCP). Critical assets are identified early, and as events approach, teams begin repositioning vehicles and refuelling assets. They also check contracts for generators and mobile refuelling support.
The City of Gold Coast takes a similar approach, with Aimee Walter noting their BCP is updated regularly to incorporate lessons from past events. During recent weather events, her team focused on scenario planning, mobilising crews and shifting vehicles to higher ground.
Bulk fuel storage plays a big role in their strategy. “We made sure our storage was topped up and advised staff to fill up before expected power loss,” Walter said.
Victoria SES takes it a step further with purpose-built emergency plans. “We know our vehicles will go through floodwater,” explained Connor. “So we have post-event servicing that focuses on the issues that arise from that — it’s all part of our standard procedure.”
Managing Panic and Fuel Access
One of the challenges during any disaster is managing panic — especially around fuel. Rick Thompson shared a concern many councils face: how to keep critical assets fuelled without creating a run on local service stations.
Aimee Walter explained that strong internal communication helped reduce this risk. “Our CEO was giving briefings every day leading up to the event. That helped spread the load and avoided a fuel rush on any one day.”
For councils without bulk fuel storage, such as Victoria SES, pre-disaster relationships with mobile fuel suppliers are key. They notify suppliers early so they’re ready to respond on a 24/7 basis.
Generators: Owned, Shared or Contracted?
With electricity outages common during disasters, backup power is vital. Logan City Council uses a mix of council-owned generators, mobile units, and contracted suppliers. “We make sure they’re serviced, tagged and filled before release,” Thompson said. “We also check with our contract suppliers about availability and lock them in early.”
Victoria SES also maintains mobile generators to set up staging areas and support communities, while Gold Coast works with contracted suppliers to support their broader emergency response network.
The Local Disaster Coordination Centre Experience
A key insight from the panel was how fleet staff often take on new roles during a disaster. Rick Thompson spoke of stepping into the Local Disaster Coordination Centre (LDCC), a place far removed from the day-to-day world of fleet.
“I was lucky,” he said. “We’ve got a resilience team that provides training throughout the year. When the cyclone hit, it was my first real experience in the LDCC — but the training paid off.”
Aimee Walter noted she didn’t step into the LDCC directly, but her team played a key support role. “It’s about knowing where you can add the most value. I stayed in my lane and helped mobilise assets where they were needed.”
Her advice was clear: keep communication lines open and maintain strong relationships across teams. “In a disaster, there’s adrenaline and a lot of decisions flying around. Don’t be afraid to pause and ask clarifying questions.”
Post-Event Reviews and Improvements
The panel stressed that recovery is not just about cleaning up — it’s about learning and improving.
Logan City Council used fleet data and GIS mapping in the most recent floods to avoid a repeat of past losses. “In 2022, we lost a mobile lunchroom because no one thought about it,” said Thompson. “This time, we overlayed our IBMS with flood mapping and relocated assets early. That kind of proactive step makes a real difference.”
Servicing protocols are also adjusted post-disaster, particularly for vehicles used in floodwaters or harsh conditions. Victoria SES includes specific inspections and maintenance checks to catch issues early and return vehicles to safe working order.
Sharing Lessons Across Councils
One missed opportunity? Cross-council communication during and after disasters.
Thompson admitted there’s room for improvement: “While communication between neighbouring councils like Brisbane and Gold Coast is good, we don’t do a great job of sharing information specifically about fleet assets during disaster response.”
Better coordination and visibility of available resources — such as mobile generators, fuel trucks or high-clearance vehicles — could improve recovery efforts, especially in hard-hit areas.
People Rise to the Occasion
An unexpected upside shared by all the panellists was how staff performance often improves during a disaster.
“During actual events, people step up,” said Connor. “Most of our incidents actually happen during training or when returning from an incident, not while we’re in the thick of it. That’s when people are focused.”
It’s a reminder that while natural disasters bring uncertainty, the right plans — and people — can make all the difference.
Final Word: Relationships Matter
Whether it’s fuel suppliers, neighbouring councils, emergency teams, or internal staff, the strength of your relationships will shape the quality of your response and recovery.
As Amy Walter put it: “Strong relationships can be the difference between a good response and a poor one.”
And that’s a powerful lesson for every fleet team preparing for whatever nature throws their way.
Would you be ready? Join us at the 2026 IPWEA Fleet Conference in Melbourne to keep learning, sharing, and building resilient fleet operations for the future.
