RFDS response to the floods
Throughout January, the floods caused numerous operational challenges to RFDS. Here’s a look at what we did to overcome some of those hurdles:
- With over 80 years’ experience providing aeromedical retrieval services in emergency situations in remote locations, the RFDS was called on to help evacuate hospitals and nursing homes ahead of the floods in St George, Emerald and Goondiwindi. This was made difficult by the fact that Rockhampton airport flooded, forcing the closure of our base and maintenance facility for almost a month. The Brisbane Airport Base and Brisbane head office were also closed to non-essential staff for a short time. We were able to relocate our aircraft and crews to other bases, minimising service disruptions.
- While Rockhampton airport was shut during the floods, patients were transported by helicopter. However, the range and fuel-carrying requirements for helicopters during bad weather limits their capacity to transfer from Rockhampton to a tertiary hospital. A temporary medical facility was set up at the airstrip in Gladstone, where the RFDS collected patients for further transfer to an appropriate medical facility.
Pictured: RFDS Rockhampton Base threatened by rising flood waters
- Some RFDS employees, like other locals, were isolated by the flood waters. One Bundaberg pilot required emergency services to ferry him across a flooded river so he could access the base and fly the aircraft.
- Coordination involved some round-the-clock sessions in managing the availability of additional staff and the positioning of aircraft and staff to be able to respond to tasks.
- Some operational employees were recalled from leave and some RFDS managers were assigned operational responsibilities to meet the needs.