Australia Black Saturday 2009

Question 1

How many people were cut off of their power supply

Answer 1

6000

Question 2

How many deaths

Answer 2

173

Question 3

How many ha were burned

Answer 3

450,000

Question 4

Total damage costs

Answer 4

$4.4 billion

Question 5

How many animals killed

Answer 5

Over 1 million

Question 6

Causes

Answer 6

Power cables falling causing sparks
40C temps, dry, low humidity
Wind speeds over 125km/h

Question 7

Responses

Answer 7

New fire hazard warning system in place
Australian govt contributed $465 million
Recovery assistance packages

Question 8

Vulnerability

Answer 8

Covered in eucalyptus
Climate reaches over 40°
Low humidity
Periodic droughts
Susceptible to high winds over 100km/h

Question 9

Main response

Answer 9

New fire hazard warning system
New fire danger index forecast everyday
Residents advised to leave if risk is high
New building regulations
Criticism for allowing rebuilding in Marysville where 90% had been destroyed by the fires before

Question 10

Immediate response

Question 11

Immediate responses

Answer 11

358 firefighters were deployed
$400 million donated
Australian Berau of Meteorology predicted how the fires would spread and warned residents