Black Summer in the Shoalhaven, NSW: what was it like and what could we do better? A resident’s perspective

Abstract

In this perspective paper, I describe the terror of being trapped in an isolated village on the New South Wales (NSW) South Coast as a catastrophic bushfire approached. In the aftermath of the 2019–20 ‘black summer’, I reflect on factors that could have helped reduce the trauma and stress experienced by residents, both during and in the wake of the bushfire event. Education, community planning and preparedness for a situation where modern communication methods fail are key factors to consider.

Keywords

• bushfires
• consumer health