Cyclone and natural hazard vulnerability in remote and indigenous communities of North Queensland

Researchers in the Centre for Disaster Studies (James Cook University) have carried out extensive studies of community vulnerability to natural hazards and natural disasters. The centre has also carried out post disaster studies within the remoter parts of North Queensland. These have been the Cloncurry floods of 1996, the Gulf River floods in 1997 and the impact of cyclone Rona in 1999. These studies suggested that a level of endemic vulnerability existed within the remote communities of outback Queensland. Additionally, members of the centre had previously been involved in other studies of the outback that were oriented towards development, sustainability, planning and demographic issues. An general awareness of the problems of the region suggested that vulnerability in outback communities may be greater than in coastal settlements.