Abstract
January 2011 visited on Queensland Australia floods of proportions many
thought could not have occurred again, following disaster management
planning taken after the historic floods of the 1800s and 1974. This paper
presents some reflections on this natural disaster, which affected many
members of the ANZAM community and left a permanent mark on those directly
affected and those who watched as the waters washed away lives, memories and
many of the things that give people a sense of place. Amongst tragedy came
stories of generosity of human spirit as well as the occasional case of
greed and callousness. When all was over, however, there was no doubt about
the human side of disaster management. Through two case studies of a
family-owned business and a large organization impacted by the flood in
Brisbane, we highlight some lessons for disaster management and propose some
strategies for building social capital in times of disaster.
