Final report into deadly storm event finds that though it could not be predicted, authorities were not adequately preparedVictoria will adopt a warning system and a statewide emergency plan for crises such as the thunderstorm asthma that hit the state last year, killing nine people. The storm even affected people who had never had asthma before, with the pollen triggering hay fever that then escalated to asthma symptoms. The plan will be funded by $15.56m in the Victorian budget next week and includes training, research, increased monitoring and interpretation of pollen data and a new emergency warning system. Thunderstorm asthma: report finds agencies failed to share information Read moreExperts had described the storm as the world’s worst recorded thunderstorm asthma event and many countries were awaiting Victoria’s report, Hennessy said. The full warning system and emergency plan will be in place by the start of the pollen season on 1 October.

Source: The Guardian April 27, 2017 05:15 UTC