As a Brit rotary guy who flies in Oz I must comment on the efficiency of the logistics of Australia when it comes to getting blades in the air.
Doesn't matter if it's fire or flood, once someone gets the stick between their teeth the whole thing starts going. Lists of tasked helos are on the web, the ring around sets off and with the delightful attitude that we'll apologize to CASA later pilots go off and save lives.
As the Australian pilots will tell you, it's all perfectly organized, but it is not, and that's why it works. If Max Mayne, the R 44 farmer had waited for CASA approval for what he did, there would be bodies floating. It is a bunch of guys with a good organizational structure and an Oz spirit that gets stuff done.
If the UN ever gets round to commisioning an "International Rescue" (without the pink Rolls Royce) then they should look at the way Australia does it when they get the government out of the way.