This paper reports selected results from a survey of Queensland local governments, conducted in late 2009, that investigated their adoption of state-level disaster management policies and guidelines. The survey comprised an online questionnaire distributed to all Queensland local governments, augmented by focus groups held in the regional coastal and inland administrative centres of Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Emerald, Charleville and the Gold Coast. The paper identifies and analyses the issues and strategies of local governments in adopting state government disaster management policies and guidelines, and engaging their communities in disaster management.