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31 January 2020
eBulletin is your regular source of emergency management news, information, case studies, best practice, research and reports.
Take a moment to find out the latest and celebrate successes from our sector.
NEMA News
National Emergency Management Agency
The National Emergency Management Agency was established on 1 December 2019, replacing the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management. The National Emergency Management Agency is an autonomous Departmental Agency hosted by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The National Emergency Management Agency will assume all of the current responsibilities of the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 and National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan 2015.
Minister of Civil Defence, Hon Peeni Henare speaks at the launch of the National Emergency Management Agency
Chief Executive
The Deputy State Services Commissioner has appointed Carolyn Schwalger as the Chief Executive of the National Emergency Management Agency for an interim period. Carolyn has been the Programme Director for the transition from the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) since July 2019. Prior to her NEMA roles, Carolyn was a senior leader at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Carolyn's primary focus will be to continue to lead the transition from MCDEM into NEMA to achieve the strategic shift sought by the government, and to ensure effective implementation of the Emergency Management System Reforms.
Carolyn Schwalger
Chief Executive of the National Emergency Management Agency
Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management
Sarah Stuart-Black will continue in the statutory role as the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, bringing her wealth of operational excellence, skills and relationships to NEMA in that role.
Under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (CDEM Act), the Chief Executive of NEMA and the Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management cannot be the same person. Sarah assumes the role of Deputy Chief Executive, NEMA.
Tsunami monitoring and detection network deployment announced
The deployment of a network of Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) buoys was announced in December last year.
DART buoys are deep-ocean instruments that monitor changes in sea level. They are currently the only accurate way to rapidly confirm a tsunami has been generated before it reaches the coast.
New Zealand ShakeOut / Whakahaumaru Aotearoa
New Zealand ShakeOut, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi took place at 1:30 pm on 17 October 2019.
An amazing 797,821 people were signed up from across the country to take part in Drop, Cover and Hold — and to practise a tsunami hīkoi (evacuation) if in a coastal area.
Anthony Frith, Communications, National Emergency Management Agency
anthony.frith@nema.govt.nz
2019 Emergency Mobile Alert nationwide test a success
The annual Emergency Mobile Alert nationwide test took place successfully on Sunday 24 November between 6-7pm.
Overall, feedback has been positive and an online survey has collected information from almost 39,000 respondents.
Since its launch in 2017, the system has been used 15 times in actual emergencies such as fires, gas leaks, boil water notices and severe weather.
Sector Spotlights
Wellington’s explosive end to the training year
Last November, 300 staff in the Wellington Region practised how they would respond to a Mount Taranaki eruption covering the Wellington Region with up to 4mm of volcanic ash. The ash-fall scenario was used for the Wellington Region CDEM Group’s annual table-top exercise, ‘Rangi Pouri’ (Dark Skies).
Twelve four-hour sessions were held at the region’s six local Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) and the regional Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC). Staff from the nine councils, other government agencies and non-government organisations activated to respond to the evolving situation.
The annual exercises concluded a successful first year of the new emergency management training programme for regional coordination centre staff, which was launched last February.
For more information, contact the WREMO Capability Development Team
capability.development@wremo.nz
Temporary accommodation MOU between Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM Group and House of Travel
Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM Group has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Stephen Parsons, House of Travel to assist them in the provision of emergency accommodation.
Emergency accommodation is for displaced people who cannot return to their homes for a short period because of an emergency, so it is important that placement into temporary accommodation is as smooth as possible during an already distressing time. Partnering with an organisation like House of Travel, who specialise in providing accommodation, will ensure that this process doesn’t add extra stress.
With over 29 years experience in travel and accommodation in the Manawatū-Whanganui region, access to a vast network of accommodation providers, and a team of experienced staff who can work remotely from any location, they will be a hugely valuable resource to the region in an emergency.
Jeanie Boost-Turner, Manawatū-Whanganui CDEM Group
Jeanie.boost-turner@horizons.govt.nz
Exercise Rū Whenua – South Island CDEM Groups test the SAFER Framework
Last November, the six South Island Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Groups and their partner agencies practised a South Island-wide response to a major Alpine Fault earthquake.
Exercise Rū Whenua Whakariterite involved 30 agencies from across the South Island and representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Central government agencies participate in multi-agency Coordination Centre course
In late November 2019, Shane Briggs from Oranga Tamariki, and Claire Pettigrew from Ministry of Education, delivered a multi-agency intermediate Coordination Centre course. Participants came from eight different central government agencies.
While the course used the CDEM Integrated Training Framework material, participants shared their experiences with recent responses to incidents and emergencies, such as the March 15 terror attack, protests, and Pigeon Valley fire. Some participants commented that they now have a broader oversight of the whole Incident Management Team (IMT) and appreciated the reference to the practicalities of real-life response.
This was the second recent multi-agency intermediate Coordination Centre course hosted by the Ministry of Education. Oranga Tamariki is hosted another course this week, which included a CDEM Group facilitator to strengthen CDEM Group and central government relationships and shared understanding of roles and responsibilities.
Shane Briggs, Senior Advisor Emergency Management and Continuity Planning, Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children
shane.briggs@ot.govt.nz
Lifeline Utilities Coordinator workshop piloted
Last December, a Lifeline Utilities Coordinator pilot workshop was held in Dunedin. This one-day training was facilitated by Glenn Mitchell and assisted by Sarah Hexamer from Emergency Management Otago.
After completing an eLearning module, a small group of subject matter experts and local attendees from a variety of agencies were present for the day. During the workshop, some required changes were identified to encourage engagement and relevancy to the activities for participants, which will be in place before final sign off by the National Emergency Management Development Group Capability subgroup. Following sign off, a content knowledge course will be held for trainers in March this year.
Sarah Hexamer, Emergency Management Otago sarah.hexamer@otagocdem.govt.nz
2020 Emergency Management Summer Institute
The 2020 Summer Institute dates have been confirmed as 9-13 March in Wellington. This will mark the 13th year the Joint Centre for Disaster Research has hosted this event.
This week long short course provides a theoretical and practical introduction to a range of topics relating to emergency management, and is open to anyone. This year’s course includes a full day marae visit unpacking the role of kaupapa Māori
in disasters, a field trip exploring the hazard scape around Wellington, and tours to number of agencies around the city engaged in this work.
Emily Campbell, Course Coordinator
e.campbell@massey.ac.nz
Response + Recovery leadership development in 2020
In December 2019, the events across the country proved again the need for every region to have trained Controllers and Recovery Managers ready to lead. Several of those who stepped up last month are graduates of the Response + Recovery Leadership Programme (RRLP). The third cohort finished their leadership course in Hamilton in November 2019.
The 2019 RRLP courses attracted participants from a wide range of backgrounds and agencies, emphasising the all hazards-all agencies approach and providing the basis for building strong relationships across the whole emergency management sector.
There are four Tier 1 courses planned for 2020, along with two Tier 2 courses in the second half of the year. A Tier 1 transition course is also being developed to cater for Controllers who have previously completed the Auckland and Massey-AUT Controller Development Programme to qualify at the Tier 1 RRLP level.
Vacancies
- Emergency Management Advisor People Capability - Hawke's Bay CDEM Group
- Organisational Readiness Advisor - Tauranga City Council
To list a Civil Defence Emergency Management sector role, please email the National Emergency Management Agency communications team. We'll include your listing on our website and upcoming editions of e-Bulletin.
Got a story?
e-Bulletin provides newsworthy updates about Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) and related information. It is for people in the CDEM sector and/or those with an interest in CDEM. e-Bulletin shares information, case studies, best practice, research and reports and celebrates successes. Topics may cover:
- upcoming events and activities
- descriptions of responses to emergencies
- information about research (keeping in mind it is not a peer-reviewed journal)
- reports on what has been happening
- announcements of new publications and guides
- information about courses (ones you have been on and ones coming up)
- celebrations of successes.
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