Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO)

Last month, WREMO and our council Public Information Managers (PIMs) had the opportunity to visit the Radio New Zealand (RNZ) Wellington studio. The visit was a chance to strengthen our Group’s relationship with RNZ and discuss how we can work together more effectively to ensure clear and timely communication during a disaster. Radio is one of our most resilient communication channels and can reach communities if infrastructure has been damaged during events such as an earthquake or severe weather. Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) has a Memorandum of Understanding with RNZ, members of the Radio Broadcast Association (RBA) and Association of Community Access broadcasters. This means that we are committed to working together to provide broadcasts of critical information and warnings when required through the radio networks. Our ability to deliver important, wide-spread information to the public during times when situations and information are ever-changing, relies on our relationship with radio broadcasters. By understanding each other's capabilities and processes, we are in a better position to do this. A huge thank you to the RNZ team for having us along and showing us around.

🌟 Aotearoa's first solar-battery powered Community Emergency Hub🌟 A first-of-its-kind project has officially been implemented at Naenae Community Emergency Hub to provide back-up power and internet for the community during a disaster! 🔋🎉 Power outages, road damage and disruption to telecommunications during a disaster can make it difficult for people to connect with loved ones and receive critical information. A pilot project, funded by the NEMA Resilience Fund, designed a system to connect Naenae Primary School's solar energy to emergency batteries. How does the solar-battery system work? 🌞 The batteries are charged up with the school’s existing solar energy during the day. 🔋 In a disaster, these batteries can kick in during power outages and provide backup power and internet at the Hub. 👭📞 This enables the community to make phone calls and use the internet to connect with loves ones and find out critical information. 🏫 Day-to-day the system also reduces the school's energy bill. The school can use the batteries overnight and into the early hours of the morning to power their facilities. The project was a collaboration between WREMO, Hutt City Council, the Ministry of Education New Zealand, Naenae Primary School, ZEN Energy NZ, Chorus NZ Limited and Greater Wellington Regional Council, using funding from the NEMA Resilience Fund. The NEMA Resilience Fund aims to support strategic and collaborative projects that strengthen local disaster resilience which is exactly what this project set out to do. Naenae Primary School is one of 128 designated Community Emergency Hubs throughout the Wellington region. Community Emergency Hubs are places where neighbours can gather in a disaster to share information, resources and help one another. These are run by community members not council/Civil Defence. We are excited to see how the lessons from this project inform further discussions on community connectedness across Aotearoa!

How awesome are the rangatahi in our region? 🤩 Last week, were were lucky enough to attend a business proposal by a talented group of Māori and Pasifika students from Bishop Viard College in Porirua. The boys showcased their business, "District" - a brand focused on emergency grab bags! 🎒 After speaking to friends and whānau in their community, they created District Emergency Safe Kits. Part of their business model focuses on a 'pay-it-forward' system. People or businesses who purchase a District Emergency Safe Kit have the option to purchase another that can be gifted to community members in Porirua. We love to see our rangatahi getting involved and problem solving in their community! 👏 Shout out to Porirua City Council for their support. Want to show your support? Check them out on Instagram @dist.rict24

Last week's thunderstorm and yesterday's downpours were an important reminder that severe weather can occur at any time. ⛈️ Thunderstorms can form very quickly so a MetService New Zealand Thunderstorm Warning may come just minutes before it hits. Thunderstorms bring very heavy rain, intense lightning, hail, and severe wind gusts. Thunderstorms can be really focussed in particular areas and miss other places just kilometres away. It could be sunny in one part of the region and pouring in another.🌞⛈️ It's important to know what to do wherever you are... 🏡 If you are at home and you have time to, clear your drains and gutters to help reduce any surface flooding. Secure any loose outdoor furniture that may blow away in the wind. 🌳 If you are outside, take shelter indoors until the storm has passed. 🚗 If you are driving, be ready to slow down or stop until the storm has passed. Do not try to drive through flood water, just 30cm is enough to pick up your vehicle. For more information on what to do during a thunderstorm, head to wremo.nz/severe-weather 📸 Last Monday's thunderstorm rolling over the South Coast. Photo courtesy of Garry Butler.

If you were at work during severe weather, would you know what to do? ⛈️ Check out our 'Top 5' tips on things you can do to prepare for severe weather in your workplace. 1. Know your zone 👉🏼 Find out if your workplace is in a zone prone to river flooding by using the Greater Wellington flood maps: https://lnkd.in/gRy7kzzc 👉🏼 Parts of our region are also at risk of urban/surface flooding. More information may be available through your local council. 2. Have a plan 👉🏼 Heavy rain and flooding may mean you are unable to get home from work. Have a chat with your whānau or flatmates and make sure everyone knows what to do if they are unable to get home due to severe weather impacts. 👉🏼 If you commute to work, organise a place you could stay if you couldn't get home. This could be with extended family, friends or colleagues who live near your workplace. 3. Emergency Supplies 👉🏼 Prepare a Grab Bag with essential items in case you have to evacuate with little or no warning. 👉🏼 Plan for the supplies you may need if you are stuck at work with no power, or water. 4. Know your organisations Business Continuity Plan 👉🏼 A Business continuity Plan helps keep your business or organisations essential functions up and running after an emergency. 👉🏼 Severe weather can impact power, water and communication channels which can in turn, impact the way your business operates. 👉🏼 Have a chat with your employer around their Business Continuity Plan so you know what is expected of you after severe weather or storms. 👉🏼 If you are a business owner and don't have a Business Continuity Plan, you can create one using the free resources available on our website: wremo.nz/businesses 5. Get the Flood Out 👉🏼 If you see rising flood water, no matter where you are, evacuate to higher ground immediately. Do not wait for an official warning. 👉🏼 Stay out of flood water and away from damaged areas until the 'all-clear' is given. For more information on preparing for severe weather at home or at work head to wremo.nz/severe-weather

You can't beat Wellington on a good day, but do you know what to do on a bad day? ⛈️ Here in the Wellington region we can get some wild weather like strong winds and heavy rain! It is important we know our risk and know how to prepare for severe weather. Over the next few weeks we will be sharing our top tips for being Winter Ready! In the meantime, you can find out more on what to do before, during and after severe weather on our website 👉🏼 wremo.nz/severe-weather

🌟 Hutt City Emergency Response Team - NZRT-18 🌟 This National Volunteer Week, we are giving a huge shout out to our New Zealand Response Teams! Last, but certainly not least is the Hutt City Emergency Response Team! Since 2003, the Hutt City Emergency Response Team has supported the Hutt City area during an emergency, as well as the wider region, and nationally when required. Since October 2003, they have attended over 100 incidents including two deployments during and after Cyclone Gabrielle. As well as attending incidents, each week they give up valuable time with friends and whānau to upskill and train. This includes urban search and rescue (USAR) post-earthquake and disaster work, flood response work, medical and trauma care, and so much more. Ka mau te wehi NZRT-18 🤩

🌟 Victoria Rescue - NZRT7 🌟 This National Volunteer Week, we are giving a huge shout out to our region’s New Zealand Response Teams! Victoria Rescue is New Zealand’s only accredited University Response Team which makes them pretty special. The team is made up of volunteers who are both staff and students at Victoria University of Wellington. They provide light rescue and emergency response services to not only the University, but the wider Wellington community as well. Thank you NZRT-7 for all your hard work and dedication to our region. 💚

🌟 Wellington Emergency Response Team (WERT) NZRT-8 🌟 This National Volunteer Week, we are giving a huge shout-out to our region’s New Zealand Response Teams! NZRT-8, with 38 dedicated volunteers in Wellington City, has been supporting their community since 1971. Originally the 'Tawa Civil Defence Light Rescue Unit,' they focused on rescuing those trapped in buildings (specifically timber-framed residential buildings common in Tawa) after earthquakes. Now known as the Wellington Emergency Response Team NZRT-8, they were the first in NZ to receive official accreditation in August 2022. Thank you NZRT-8! We could not be more grateful for the mahi you do to help our communities. 🤩

🌟 Upper Hutt Community Rescue NZRT-9 🌟 This National Volunteer Week, we are giving a huge shout out to our region's New Zealand Response Teams! Members of the Upper Hutt Community Rescue team give up their time to respond to incidents at any time of the day or night, 365 days of the year. Not only are they volunteering their time responding to incidents, but they are also training weekly and supporting their community with first aid and logistics at events. NZRT-9 – you deserve a massive shoutout this National Volunteer Week for your dedication and mahi in the Wellington Region!