Subj : 'Significant shortcomings' in emergency management system - report To : All From : News Date : Tue Apr 23 2024 12:44 pm New Zealand's emergency management system "did not meet the needs of many New Zealanders", the government's 164-page inquiry into last year's severe weather events in the North Island has found. The inquiry, released today, found that the system does not have the capacity or capability to deal with significant, widespread events that impact multiple regions at once. In early 2023, the North Island was hit by a series of severe weather events, including Cyclone Hale, the Auckland Anniversary floods, and Cyclone Gabrielle. The events claimed the lives of 15 people, with one person still missing, and left lasting repercussions that will be felt for years. Following these devastating events, a thorough review was conducted over eight months to evaluate New Zealand's emergency management system. The objective was to identify shortcomings and recommend improvements to better prepare the country for future emergencies. The inquiry highlighted significant issues within the emergency management system, including deficiencies in preparedness, communication, and infrastructure capacity across various communities and Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) agencies. Despite commendable efforts in some areas where proactive planning was in place, the review emphasised that New Zealand lacks adequate preparedness for large-scale emergencies. "There were significant shortcomings in the way the emergency management system functioned. The effectiveness of the response in each region varied substantially. In some places, warnings were received too late or not at all; Civil Defence Centres were not set up fast enough or did not meet the needs of communities; there was a lack of coordination between key organisations; and communication and decision-making was slow or non-existent," it read. "Ultimately, the system did not meet the needs of many New Zealanders." The 14 key recommendations from the report include: 1. Putting people at the centre of emergency management: Establishing a community-led approach to emergency management, leveraging existing structures, and enhancing public awareness and education 2. Leveraging government resources: Expanding the role of the New Zealand Defence Force, improving weather forecasting, and enhancing infrastructure resilience 3. Optimising indigenous involvement: Recognising and empowering indigenous groups' contributions to emergency management 4. Strengthening National Agency: Enhancing the leadership role of the National Emergency Management Agency and improving monitoring functions 5. Clarifying governance roles: Defining roles of central, regional, and local government during emergencies 6. Enhancing capability across the board: Boosting command and control capabilities and establishing emergency assistance teams 7. Upgrading crisis management centres: Improving facilities and establishing backup centres for crisis management 8. Enhancing situational awareness: Investing in information-sharing platforms among emergency response services 9. Developing comprehensive warning systems: Establishing flexible warning systems covering all hazards 10. Extending self-sufficiency guidance: Promoting guidance for communities to be self-sufficient during emergencies 11. Prioritising infrastructure restoration: Ensuring early restoration of critical infrastructure like power and telecommunications 12. Recognising additional critical infrastructure: Acknowledging additional critical sectors beyond utilities 13. Investing in reduction and readiness: Increasing funding for community readiness and resilience 14. Updating funding policies: Streamlining funding processes for emergency response Additionally, the report highlighted shortcomings in public alert systems and crisis management centres. Challenges included internet outages and language barriers which hindered effective communication during emergencies. Recommendations included improving backup systems and simplifying language in weather forecasts. The 111 emergency response system also faced scrutiny, with issues ranging from overwhelmed services during peak events to outages preventing calls for help in some regions. Addressing these shortcomings is crucial for enhancing situational awareness and response capabilities, the report read. Severe weather events exposed vulnerabilities in New Zealand's infrastructure, with power outages, road closures, and water treatment plant damage affecting various regions. Ageing and interdependent infrastructure also poses significant risks, emphasising the need for investment in resilience measures. The report stresses the necessity of prioritising people and communities in emergency management strategies as urgent action and investment are required to build a resilient nation capable of effectively responding to future emergencies. Government response Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell said the report showed the emergency management system isn't fit for purpose. "This is not about individuals - who do an incredible job in emergency events - but the system as a whole," he said. "Weather events and other emergencies have a huge impact on local communities and regions. Any response requires involvement from communities, local and central government, authorities and organisations and emergency services. "We need to ensure New Zealand's emergency management system is appropriate for responding to future emergency events because lives and livelihoods are at stake." --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A44 2020/02/04 (Windows/64) * Origin: S.W.A.T.S BBS Telnet swatsbbs.ddns.net:2323 (63:10/102) .