Activity Group: People Goal 3. To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of all agencies and the Emerging Issues and Expected Changes community in their response to an emergency through integrated and coordinated effort. Changing roles Goal 4. To improve the process of recovery after an event in order to return to From 1 July 2017 Fire and Emergency NZ took over responsibility for all fire hazards in normal life as quickly as possible with a minimum of loss and disruption. Marlborough and for issuing fire permits within the urban districts. This activity now focuses on emergency management only. Preparedness for Major Hazards and Events New communication tool • Marlborough CDEM is prepared and able to coordinate a response and recovery Cell Broadcast Alerting is a new tool for warning the public of impending emergencies. from a major event such as earthquake and flood. It should be noted that the There is an onus on CDEM to use the tool in a timely and accurate manner and there Council is only one of the organisations that has emergency management is a public expectation that very tight deadlines will be met. As of early 2018, this tool responsibilities (others include the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, has not yet been tested in a real event. Police, Fire & Emergency, Red Cross, St Johns and the Ministry of Primary Industries). Changes to CDEM Groups • Response is carried out for the Marlborough District Council by the Coordinating The 2017 Ministerial Review of CDEM titled “Better Responses to Natural Disasters Executive Group (CEG) members who appoint a Controller and alternates to and Other Emergencies” is likely to result in changes to CDEM Group structures and manage an event. Exercises are carried out regularly and the Group is actively response capability. However future changes are likely to be introduced over a five involved in the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management 10 year year time period — as at January 2018 little is known of the likely outcomes of this training programme. review. • An Engineering Lifeline Group has been established to ensure that lifelines (essential services such as power, water, telecommunications and transport Alpine Fault Response Plan networks) in Marlborough are resilient, and able to withstand a major event, and to The AF8 (Alpine Fault) Response Plan is currently in draft form and this will include ensure that lifelines which are damaged during an event are repaired as soon as responsibilities and expectations of the Marlborough CDEM Group in the event of the possible. The Council employs a Lifelines Coordinator. Alpine Fault rupturing. Local plans will need to be completed which will outline how • Staff work with vulnerable sectors within the community such as the seniors, Marlborough will support the more heavily impacted regions. Associated with this migrant workers, tourists, coastal residents and a disability action group to ensure planning process is the review of the Wellington Earthquake National Initial Response they are prepared for emergency events, and that the organisations which care for Plan (WENIRP). Marlborough will be positioned to support Wellington when such an them have business continuity plans. event occurs and will need to have plans and agreements in place to ensure this occurs. • The Emergency Management Office receives numerous weather warnings from MetService throughout the year on a 24/7 basis, and staff respond to these Volunteers appropriately. The Group’s Civil Defence/Welfare Centres are well resourced. The training of Increasingly organisations which engage volunteers are expected to have similar • procedures for managing health and safety as they do for employees. This requires the volunteers is a high priority. Council to provide training and protective equipment, and to arrange for Police vetting. • A programme is underway to train Council staff to work in an incident control The Response Team is well trained and practised. However the community volunteers structure, with increased training to be provided for welfare and sector groups. who will open and manage the 16 Civil Defence Centres should receive more training, and this will require considerable investment over the next five years. • Our Group supports the Ministry’s national awareness campaign, and spends considerable resources each year encouraging residents to prepare for disaster. 2018-2028 Long Term Plan Page 51