Cyclone exercise tests Rotorua Civil Defence team

Rotorua is better prepared for a major emergency following Rotorua District Council’s full day Civil Defence exercise staged this week. The exercise involved more than 100 council staff and external participants.

‘Operation Cyclex’ took place at the council Civic Centre where an emergency operations centre was established and activated, and a mock local Civil Defence emergency declaration made.

Participating in the exercise with council personnel were emergency services, Red Cross, Citizens Advice Bureau staff, DHB representatives, amateur radio group AREC, and observers from regional and national Civil Defence Emergency Management.

The exercise scenario involved dealing with the escalating effects of a powerful cyclone and days of heavy rain causing widespread flooding throughout the district.

RDC’s Civil Defence public information manager Rex Moore said it was an intense day of activity which would help further improve Rotorua’s preparedness for dealing with an emergency affecting the district.

“We had a range of cyclone related issues to deal with during the exercise including a staged evacuation of 3000 residents and school children from a suburb threatened by a water reservoir rupture; traffic accidents, children missing from a school camp, sewerage leaks, water and gas supply interruptions, airport and road closures, a tornado and a uniquely Rotorua hydrothermal eruption adding another touch of reality.

“We leant a lot from the exercise, and we’ve identified some improvements that we’ll be incorporating into our systems as a result.

“But overall it has given us confidence that we’ve achieved a reasonably high level of planning and preparation that should see us come safely through a real life emergency of this nature.”

Mr Moore said Rotorua District Council is looking at increasing the frequency and type Civil Defence exercises in the future so that the local team was as well-equipped as possible to deal with any emergency arising.

He said Rotorua residents could play their part in being prepared by ensuring they have their own household emergency plan in place, and an emergency survival kit set up at home to help get through the first few days of a major emergency.

He pointed people to information on the council website rdc.govt.nz which provides guidelines and suggestions for being prepared for emergencies.