If you visited Upper Hutt Library last month, you might have spotted our Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) team taking part in a training exercise.

The scenario involved a severe weather event, triggering orange rain warnings and red wind warnings across the Wellington region. Sound familiar?

As a result, our EOC — along with others in the region — was activated to respond.

During the exercise, teams tackled a range of challenges, including:

• Conducting rapid impact assessments
• Sharing health and safety information with the community
• Coordinating with other EOCs and emergency services

While we all have day-to-day roles, our team regularly trains to activate and operate Upper Hutt’s EOC so we can effectively manage disaster responses when needed.

These exercises are crucial. They ensure that when a real event occurs, we’re ready to respond quickly and support our local community.

Want to find out how you get prepared?: https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/Services/Emergency-preparedness

Source: Upper Hutt City Council

17/06/25