THE WILDFIRES OF 2019 — SETTLING IN FOR THE LONG HAUL AT CIVIL DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS When a state emergency is declared, the national Civil Defence Emergency Management response kicks in and an emergency operations centre (EOC) is established. In this case, Fire Emergency NZ were the lead agency based at the Nelson Tasman Civil Defence EOC in Richmond. At its peak, the EOC operated 24 hours a day and was a second home to close to 100 people assigned roles under the NZ Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) structure. They included national experts from the Ministry of Primary Industries, NZ Police, Defence Force, and other agencies to lead specific responses. To manage the health response: • NMH established a separate EOC at Nelson Hospital to: Oversee the health response, support affected NMH employees, maintain essential lines of communication to the Civil Defence EOC and produce public information • NMH Emergency Response Manager Pete Kara took up the main health liaison role between the two EOCs. • NMH leaders attended EOC briefings and presented at community meetings • The Nelson Marlborough Public Health Service established an incident management team to offer expert advice and services, eg drinking water safety.
Director of Nursing and Midwifery Pamela Kiesanowski (in the white blouse) in her role as health incident controller at a Civil Defence briefing.
A briefing at the Nelson Tasman Civil Defence EOC: At the far right, Prime Minister Jacinda Adern. 14
GM Mental Health, Disability Support Services and Addictions Services Jane Kinsey at a community meeting in her psychosocial support role. She is photographed here with NZ Sign Language translator Paul Palmer.
