Council opens Emergency Operations Centre as precaution
Far North District Council has set up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at its headquarters in Kaikohe beginning at noon today (Tuesday 31 January).
Far North District Council has set up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at its headquarters in Kaikohe beginning at noon today (Tuesday 31 January).
The centre has been stood up as a precaution following an updated Heavy Rain Warning issued by MetService for Northland. Yesterday, MetService upgraded its Heavy Rain Warning from orange to red – the highest warning level. The forecaster warns that the region could receive 140 to 220mm of rain until 4am Wednesday with peak rates of up to 10 to 20mm per hour possible. This will cause dangerous river conditions and flooding that could make roads impassable and isolate some communities.
The EOC is a central command post set up to co-ordinate a response to unfolding emergencies while ensuring that usual council operations continue. Representatives from emergency services – police, fire and ambulance – are part of the EOC, along with Civil Defence Northland and council staff with civil defence training.
EOC staff will be tasked with collecting, gathering and analysing weather-related information and will make decisions necessary to protect life and property, including setting up evacuation centres if required.
The council will continue to post regular updates on road closures or other weather-related events on the FNDC website Weather event updates – January 2023 news story webpage. Updates will also be shared to the FNDC Facebook page. Far North residents and visitors are urged to stay informed by following these pages.