Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2010

4.6 WARNING SYSTEMS4.6.1 NATIONAL WARNING SYSTEMThe MCDEM is responsible for issuing National warnings to CDEM Groups and other key emergency responseagencies for events of national significance. The Northland CDEM Group is required to be capable of receiving,acknowledging and responding to National warning messages at all times within 30 minutes and have proceduresin place to facilitate an effective response. The National System is tested by MCDEM quarterly. Refer to the National CDEM Plan for details on the National Warning System.4.6.2 NORTHLAND GROUP WARNING SYSTEMThe Group CDEM Office coordinates the issue, dissemination, and confirmation at the regional level in accordancewith the Warnings Procedure (EOP 02). The procedure outlines the agencies responsible for issuing warnings,levels of warnings and explanations of warning criteria. Public warnings will also be issued in accordance with theGroup Public Information and Media Management Plan (EOP 3).The general public can be alerted to an impending emergency using a variety of systems, including radio andtelevision, email, text messages, websites, 0800 telephone numbers, sirens, etc. The method depends on theevent type and particular community affected. Warning systems need to be part of public education activities toensure the community know how to respond appropriately. Refer to Northland CDEMG Plan EOP 2: Warnings for details on Group Warning Processes4.6.3 OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVEDThere are a number of agencies involved in the surveillance, monitoring, assessment of hazards and issuing alertsand warnings to incidents or events that may be a pre-cursor to an emergency (Refer table 6).The Group CDEM Office will ensure the Group warning system is tested at least once per year in conjunction withMCDEM tests. Any issues with the effectiveness of the system will be reported to CEG.Table 6: Agencies Responsible for Warning CDEM Groups and the PublicHazard alerts/warningsMonitoring / Surveillance AgencyVolcanic activity alerts and warningsInstitute of Geological and Nuclear SciencesEarthquake notifications 3Tsunami (distant and regional source)MCDEM forwards from the Pacific Tsunami WarningCentrePublic health warningsMinistry Of Health and District Health BoardsHazard that might lead to or worsen an emergency. MCDEM and Emergency ServicesForecasting and alerts/warnings/watches/outlooks/ NZ MetService and NIWA (forecasting)advisories for heavy rain, gales, snow, thunderstorms,swells, surge, volcanic ash.Flood warnings for major rivers, including Interpretation Northland Regional Councilof meteorological informationWeather conditions likely to increase the possibility of Rural Firewildfire.Animal disease outbreaks and pest invasions.Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)TerrorismNZ PoliceHAZNO incidentsHazardous Substances Technical Liaison CommitteeMajor Industrial AccidentsDepartment of Labour3 A tsunami generated with a large local earthquake or undersea landslide may not provide sufficient time to implement awarning. Similarly there is no means of forewarning an earthquake but notification is given once one has occurred.Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan, 2010-2015 Page 41