13 April 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Weather-related callouts and weather-related communications
Enquiry
- How many weather-related callouts did the council receive today and what did they entail ie flooding, powerlines, trees etc?
- From a council perspective, what goes behind a decision to widely broadcast a weather warning, and how do you weigh up how to convey that to the community?
- How do you weigh up the risk that a weather event might be a bit of a fizzer - and that people might lose faith in the forecast - with the need to warn people about potential risks?
- What is being done to continuously improve how potential weather events are communicated to the community?
Any other comments are welcome.
Response
The following information was provided:
Re weather-related callouts today (as at 3.30pm):
Council’s contractors have dealt with four treefalls today – no major ones – three on Tarawera Road this morning and one on Pongokawa Valley Road this afternoon.
Rotorua remains under a strong wind warning at present so people should take care on the roads and report any slips or treefalls by phoning Council on 3484 199.
Re notifying the public of potential significant weather events:
From Rotorua Lakes Council Communications Manager Ingrid Tiriana:
We will generally communicate forecasted significant weather events if/when they are upgraded by Metservice from “watch” to “warning” for Rotorua so that the community can be prepared, knowing that there is always the potential for the situation to change. That is the nature of weather and we think the community understands that this is the case and that it is better to be prepared than to get caught out.
These weather events are becoming more frequent and highlight the need for everyone to be prepared in case of a significant event.
We share the latest information from Metservice and/or BOP Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM), take advice from Rotorua Lakes Council civil defence staff regarding anything specific to the local situation that needs to be communicated, and will provide updates as needed.