Media release
8 November 2012

New monitoring tool revolutionises Auckland’s storm response

Hurricane Sandy has reminded us how vulnerable coastal cities can be to large storm events. With 1500 kilometres of coastline, Auckland is a city at risk of the effects of tropical cyclones and storms.

To ensure Auckland is better informed of potential storm threats and their implications as soon as possible, Auckland Council’s Civil Defence has collaborated with MetService to develop a new storm monitoring tool which has revolutionised the way Civil Defence responds to storm events.

The tool creates detailed maps in near real time, providing full visibility of rainfall impact across the Auckland region. This level of detail and immediacy is a first for New Zealand and therefore a valuable resource for Civil Defence and other response agencies.

“We’re excited about the difference this tool can make when managing storm impact in Auckland,” says Clive Manley, Auckland Civil Defence Controller. “It has the potential to dramatically improve our response efforts and allows us to be better prepared should a large storm hit Auckland.”

The technology which went into the tool has never been used in New Zealand before and is used overseas retrospectively for post-event reporting of storms. Auckland Civil Defence and MetService have taken the technology one step further by creating a tool which uses the valuable data proactively, in near real time.

“The development of this tool is a first for New Zealand and just one of the ways Auckland Council is working with key stakeholders to help lead the development of emergency management products with national significance.”

The tool is currently operational in Auckland, however it was developed with the intention that any region nationally can use the tool to improve its own responses to storm events.

Auckland Civil Defence is a division of Auckland Council.

Ends

© Scoop Media