Case Study: Waimakariri District Council improves flood response and evacuation management with D4H

Dealing with 1-in-100 year New Zealand Floods" with Waimakariri District Council

The Waimakariri District Council, responsible for civil defense in a flood and earthquake-prone region of New Zealand, faced the immense challenge of coordinating a large-scale evacuation during a catastrophic 1-in-100-year flood event. To manage their emergency response effectively, they utilized D4H's emergency management software, specifically D4H Incident Management and D4H Personnel & Training.

By using D4H’s software integrated with ArcGIS mapping, the council efficiently identified at-risk areas, managed personnel and volunteer deployments, and created actionable response plans. The solution enabled the successful execution of the largest planned evacuation in the district's history, safeguarding thousands of residents. The measurable impact was a highly efficient response, though the council also identified key learnings to further improve future operations, such as increasing EOC staffing. Waimakariri District Council credits D4H as a critical tool for creating a common operating picture and has since adopted it across the wider Canterbury region.

Waimakariri District Council

Brennan Wiremu

Emergency Management Advisor