Westport Flood Evacuation Response Plan

Westport Flood: Evacuation Response Plan

The West Coast Emergency Management component of the Resilient Westport programme is focused on severe flood events. A key part of this is developing the Westport Flood: Evacuation Response Plan, which focuses on improving arrangements that support flood-related evacuation activities in and around Westport.

The Plan was developed throughout 2025 in conjunction with key stakeholders. It is essentially a plan for Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Controllers, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff and stakeholders directly involved in carrying out a flood-related evacuation of Westport and surrounding areas such as Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road.

The stated aims of the Plan are to provide:

  • Risk Assessment and Timing: Identify critical information needed to determine: the need to evacuate, and appropriate timing and level of an evacuation response based on flood risks and vulnerabilities in at-risk areas.

  • Resource Estimation: Estimate numbers of evacuees, types of support required, and transport and accommodation resource requirements for assisted evacuees.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Guide stakeholder engagement and initial public communications about the evacuation.

  • Operational Guidance: Outline specific evacuation phases, processes and tasks, and guidance for detailed operational planning and decision-making.

What does this mean for the everyday member of the Westport community?

Like so many places in New Zealand, Westport faces natural hazards that might mean an evacuation, particularly in a flood situation, is necessary.

We’re working on how to help everyone in the community to be better prepared should that happen.

We’re looking to ‍provide Westport residents with information about:

  • what they should do if an evacuation is recommended/directed

  • how they should plan and prepare themselves for an evacuation event

  • the flood risks being addressed by the plan, and the broader Westport hazardscape

  • lessons learned from past events and how the current situation differs from the past (eg, improvements in modelling etc that supports evacuation decision-making)

  • how evacuation decisions are made – what is considered, who decides and when

  • the roles of emergency services and others who coordinate or contribute to help ensure a successful evacuation

  • evacuation phases, the key processes and activities within each phase

  • how the public will be informed of evacuation recommendations or directions (channels)

  • how much warning may be possible for different types of flood events and how long will they likely have to leave before flooding starts and/or roads are affected.

To help with this, we have put together a short Westport Get Ready – Go! Evacuation Guide (read more below) and we held Westport Evacuation Plan – free community information event on 23 April 2026.

Emergencies can happen anytime. You can take steps to be prepared.

Westport Flood: Evacuation Response Plan

  • What is the new Westport evacuation plan?

    ‍West Coast Emergency Management has prepared an enhanced flood evacuation plan for Westport, Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road.

    ‍The Westport Flood: Evacuation Response Plan essentially guides decision-makers and members of the Emergency Services in the event of an emergency.

    ‍ It also aims to help the Westport community to self-evacuate if a major flood warning confirms an evacuation is necessary because of serious safety risks.

    ‍ The plan is a living document, which sits with West Coast Civil Defence Emergency Management, so new information will be considered and incorporated into it over time.

    What’s the aim of the evacuation Plan for the community?

    ‍ We want to ensure a high level of awareness among Westport residents in the flood risk areas about the plan and that they know:

    • ‍ how they should prepare (have their own plan)

    • where to get key information (eg, river levels and what they mean)

    • how evacuation recommendations or directions will be delivered (channels),

    • and understand what they should do if an evacuation is recommended or directed.

    ‍Who is the Plan for in the emergency response sector?

    ‍ ‍It is a plan for Civil Defence Emergency Management Controllers, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff and stakeholders directly involved in carrying out a flood-related evacuation of Westport and surrounding areas such as Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road.

    ‍What’s the aim of the evacuation Plan for the emergency services?

    ‍ The aims of the Plan are:

    • ‍Risk Assessment and Timing: Identify critical information needed to determine: the need to evacuate, and appropriate timing and level of an evacuation response based on flood risks and vulnerabilities in at-risk areas.

    • ‍ Resource Estimation: Estimate numbers of evacuees, types of support required, and transport and accommodation resource requirements for assisted evacuees.

    • ‍ Stakeholder Engagement: Guide stakeholder engagement and initial public communications about the evacuation.

    • ‍Operational Guidance: Outline specific evacuation phases, processes and tasks, and guidance for detailed operational planning and decision-making.

    ‍How will people know when to evacuate?

    ‍There would be wide-spread messaging if an emergency flood evacuation were required. Sources of information will include radio, television, social media, websites, mobile public announcement systems and, at the most appropriate time, an emergency mobile alert. Door knocking may occur if other communication methods are not available.

    ‍Would there be advance notice of an evacuation to give people time to prepare in a flooding emergency? 

    ‍ Severe weather warnings, cumulative rainfall data and river and rain gauges – among other tools –provide good information to help predict a major flooding event. Westport residents can expect 12 or more hours’ notice of a flooding evacuation depending on the circumstances at the time.

    ‍What are the flood evacuation triggers?

    ‍ Deciding on an evacuation is a complex matter involving the consideration of many things including severe weather warnings (red or orange heavy rainfall warnings from MetService), cumulative rainfall, field measurements and observations (including from river and rain gauges), and geotechnical and structural performance monitoring, satellite imagery, rain radar (if available), and expert opinions.

    ‍ A key factor for Westport is ensuring people can get across the bridges from the main township to places of safety in advance of a major flood. In all cases, avoiding or reducing serious risk to human life is a primary concern.

    ‍Other important contextual considerations for an evacuation decision may include: adverse weather conditions reducing effectiveness of emergency resources, road or bridge closures, relatively large numbers of people at risk (eg, peak tourist season or visitors attending an event), and time of day – the evacuation process will be much safer if it can start and be completed during daylight hours.

    Where can residents get updates in a live emergency situation?

    ‍ ‍In an emergency call 111

    ‍Will the evacuation response plan be made public?

    ‍ The Westport Flood: Evacuation Response Plan will be made available on the Resilient Westport website but is important to note that it is essentially a working document and guide for Emergency Management and others who also develop and implement more specific operational plans.

    ‍ However, we have extracted elements of it that are relevant to the everyday person in Westport. We have compiled these in the Westport Get ready-Go Evacuation Guide which is being distributed to homes in Westport and surrounds in April 2026.

    Fundamentally, it is important to us that people in the community know who is doing what in an emergency and what they can do to be better prepared.

    ‍What are the flood evacuation phases and objectives for the members of the public?

    ‍ Decision Phase        

    ‍Take note of early warning messages and get ready to go.

    ‍ Warning Phase

    ‍ Follow instructions issued by authorities. Self-evacuate early if you can, or seek assistance.

    ‍ Withdrawal Phase

    ‍Follow instructions issued by authorities. Self-evacuate as quickly as possible, or seek assistance.

    ‍ Shelter Phase

    ‍Remain in a safe place and await further instructions and information.

    ‍ Return Phase

    ‍ Follow instructions issued by authorities. Return only when told it is safe to do so.

    ‍ ‍‍ ‍

    What is the Westport: Get ready-Go Evacuation Guide?

    ‍ The aim of the Guide is to support household preparedness in the event of a major flood or other emergency affecting Westport and surrounds, requiring people to evacuate to a place of safety.

    ‍It breaks down the phases of an evacuation from the point of view of an everyday person, alongside the actions of Emergency Management.

    ‍It provides clear information on what to expect and how to prepare in a flooding emergency.

    ‍What is the Household Evacuation Plan template?

    ‍We have compiled a short Household Evacuation Plan template that residents can fill out, in advance, with key information to help in the event of an emergency. This means they will have some handy checklists for things pack and consider and some key contacts already noted down. The aim is to save some of worry if an evacuation is signalled or required.

    ‍ How can I find out more?

    ‍ ‍Residents can drop into the regular Tuesday Resilient Westport community drop-in sessions from 11am to 1pm at 147 Palmerston Street.

    ‍Email: info@resilientwestport.co.nz‍

Westport evacuation guide

‍‍The Westport Get Ready – Go! Evacuation Guide was put together by the West Coast Emergency Management Team, in conjunction with Resilient Westport.

The aim of the guide is to support household preparedness in the event of a major flood or other emergency affecting Westport and surrounds, requiring people to evacuate to a place of safety.

We have also created a short Household Evacuation Plan template that residents can fill out with family, friends or housemates, in advance, with key information to help in the event of an emergency.

Information evening

A free public event was also held on 23 April at the NBS Theatre in Westport to talk through elements of the Westport Evacuation Plan with the local community.

The goal of the community information evening was to help residents understand:

  • How evacuation decisions are made

  • The science and modelling behind how flooding is predicted

  • What to expect during an emergency

  • What residents can do to prepare

  • Where to go and how the process works.

To find out more about the information evening, read our latest media release.

To find out more about the Guide and what’s in it, go to the Westport Evacuation Guide page.

You can download the Guide here.

You can download the Household Plan template here.

Planning saves lives

  • We already have Civil Defence in Buller that is managed through West Coast Emergency Management Group (WCEM).

    All four councils on the West Coast and iwi, make up the WCEM Group.

    • West Coast Regional Council

    • Buller District Council

    • Grey District Council

    • Westland District Council

    • Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio

    • Te Rūnanga of Ngāti Waewae.

    The aim of the WCEM is to coordinate emergency management activities, mainly focussed on readiness and response.

    As we saw in the flood events of 2021 and 2022 (and many other occasions), in an emergency WCEM sets up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to oversee the coordination of agencies and communities involved in a response.

    The operational direction of WCEM is provided by the four councils, Fire Emergency NZ, Police, Health NZ, Medical Officer of Health, St John, the Group Controller, Department of Conservation, Makaawhio and Ngāti Waewae.  These agencies meet on a quarterly basis and make up the ‘Coordinating Executive Group’ (CEG).

  • Our survey into ‘How well can you self-evacuate in a flood?’ has now closed

    The purpose of the survey we ran in October 2025 was to help the CDEM team in the creation and finalisation of their enhanced flood evacuation plan for greater Westport (Westport, Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road).

    A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes drafting a plan and working with critical infrastructure agencies and emergency services to improve planning, and look at ways to improve community capability and resilience.

    The survey was conducted for the team to test their assumptions with the wider community. It ran from 17 October 2025 to Friday 7 November 2025. The information is being used to help tailor the flood evacuation plan to the community’s needs.

    See our Evacuation Survey FAQs for more.

  • Frequently Asked Questions Emergency Management Survey (October 2025) 

    How long does the survey run?

    The survey will run from 17 October until 4.30pm on Friday 7 November 2025.

    How can I fill out the survey?

    The survey can be filled out online on this page: letstalk.bullerdc.govt.nz/emergency-management-survey

    Paper surveys and information can be found at the Buller District Council Westport service centre or the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library in Westport. 

    Is the survey anonymous?

    We ask that you supply your name and email address or phone number to help ensure the source and accuracy of the survey responses we receive. Any sharing or publication of survey results, including with local Civil Defence Emergency Management, will be in an anonymised format.

    How will the survey results be of use?

    We are preparing an enhanced flood evacuation plan for Westport, Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road.

    The planning we’ve done to date is based on good information about our community’s capabilities and preparedness such as Census data and statistical information about the population, households and local tourism. But we need the help of our local residents to confirm the reliability of this information and improve our knowledge on the extent the community is able to self-evacuate if a major flood warning confirms an evacuation is necessary because of serious safety risks.

    The plan will be a living document so new information will be considered and incorporated into it as we go along.

    When will the enhanced evacuation plan be made public?

    We will share more information about the plan with the community later in the year. It is important to us that people in the community know who is doing what in an emergency and what they can do to be better prepared.

    What’s the aim of the Plan for the community?

    We want to ensure a high level of awareness among Westport residents in the flood risk areas about the plan and that they know:

    • how they should prepare (have their own plan)

    • where to get key information (eg, river levels and what they mean)

    • how evacuation recommendations or directions will be delivered (channels),

    • and understand what they should do if an evacuation is recommended or directed.

    Who is the Plan for in the emergency response sector?

    It is a plan for CDEM Controllers, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) staff and stakeholders directly involved in carrying out a flood-related evacuation of Westport and surrounding areas such as Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road.

    Who can participate in the survey?

    The survey is intended for residents of Westport, Carters Beach and Snodgrass Road who are aged 18 and over. We only need one response for each household.

    How will people know when to evacuate?

    There would be wide-spread messaging if an emergency flood evacuation were required. Sources of information will include radio, television, social media, websites, mobile public announcement systems and, at the most appropriate time, an emergency mobile alert. Door knocking may occur if other communication methods are not available.

    What are the flood evacuation triggers?

    Deciding on an evacuation is a complex matter involving the consideration of many things including severe weather warnings (red or orange heavy rainfall warnings from MetService), cumulative rainfall, field measurements and observations (including from river and rain gauges), and geotechnical and structural performance monitoring, satellite imagery, rain radar (if available), and expert opinions.

    A key factor for Westport is ensuring people can get across the bridges from the main township to places of safety in advance of a major flood. In all cases, avoiding or reducing serious risk to human life is a primary concern.

    Other important contextual considerations for an evacuation decision may include: adverse weather conditions reducing effectiveness of emergency resources, road or bridge closures, relatively large numbers of people at risk (eg, peak tourist season or visitors attending an event), and time of day – the evacuation process will be much safer if it can start and be completed during daylight hours.

    Would there be advance notice of an evacuation to give people time to prepare in a flooding emergency? 

    Severe weather warnings, cumulative rainfall data and river and rain gauges – among other tools –provide good information to help predict a major flooding event. We anticipate 12 or more hours’ notice, but this will depend on the circumstances at the time.

    Is the survey only for flood-related evacuations?

    The Plan we are working on is focussed on flooding, but the learnings from this process will apply to most, if not all, other emergency situations. Improved planning and preparedness help in all emergency circumstances.

    How can I find out more?

    Copies of these FAQs and paper survey forms will be placed at the Buller District Council Westport service centre or the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library in Westport. 

    Residents can also drop into the regular Tuesday Resilient Westport community drop-in sessions from 12noon to 2pm at 147 Palmerston Street.