Angus McKay's emergency management team knew there was trouble brewing when he got a "panicked" call on February 3 reporting flooding and evacuations in Milford. EMS will also be supporting its own staff - many of whom were "thrown in the deep end," McKay said. Some continued working even after their own homes had been impacted while others were affected by the stories they'd heard. All this was tested for the first time two weeks during the severe weather conditions and flooding that lead to evacuations in parts of Gore, Mataura and Wyndham. A team was deployed to deal with evacuations and co-ordinate rescue operations for trapped trampers and tourists.

Source: Stuff February 19, 2020 02:15 UTC