More than 240 council staff, emergency services personnel, community organisations and support agencies gathered in Knox for Exercise East to prepare for a major emergency impacting multiple communities.
The large-scale emergency management exercise brought together agencies from across Melbourne's east to test their response to a complex emergency requiring multiple Emergency Relief Centres to open across the region.
Major emergencies do not stop at municipal boundaries, so effective emergency management depends on strong partnerships and shared planning.
Participants worked through a realistic bushfire scenario, making critical decisions under pressure while coordinating support for affected communities.
Knox is one of eight councils in the Eastern Metropolitan Councils Emergency Management Partnership (EMCEMP), alongside Boroondara, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash, Nillumbik, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges councils.
The partnership works year-round to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies across the region.
EMCEMP works closely with emergency management and relief organisations, including Emergency Management Victoria, Victoria Police, Australian Red Cross, The Salvation Army and other community support agencies.
By testing plans, strengthening decision-making and building relationships across organisations, Exercise East helped ensure the region is better prepared for future emergencies.
