Hume is set to host this year’s annual Emergency Relief Centre Exercise as it joins 14 north-west councils, representing over 2.4 million residents, for the annual large-scale Emergency Relief Centre (ERC) training exercise on Wednesday 19 November.
The event will be hosted in partnership with the North West Metro Region Emergency Management Collaboration at the Mickleham North Community Centre in a bid to test councils’ ability to provide rapid and coordinated relief to communities affected by disasters like bushfires, floods, and storms.
The exercise simulates a real-life emergency in an aim to allow councils to refine their response procedures, share resources, and ensure ERC’s are fully equipped to meet community needs when disasters strike.
The Emergency Relief Centres were designed to act as safe, accessible hubs where trained council volunteers can provide shelter, food, water, first aid, and emotional support, while connecting affected residents to key agencies like the Red Cross and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
Hume mayor Jarrod Bell said the collaboration demonstrates the region’s strong commitment to community safety.
“Our collaboration across the region strengthens our ability to provide rapid and coordinated support in times of crisis,” he said.
“Exercises like this ensure we are ready to protect and assist our communities when they need us most.”
