​A 2 AM phone call: When disaster strikes, a better-together approach is the only approach

​In a natural disaster, it’s about welfare and people. The decisions made during those events have lasting impacts.

​They must be right.

​In August 2022, the Nelson-Tasman region in Aotearoa New Zealand suffered hundreds of landslides and intense flooding. The Nelson Tasman Civil Defence asked our team to organise and lead a geotechnical response unit to support the disaster and recovery. 

​In this setting, understanding geotechnical responses and following best practice engineering are crucial. It supports the safety and longevity of public infrastructure like bridges, tunnels, and roads.   

​But it’s about more than just that.

​“If you don’t have relationships, things fall apart,” says Alec Louverdis. He has dual roles at the Nelson City Council and with Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management. 

​Alec and Grant Maxwell, our growth leader for infrastructure resilience, talk about the process they use during natural disasters. How it’s built on trust. And what positive outcomes look like.