Press Release ·
The Emergency Management Department has been formally established and today launches its official website at emergencies.gov.vin, where alert levels, emergency plans and preparedness guidance will be published.
Preparedness and response
- Preparedness
What households should do before an emergency, and the arrangements in place at each site of the Network.
- Response
How an emergency is declared and managed from the Network Coordination Centre, and the findings of Exercise Meridian.
- Network Alert Levels
The four alert levels, what each requires of staff and citizens, and how to register an address for alerts.
- Register of Emergency Plans
Twenty-four site, hazard and continuity plans, with their references, owners and review dates.
- Statistics
Incidents, exercises, responders and registered addresses recorded in the transition period to 5 September 2026.
- Frequently asked questions
What the alert levels mean, what to keep at home and what to do when an emergency is declared.
Latest announcements
All news- Network Coordination Centre to Open and Alert Levels Published
The Network Coordination Centre at Central Exchange will be staffed continuously from 07:00 on Monday 7 September 2026. Four Network alert levels take effect the same day at every site.
- Department Publishes Register of Emergency Plans
The register of emergency plans is published from today: six site emergency plans, fourteen hazard response plans and four Network continuity plans, each with a named owner and a review date.
- Department Publishes First Statistical Release and the Findings of Exercise Meridian
The Department's first statistical release covers the transition period from 10 August to 5 September 2026: 41 incidents recorded, 9 exercises held, 186 responders trained and 11,900 addresses registered for alerts.
About the Department
The Emergency Management Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network is responsible for preparedness and for the coordinated response to emergencies at the sites of the Velocity Interoperability Network.
It maintains the register of emergency plans, operates the Network Coordination Centre, sets and issues the Network alert level, trains and directs the site response teams, and publishes guidance for households and for member organisations.
Milestones
6 September 2026
Department established
Responsibility for preparedness and for the coordinated response to emergencies passed from the member organisations to the Department, and applies at every site of the Network.
6 September 2026
emergencies.gov.vin launched
Press releases, the four Network alert levels, the register of emergency plans and preparedness guidance for households published on the official website.
7 September 2026
Network Coordination Centre staffed continuously
The Centre at Central Exchange takes up continuous duty at 07:00, the alert levels take effect at all six sites, and the six site emergency controllers begin their duties.
Forthcoming
Exercise Northgate II and quarterly reporting
Exercise Northgate II will be held at Northgate Relay on 13 October 2026. The Department's first full quarterly statistical report, covering the quarter ending 30 September 2026, will be published in October.