You probably expect the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to a major earthquake—just not to one in New Zealand. That’s what happened Tuesday, though, when a 6.3 magnitude temblor gave FEMA’s Deputy Administrator Timothy Manning a chance to roll up his sleeves and get to work.

Manning—who is trained as an EMT and firefighter, in addition to being a geologist—was in New Zealand to learn more about the country’s recovery from a quake that struck about 35 miles northwest of Christchurch in September. When Tuesday’s quake hit, Manning was waiting at the airport to depart, he told PBS.

“As we evacuated the airport building I did call home to my wife and let her know I was okay. And then I responded to a request from the police asking for volunteers in the crowd of evacuees in the airport asking for anybody who might be able to help,” he said.

Manning joined a busload of responders, doctors, and construction workers that headed into the city to help with search and rescue. As of Wednesday, he was still working with state officials while keeping the folks back home updated.

I was supposed to leave yesterday but skipped the evacuation flights in order to stay here,” he said in an interview with the Washington Post. “I'm here for as long as I'm needed.”

While Manning’s spontaneous rescue junket might seem coincidental, it’s less surprising considering the working relationship FEMA has built with New Zealand’s Ministry of Civil Defence. In fact, the two agencies signed a memorandum of cooperation just two months ago, formalizing the countries’ commitment to collaborating on disaster research and response.

“Close collaboration with our international partners is essential to building our resilience to disasters,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a December news release. “I look forward to working with our emergency management partners in New Zealand to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and keep our citizens safe.”

A similar bargain was struck between New Zealand and the DHS in January 2010, but with a science and technology focus. Both agreements pave the way for information sharing, leveraging research funding, and integrating the countries’ private and nonprofit partnerships.

“Given our hazards and geographical isolation, it is important that we have strong relationships that help us manage risks and seek assistance in a major disaster,” Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Hamilton told the New Zealand Press Association. “Having the relationships, knowing how to immediately contact each other and understanding how to work together are crucial to a speedy, well-directed response. The bigger the disaster, the more important the prior-arrangements and planning become.”

Outside of USAID's deployment of some of its FEMA-backed urban search and rescue teams, it’s a little early to know what the U.S. role in New Zealand earthquake response will be and how the memorandum will come into play. By all accounts, New Zealand is ahead of the game in earthquake preparedness, building code implementation, and emergency response.

“As was obvious from how far they had come in recovery from the last earthquake and what I've seen in the last 24 hours, they are very good here,” Manning told the Post Wednesday. “New Zealanders have a strong sense of community and are very well prepared and have come together very well.”