Household Emergency Planning Made Easy

The Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is encouraging Cantabrians to fill out a household emergency plan and checklist that was sent in the mail last week.

Councillor Sue Wells, Chair of the Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee, says now is a good time to fill out the Household Emergency Checklist and Plan that was mailed out to 1.6 million New Zealand residents. The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management produced the checklists and sent one to every household in New Zealand.

“In the past fortnight, New Zealand has had tornados, floods, power outages, and a major storm. In our region, we have had treacherous road conditions and snow over the past month. We think the checklist is a timely reminder to encourage Cantabrians to prepare for an emergency,” Councillor Wells said.

The checklist/plan includes information about emergency supplies, emergency contact information and how to plan for an emergency.

“For those families that already have an emergency plan, this is a good refresher. For those that don’t, this is a good place to start. An emergency can happen at any time, anywhere. We need to be prepared at all times and this is one of the many ways to get better prepared,” Councillor Wells said.

Canterbury is vulnerable to a wide range of natural events including extreme weather, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, landslides, and wildfires. The region is also vulnerable to technical hazards such as loss of power or telecommunications.

The Household Emergency Checklists and Plan are now available at district councils and at ECan. Residents can call their local council for more information.

ENDS

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