Bay of Plenty response teams enroute to Canterbury and another staff member deployed

Date/time: Wednesday 23 February 2011, 1900hrs Release No: 4

A Bay of Plenty Emergency Management Officer is being deployed tomorrow morning to work in the Canterbury Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC). He will arrive about the same time as the three Bay of Plenty GECC search and rescue teams, which are tonight crossing Cook Strait and are expected in Christchurch tomorrow morning.

The teams from Whakatane (seven people), Rotorua (nine people), western Bay of Plenty (10 people) left Bay of Plenty this morning in fully stocked vehicles with trailers, which will be used to undertake their work in Canterbury . The primary role of these teams will be search and rescue of people trapped in buildings and under infrastructure.

An earthquake (an aftershock of the 4 September 2010 earthquake) of magnitude 6.3 struck yesterday at 12:51 hours 10km south east of Christchurch. The earthquake was at a depth of 5km.

This has been followed by a number of aftershocks, the largest 5.7 magnitude, which was 6km deep and centred 10km east of Canterbury.

Bay of Plenty GECC Group Controller Warwick Murray said that it was important to get the search and rescue teams to Canterbury as quickly as possible to support efforts in the area.

“In addition to these teams and the emergency management officer, the regional group is continuing to compile a list of other appropriately qualified people and equipment is available for deployment to Canterbury,” Mr Murray said.

“People in the region really want to help in Canterbury, so we are coordinating with the National Crisis Management Centre about what assistance is needed and when. If Canterbury needs our people and equipment to help them then we will get it there as quickly as possible.

“Everyone wants to help but we need to ensure that we send people and equipment that is most needed and that is what we are focusing on at the moment.”

If you have training in appropriate areas to assist with the Bay of Plenty’s support for the Canterbury Earthquake, please contact the Bay of Plenty Regional Council on email bopgecc@gmail.com or 0800 884 880 to register. Please also provide information about what your area of expertise is or the equipment you have available.

To keep up to date with developments go to the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management website (www.mcdem.govt.nz), Bay of Plenty CDEM website (www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz) and other news media.

For the latest updates on Bay of Plenty’s support to the Canterbury Earthquke, please visit:

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management website www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz; or
Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s website www.boprc.govt.nz and Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/boprc

Earlier information from the Bay of Plenty Group Emergency Coordination Centre.

The Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Group Emergency Coordination Centre (GECC) is encouraging people, who want to make a cash donation, to make it to the Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal.

New Zealand Red Cross, after discussions with Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, has begun accepting secure online and phone donations to help people affected by the Canterbury earthquake.

People can donate in two ways:
Make a secure online donation at www.redcross.org.nz; or
Make an automatic $20 donation by phoning 0900 33 200.

Red Cross has stated that it will work with local and Central Government on the distribution of the funds.

Bay of Plenty GECC Group Controller Warwick Murray said at this stage people wishing to make financial donations could do so through the Red Cross.

“While donations of cash are welcome, there is no provision or requirement for people to donate goods. The people of Canterbury do not need goods and trying to move these around will overload an already congested logistics network,” Mr Murray said.

ENDS

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