MEDIA RELEASE

14 March 2011

Hurunui Is Prepared for the Big One

Civil Defence in Hurunui is reassuring residents it is prepared to help the district get through should an earthquake strike closer to home after two big shakes in Canterbury in six months.

Emergency Management Officer, Allan Grigg, says the district’s civil defence response has been tested with flood events in recent years, and in particular in 2008, and as a result the structure is well practiced and personnel well organised and trained.

“We have a solid support base in our district with a number of longstanding personnel who not only know our district and its needs, but have significant experience in emergency events including supporting Christchurch through both the September and February earthquakes.

“We also expect our residents to be well prepared in the wake of the two significant events that have impacted on our neighbours, which have reinforced so very clearly why we need to have a plan and enough water, batteries, and other essential supplies on hand to see us through at least the first 72 hours before help arrives.”

Hurunui Mayor Winton Dalley says while he is aware many in our district are feeling nervous and anxious in the wake of the quakes, it is important we are prepared to cope with any emergency.

“While we escaped relatively unscathed in both September and February, both events serve as a timely reminder no area of New Zealand can expect to be immune to the vagaries of nature. Indeed Hurunui has had enough experience with storms and flood events, to understand that better than most.

“Our district also sits on fault lines that have played up in the past and there is always a chance they will do so again in the future.

“What our community needs to know is that the all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure if that happens we can and will manage. There is no need for alarm. Council staff are trained and experienced in emergency response. We are here and will be there for you.”

Winton Dalley says the district’s civil defence capability is highly regarded with many staff and volunteers providing valuable support in welfare, planning, building and public information during the Christchurch earthquake responses.

“We have a strong local civil defence organisation, and well trained first responders in police, fire, ambulance, search and rescue, and medical centres – all of whom have been contributing their expertise and knowledge to helping our neighbours in both the September and February response and recovery phases.”

At the same time he reinforces the need for all residents to also be in a position to look after themselves and neighbours in the first instance, during any emergency.

“If we have learnt anything from the Christchurch experience, it is that it does take time for emergency services and back up to reach people, especially where infrastructure including roading is badly damaged.

“We need to rely on each other and look after each other, something I have every confidence our community will respond to. I have seen that community support demonstrated first hand after the 92 snow and 2008 flood, and now also the support and helping hand our district has so willingly offered to its neighbours 50 kilometres away.”

In the event of a civil defence emergency in the Hurunui, Sector Posts would be immediately activated across the district and an Emergency Operations Centre, that would gather information on the impact and resulting critical issues and resourcing, would be established in the Hurunui District Council offices in Amberley.

Once it is known what and where the issues are the EOC can start planning and prioritising resources to address problems.

While police, fire and ambulance would respond immediately, Emergency Management Officer, Allan Grigg says the planned response does take time “and in some cases days as we have seen in Christchurch, and until then our community would be largely on its own.

“While per head of population Hurunui is extremely well resourced, our ‘Achilles Heel’ is the tremendous size of our District, with damaged roads and bridges posing a significant threat to our road access and telecommunications. This could take days, weeks or even months to deal with, depending upon the scope of the emergency.”

Welfare centres would be opened as needed, as emergency shelters in the initial days of the event, with arrangements made to coordinate government department assistance from the likes of WINZ, IRD, EQC and Housing New Zealand.

The Hurunui District Council website shows the planned location of Civil Defence facilities around the District, although these locations may change with little notice, depending on the type of event and extent of damage.

For further information contact:
Allan Grigg Winton Dalley
Emergency Management Officer Mayor
Hurunui District Council Hurunui District Council
P: 03 314 0024 P: 03 314 0011

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Preparedness checklist attached:

Are You Prepared For An Earthquake?

Personal Level

Survival Items
Food & water for at least three days (for entire household)
Medication for seven days (where possible)
Radio, Torch & spare batteries
Cell phone charger
1st Aid Kit
Pet Supplies
Primus or gas BBQ
Toilet paper, bucket, large plastic bags and a spade
Soap and/or hand sanitiser
Baby / small child supplies

Get Away Items
Sleeping Bag / Bedding
Warm Clothing

Car
Spare warm clothing
1st Aid Kit
Food
Water
Car charger for cell phone
Torch & batteries

MOST IMPORTANTLY a plan that the whole family knows and understands, particularly concerning where and when to go and what to take.

Communications, road access, electricity and water are likely to be major issues in the first days of an emergency event. If people are prepared at home, most of the impact from the loss of these services can be minimised.

YOU MAY BE ON YOUR OWN FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS

Things to do to prepare for, and do immediately after a big quake

During an Earthquake

If inside stay inside, get under or beside something solid and strong, keep away from windows and unstable objects

If outside stay outside, try and move away from tall heavy objects or trees that may fall. Keep away from buildings as building facades, flying glass or roofing materials may endanger you.

If in bed, stay in bed until the shaking stops.

If in your car, slow down and pull over somewhere safe, away from objects that may fall and wait in your vehicle until the shaking stops.

USE COMMONSENSE. There may be situations that may make some of the above advice impractical. The important thing is to pre-plan your reactions in your everyday locations. This increases your survival chances and decreases the likelihood of panic affecting your actions.

Water

Shut off your tanks until you are sure there are no leaks (county scheme could be out for weeks).
If you rely on pumped water now for stock etc., what provisions have you for no electricity, generator, water tank on a trailer etc?
Keep a supply of clean drinking water. If you need to have water delivered it probably won’t happen but if it does it will need boiling. A store of frozen 2 and 3 litre bottles are ideal as you can use them to keep fridges / freezers cold and use them after they have thawed.

Electricity

Turn off your electricity until you are sure that there is no danger from electrocution or ignition risk.

Fuel.

Keep a supply on hand and don’t rely on the local service station it could be out for weeks if not months.
Check and secure overhead fuel tanks, will they still be standing? Is there trees that could fall on them etc.

Phones

Ensure you have at least one phone that does not require electricity to run (standard Telecom phone). Cordless phones do not work without electricity. Ensure you have a means of charging your cell phone if power fails.

Chainsaws and generators.

Have them serviced and ready to go and keep them handy, not in the back of the shed that might fall down

Gas bottles

Keep them full and keep camping gear and caravans where you can get at them easily. You might not need them but somebody else may. Have a supply of matches, torch batteries, canned and dry food etc.

Keep safe

Check on your dwellings and buildings, are there trees, tank stands etc. close that could fall on them and if so is that part of the house used?
If you have a brick chimney is this seismically braced or reinforced?
Are your heavy furniture, fridges / freezers etc seismically restrained to avoid endangering you and your family?
Sort out a safe place to be before it happens, preferably outside.

ONCE YOU’VE DONE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR YOURSELVES, CHECK ON NEIGHBOURS.

ends

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