Get ready for an emergency

17 September 2014

We're getting ready - are you? That's the challenge from Taupo District Council, which is giving a special focus to its Civil Defence this month in the lead up to the national Get Ready, Get Thru week.

The Taupo District has hit the headlines in the last few years for Civil Defence emergencies, including an eruption from Mount Tongariro in 2012. Ash fall was a problem for communities at the southern end of the lake and emergency assistance was required.

Taupo District Council emergency manager Phil Parker said it was important for the community to use emergency events such as the Tongariro eruption to help prepare for future events. Nobody expected Mount Tongariro to blow and when it did there were a lot of scared people out there, he said. We want people to think about what they would do in an emergency now, how they can help themselves and be better prepared should it happen again.

The Taupo District is susceptible to a variety of natural disasters and is affected by tectonic plate movement and geothermal activity. Mr Parker said the community needed to prepare for all types of disasters as the district could be hit by flooding, landslides, earthquakes or volcanic activity at any time. Many disasters are likely to affect essential services, prevent people from travelling and communicate with each other, he said. You need to have the tools at home to cope as well as possible in at times like this.

To test its preparedness in an emergency, the council is holding a special exercise later this month that will see hundreds of staff descend on the Great Lake Centre for welfare assistance. The exercise will coincide with Get Ready Week, September 22-28, which is the national emergency management campaign for preparedness.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lisa Nairne Communications Manager 07 376 0762 027 839 8410

Vicki Waterhouse Communications Advisor 07 376 0718 027 484 2549

Taupo District Council

www.taupo.govt.nz