It's time we get ready to get thru

Have you considered what you would do if a natural disaster struck and you had no access to the services you needed?

Next week is Get Ready Week, which is a great time to plan and prepare for the possibility of an emergency.

We are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards in the Central Plateau and emergency manager Ian Connon said we need to be aware and prepare as well as possible.

"We have plenty of natural hazards in our area which means a higher chance of a Civil Defence emergency happening in our district," he said. "We have to take responsibility for our own safety and preparedness, so we can fend for ourselves and our families for at least three days following an event."

A recent snow event in Rangitaiki shows how susceptible the district is to these sorts of events occurring, and was a good reminder for us to be prepared. The snow dump isolated the rural community and left it without power for several days.

"Something like this can happen to any of us at any time," Ian said.

Being prepared means having an emergency kit inside your home that contains essential items like food, blankets, a radio, plenty of water, a flash light and a first aid kit.

"By having all these items ready to go, you'll know where to turn in an emergency and be better equipped to get through it," Ian said.

This year the theme of Get Ready Week is prepared kids. Kids play an important role in making sure their family is prepared by learning about natural hazards at school.

"We also want to encourage schools to update their emergency preparedness plans during this time and use them to build resilience with their students," Ian said.

GET READY WEEK

Get Ready Week runs from October 10-17. For more information on how to be prepared, visit the Civil Defence Emergency Management section on our website or www.getthru.govt.nz