Media Release
27 September 2005

Disaster Reduction Week 2005 – Whats Happening in Manukau

Rita, Katrina and Boxing Day Tsunami are names that have become synonymous with disasters across the globe in 2005. But are you ready if a similar disaster hit your town?

Manukau City Council Civil Defence Emergency Management wants to make sure that you are and will be at shopping malls during national Disaster Reduction Week which runs from 9 -15 October with the aim of raising local awareness and preparedness for disasters.

Times are: Westfield Manukau Shopping Centre on Monday 9 October between 9.00am and 5.30pm and Botany Town Centre (outside Farmers) on Thursday 13 October between 9.00am – 9.00pm.

Not only will local Civil Defence volunteers give advice on how best to prepare for a disaster they will also be giving away free Civil Defence board games to parents and guardians of children over ten years of age.

Manukau Civil Defence Officer Judy Fowler says:

“The board games are a fun way of getting the key message of Disaster Reduction week “Know how to Survive” across to families. Suitable for children 10 years and over the games are a great way of reminding us what to do before, during and after an emergency.

“Games have already been distributed to intermediate schools, libraries, recreation centres, outdoor education centres and Guides and Scout groups throughout Manukau and are proving extremely popular.”

The idea for the board game came from a working party made up of local Red Cross, NZ Police, NZ Fire, Injury Free Counties Manukau, Manukau Civil Defence and Manukau Environmental Services staff.

Parents: To obtain a free Civil Defence board game and what could prove to be life saving information on disaster preparedness visit our display stands at Manukau City Centre and Botany Town Centre during Disaster Reduction Week 2005. For more information on Manukau Civil Defence check out Council’s website www.manukau.govt.nz/civdef.htm.

ENDS

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