Disaster reduction week – are you ready?
News release
10 October 2005
Disaster reduction week – are you ready?
The Wellington region is susceptible to a number of natural and man-made hazards (eg earthquakes, flooding, tsunami, storms, wildfire). The whole region is vulnerable, ranging from the densely populated cities of Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley to the sparsely populated rural areas of the Wairarapa.
Natural disasters are dominating world news – most recently Hurricane Katrina providing graphic images of survivors in real need. But how many of us can honestly say we are prepared for when disaster strikes?
Jo Guard, Emergency Management Officer, Greater Wellington is keen to remind us that we must all be prepared to look after ourselves for at least three days. “We can count on support from emergency agencies but help may not arrive immediately. We have to take responsibility for ourselves.”
Thinking ahead and being prepared is as simple as starting with three simple steps:
1. You must store water
2. Have a survival
kit
3. Have a household emergency plan.
As part of Disaster reduction week 9-15 October - the Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is distributing 8,000 ‘pocket’ household emergency plans. These will be handed out to commuters and lunchtime shoppers on Wednesday, 12 October. Highly visible posters will also promote the three steps we need to take to be ready for when disaster strikes.
If you would like a handy household emergency plan, contact your local council or download one from the new Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management website - www.wrcdemg.govt.nz.
ENDS