15 June 2006

Canterbury Civil Defence welcomes Government assistance

The controller of Canterbury's Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Bob Upton, has welcomed the government's offer to assist with emergency operations in the snow-stricken region.

In a visit to the group's headquarters today, Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker and acting director of Civil Defence, Bruce Ferguson assured local authorities in Canterbury that Central Government would do everything in its power to assist them. Mr Barker said Defence Force helicopters and all-wheel drive vehicles were ready to move into the affected areas to help local authorities to assist with contacting people in remote areas, welfare issues end emergency operations.

Meanwhile more bad weather is expected over the weekend and local authorities’ Civil Defence staff have warned people all over the region to stock up on food, fuel, batteries and other emergency supplies.

Mr Upton said that it’s possible the coming bad weather could affect other areas of Canterbury as well as those hit by this week's storm.

ENDS

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