Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group media release
12 November 2008
For immediate release

Lots Of Billow Talk But No Smoke

A minor eruption of Mount Taranaki is scheduled for tomorrow (13 November) – but don’t worry, it will only be theoretical.

Many aspects of emergency planning will be put to the test in Exercise Billow, to be conducted by the Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group.

The Taranaki Emergency Management Office on Marsland Hill, New Plymouth, will be activated, but there will be no (no) impact on the day-to-day routines of people and businesses not involved in the exercise.

“The exercise scenario will take the form of a minor volcanic eruption of Taranaki that will cause some difficulty for various utility services, but will not be large enough to lead to an evacuation of Taranaki,” says the Group Controller, David Lean.

“The aim is to test the effectiveness of some of our operational procedures and other functions. As well as the utilities/infrastructure team, others to be involved will include our Rural Advisory Group and the public information team.”

Mr Lean says such exercises are an important part of emergency preparedness.

The scenario for the exercise has been developed by leading Massey University volcanologist Dr Shane Cronin.

ENDS

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