Power is about to go out in Canterbury for hours, maybe days...are you ready?

Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Exercise Pandora 2009

What: The Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group will be holding their annual exercise, Pandora, this week. This exercise will focus on power outages throughout the region. (NOTE: No power will actually be turned off at this time; the power outage is notional only.)

Who: District and City Councils in Canterbury, the Canterbury Emergency Management Office, emergency services, electricity lines companies.

When: The main exercise day is 4 September 2009, starting at 9:00 a.m. End times for exercise vary from district to district.

Where: The exercise will be held at district and city council offices and at the Regional Emergency Coordination Centre at 58 Kilmore Street.

Other information:

James Thompson, exercise director and regional training coordinator, says that while these exercises are important for organisations responsible for responding to emergencies, community support is key for survival during real emergencies.

“It is essential that people take care of themselves and each other in emergencies. Make sure you have an alternative way to light and heat your home that doesn’t rely on electricity, as well as another way to cook,” said Mr. Thompson.

“This scenario is also useful reminder to business to revise or develop plants to manage through power cuts. We never know when these exercises may turn into reality.”

ENDS

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