February 23, 2011

The Wellington Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Group Office and regional local authorities have been collaborating on the emergency response, the chair of the Wellington Region CDEM Group, Mayor Jenny Rowan said this afternoon.

“A range of significant actions have been taken in the past 24 hours.

“So far two Local Response Teams have been mobilised and sent to Christchurch. They left early this morning. A third team will be leaving tonight,” Jenny Rowan said.

Group Controller, Rian van Shalkwyk reports that the Group has also been co-coordinating the reception and management of 820 evacuees (mainly international tourists) from Christchurch.

“This work started at 3am this morning and will continue way into tonight,’ Mr van Shalkwyk said.

“A reception centre has been set up at the Air Force Terminal at Wellington Airport,” Jenny Rowan said.

“So far three flights with a total of 265 people have been processed and taken to welfare centres, Wellington Airport or Wellington City according to their requests.

“The Group Office is also co-coordinating other requests received from Christchurch through the National Crisis Management Centre and as well as co-coordinating staff for the welfare centres, Wellington Emergency Management Office, the National Crisis Management Centre and the airport reception centre,” she said.

ENDS

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