Successful evacuation exercise

EVACUEES from Awahou School were treated for “injuries” during a full-scale evacuation exercise in the Pohangina Valley last Friday involving a wide range of emergency services from throughout Manawatu.

More than 100 people took part in the “real time” event that included the 60 pupils and staff from the school, as well as police, army, fire fighters, rescue helicopter, paramedics, welfare teams, Neighbourhood Support groups and Civil Defence and Emergency Management personnel from the Manawatu District, Horizons Regional and Palmerston North City Councils.

Manawatu District Emergency Management Officer, Ross Brannigan, said it was the first exercise of its type in the district for some time and he was delighted with the final result.

“All the emergency services were represented and the children entered into the spirit of the occasion,” he said. “It certainly provided the community a close-up insight into the workings of those services involved.”

Exercise objectives focused on tests of the Awahou School’s emergency plans and Ashhurst Fire Brigade’s response time and the activation of a welfare centre at the Highland Home Christian Camp further up Pohangina Valley.

The exercise scenario dealt with the evacuation of Awahou School’s pupils and staff, after major flooding and landslides, to the welfare centre where they were registered and an immediate needs assessment carried out.

A number of fun-learning activities followed, along with emergency services displays.

Mr Brannigan said the Pohangina Valley was an appropriate setting for the exercise as it was one of the most likely areas in the district to be affected by an emergency.

“It was good to be able to test our emergency management arrangements in the area and ensure the kids had a good day in which they learned a lot,” he said.