Beachlands / Maraetai Neighbourhood Response Plan kicks off

How would Beachlands / Maraetai cope with a disaster? Do you know what you should do? This and other issues will be discussed at a public meeting to be held on Tuesday 12 July at Maraetai Community Hall, 7:00pm - 9:30pm.

The Christchurch earthquakes have reminded all New Zealanders how vulnerable we are in the face of a natural disaster. In recent years, Auckland has been affected by a number of civil defence emergencies, including flooding, tornadoes, and tsunami threats generated by earthquakes in Chile and Japan.

Experience has shown that, after a disaster, it may take three days or more for emergency services such as, police, fire, ambulance to reach many neighbourhoods and individuals. In areas that are isolated or have limited access, it may take longer. Those who have experienced disasters have witnessed the way in which neighbours naturally come together to help one another.

“To help our communities get through an emergency we are working with them to develop Neighbourhood Response Plans so that the community knows what to do in an emergency and can look after themselves and each other,” says Auckland Civil Defence Controller, Clive Manley.
Beachlands / Maraetai is one of a number of local communities across the region that is starting the Neighbourhood Response Plan process.
The purpose of the plan is to build community resilience to emergencies and disasters by identifying hazards that may impact the area. The plan will outline how the community will respond and remain self reliant for at least three days without any external assistance in the event of an emergency.

The primary element in any Neighbourhood Response Plan is for every family to be prepared for an emergency. Everyone should be encouraged to prepare an emergency survival and a get-away kit and create and practise an emergency survival plan.

For information on how to be prepared visit Get Ready Get Thru.