Disaster scenarios top of workshop agenda

Friday September 23, 2005

With natural disasters dominating news in the United States lately, it is timely that senior emergency management staff in the Auckland region are meeting to discuss disaster scenarios.

Chairman of the Auckland Regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Cr Neil Morrison, says the workshop next Monday (26 September) will look at various scenarios including tsunami and the possible threat of Avian Bird Influenza.

“The workshop is an opportunity for senior managers working in emergency management in the Auckland region, to hear from experts and discuss issues that interest them,” says Cr Morrison.

“We have more than 90 people representing local government, emergency services, utilities and health services attending the workshop and will have guest speakers from the Ministry of Health, NIWA, Taranaki Regional Council and the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management.”

Cr Morrison says the recent weather-inflicted disasters in the United States serve as a reminder to everyone that when it comes to disaster planning, it is not a matter of if, but when a disaster will strike.

“Like most regions in volcanic New Zealand, Auckland is vulnerable to several possible disaster scenarios including eruptions, cyclones or a major infrastructure failure,” he says.

“We want to ensure that as emergency management professionals, we are as prepared as possible. But we also want to remind residents that they have an individual responsibility to be prepared as well.

“Now would be a good time for people to check the contents of their ‘B-ready kit’, or view the Civil Defence information in the Yellow Pages if they are not sure what they should do.”

More information about being prepared for a disaster is available online at www.cdemg.org.nz.