23 Nov 09, 10:52 Update on Civil Defence & Rural Fire

Current Status CDEM

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:11:30 +1300

There are currently no warnings in place for the Gisborne district.

This does not mean that an event cannot occur at anytime such as tsunami or earthquake. Here are some suggestions on how you should be ready

Other status levels

Alert | Standby | Declaration | State of national emergency

Alert

We have been alerted to a possible situation by:

Met Service, or
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, or
Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, or
Other warning systems such as telemetry/flood warning.

Standby

A hazard or event of significance is imminent or has occured and has impacted or may impact on the CDEM Group Area and may require response coordination.

Declaration

A state of local emergency declared under section 68 or section 69 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. An emergency means a situation that:

is the result of any happening, whether natural or otherwise, including, without limitation, any explosion, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, land movement, flood, storm, tornado, cyclone, serious fire, leakage or spillage of any dangerous gas or substance, technological failure, infestation, plague, epidemic, failure of or disruption to an emergency service or a lifeline utility, or actual or imminent attack or warlike act; and
causes or may cause loss of life or injury or illness or distress or in any way endangers the safety of the public or property in New Zealand or any part of New Zealand; and
cannot be dealt with by emergency services, or otherwise requires a significant and co-ordinated response under the Act.

State of national emergency

Declared under Section 66 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.

Civil Defence plans and reports

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:46:15 +1300

Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Plan

This plan was approved in July 2004 and has a life of 5 years. It was prepared and produced by council and key partners, in consultation with the public, and in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act 2002, National Strategy and guidelines issued on CDEM planning.

Introduction, Strategic Issues, Hazard Risk Reduction Arrangements
Operational Arrangements
Administration Arrangements & Tables
Annexes ‘A' to ‘O'

Recovery plan

Recovery is defined as the coordinated efforts and process to effect the immediate, medium and long-term holistic regeneration of a community following a disaster.

Recovery Plan

Welfare plan

A Welfare Group has been established within the District EOC to meet the obligations the Gisborne CDEM Group has in relation to any person, persons or family unit removed from or isolated in, their normal place of residence anywhere within the Gisborne District, because of an event that has resulted in an emergency.

Welfare Plan

Volcanic contingency plan

The purpose of this plan is to identify steps that the Emergency Management team will use to manage the lead up to and eruptive stages of a volcanic event. The recovery phase will be managed with procedures contained in the Group Recovery Plan, except for the cleanup issue which will have to be planned at the time.

Volcanic Contingency Plan

Tsunami plan

The purpose of this plan is to provide procedures to be followed in the event that the Gisborne district has warning of a distantly generated to keep communities safe or for a timely response to a locally generated Tsunami.

Tsunami Plan

Tsunami Evacuation Maps

Flood plans

Te Karaka

It is now some years since Cyclone Bola required the evacuation of the Te Karaka township. It is very easy for those who experienced it to forget this occurrence or for those who have come to live in Te Karaka since then to realise that it will be necessary again in the future. Te Karaka Flood Plan

Tolaga Bay

The purpose of this plan is to outline the procedures that will be used in the case of a flood event that necessitates the evacuation of the 3 areas collectively known as Tolaga Bay. Tolaga Bay Flood Plan

Poverty Bay Flats

The purpose of this plan is to outline the procedures that will be used in the case of a flood event that necessitates evacuations of areas on the Poverty Bay Flats. Poverty Bay Flats Flood Plan

Hazard warning

In the city area, the Gisborne City Fire Brigade siren is not part of the civil defence warning system.

Hazard Warning Systems Report

Be prepared

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:07:18 +1300

Be prepared to cope on your own for up to 3 days or more.

Have an emergency household plan - download a checklist

Survival plan checklist - you need:

Enough food in your home to last 3 days.
To know where to get water, if your normal supply is unavailable. Store some water if a warning is issued, fill containers immediately after a large earthquake.
Alternative lighting. A torch with spare batteries, gas lantern or light sticks. Tip - store some batteries sealed in a bag in the fridge. Don't use candles - they're not safe.
A battery operated radio and spare batteries. Don't forget your car radio as a last resort.
A first aid kit and manual. Make sure you have your essential medication.
Alternative heating, blankets, survival blankets or warm waterproof clothing.
Alternative cooking methods, barbecue or gas cooker.
Important family documents stored where you can get them easily during an emergency.
A first aid kit and fire extinguisher in your car.
A workplace survival plan.

During an emergency you need to listen to the radio for instructions

We will broadcast over these stations during an emergency:

945 kHz AM - Talkback ZB
585 kHz AM - Radio Ngati Porou
90.9 FM - ZGFM
98.1 FM - Radio Ngati Porou
98.9 FM - More FM
94.8 FM - Radio Live
91.7 FM - Turanga FM
88.5 FM - Uawa

Only use the phone in emergencies. Also:

Look out for your neighbours and elderly folk.

Know how to turn off your power, water and gas.

Look at the last yellow page in the centre of your phone book for your community emergency centre.

Know what the threats are - and what they will do to you.

Don't go sightseeing.

Plan how you will survive without power, phone, food, water and the emergency services.

Know what you will take if you have to evacuate.

Community civil defence staff

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:31:32 +1200

If you wish to volunteer to join a community group contact us

Click on the link to find the civil defence staff in your community -

Civil defence emergency management

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:08:23 +1300

Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) is the responsibility of everyone. It should be part of our everyday life. We need to know the hazards that affect us, what their effects are, how we will survive their impacts and how we will fix the results of those impacts - commonly known as the 4Rs.

Reduction

♦ learning about the hazards and reducing the risks

Readiness

♦ commonsense procedures to prepare for an event

Response

♦ looking after ourselves and people in distress during an event

Recovery

♦ fixing what didn't survive, hopefully better than it was before

Flood photos 30 June 2009

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:43:52 +1200

Photos taken from around the district on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 June 2009. Rain started falling quite heavily from Sunday afternoon and by 9am Wednesday morning a huge amount of rain had been dumped on the district.

The city received 169mm of rain, Matawai 162mm, Tokomaru Bay 345mm, Te Puia Springs 423mm, Whangara 364mm and Ruatoria 340mm.

On Tuesday night the Hikuwai River peaked at 11.78 metres, Waipaoa River reached 6.95 metres, Waiapu 5.25m and Waimata at Goodwins 7.25 metres. Fortunately the rain eased before the rivers reached critical levels. By 9am on Wednesday morning the Hikuwau was 8.2m, Waipaoa 5.92m, Waiapu 4.46m and Waimata 5.6m and they kept receding.

Swine Flu

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:11:50 +1200

Advice and information about Influenza A [H1N1] Swine Flu pandemic.

The first confirmed case of Influenza A (H1N1) in Tairawhiti was reported on Monday 22 June. The case is a woman who recently travelled to Auckland but has not been out of New Zealand. The woman had been contacted by members of the Healthy Populations team and is exhibiting mild flu like symptoms and does not require Tamiflu. This case indicates that this virus is now in our community.

Advice for workplaces

It is business as usual for most workplaces. Staff should stay home only if they have flu-like symptoms or if they have received medical advice to stay home.

Be prepared - at home and in the workplace

Be prepared - this is the time for people to make sure they're prepared to be self-sufficient for a week, should they need to. This means you should have enough food water and basic medical supplies including paracetamol or ibuprofen as well as regular medications, nappies for babies, cleaning products, tissues and bathroom supplies for at least a week.
Hand hygiene is still the single most effective measure in protecting yourself. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.
Alcohol-based cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread this way.
Practise good cough and sneeze etiquette. This means covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and disposing of the tissue in a lined rubbish bin with a lid or plastic bag.

Checklists and advice on how you can prepare for a pandemic are available on the Ministry of Health's website