We can’t predict earthquakes, but we can prepare for them.
Waimate District Council prepared by joining a national, multi-agency exercise called Pandora, on Thursday 7 November.
The exercise was based on an AF8 scenario - a magnitude 8 or higher earthquake along the alpine fault. The alpine fault runs most of the length of the South Island roughly along the Southern Alps.
With a 75 per cent chance of an alpine fault rupture in the next 50 years, and an 80 per cent chance it will be a magnitude 8+ event, preparation is critical. The aftermath will require a coordinated multi-agency and community response, so better prepared we are beforehand, the easier it will be to support each other during the recovery.
During the Pandora exercise Council staff deployed into their Civil Defence roles and responded to simulated events arising from the rupture of the alpine faut.
“Exercising is a core part of readiness, helping us to identify gaps and issues,”, Canterbury Regional Emergency Management Team Leader, Phill Mackay said.
“We’re able to integrate the learnings we identify into our plans and procedures post-exercise. This improves our ability to not only respond to, but also recover from emergencies.”
Here in Canterbury, we are not strangers to emergencies, and we know they come in many different forms and are unpredictable. Now is a great time to get your whanau together and plan to be ready for an emergency.
Practising your plan with your family, friends, and community helps everyone understand what they can do to support each other in an emergency event.
For advice and ideas on where to start with your plan, go to www.getready.govt.nz/prepared/household/make-a-plan.
