The first step in helping local residents withstand an emergency begins on Monday (17 June) in Tikorangi.
A public meeting at 7pm in the Tikorangi Hall will give residents an outline of Community Emergency Plans, and how they can be involved in preparing and maintaining them. This will be the first step towards the township helping themselves to be better prepared for emergencies.
The meeting is being facilitated by Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management and New Plymouth District Council, but the intention is for the community to write their own emergency plan and operate it themselves.
“Community Emergency Plans set out what communities need to do and can do if an emergency occurs – key people to contact, what resources you can call on from within the township, identifying people who need assistance, that sort of thing,” says Senior Emergency Management Officer, Shane Briggs.
“In a big emergency, emergency services may have to prioritise their resources. Some communities may be isolated for a short time, and residents will need to rely on each other. Having a Community Emergency Plan will help people focus quickly on what needs to be done, and empower them to do it.“
Community Emergency Plans are an initiative of Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management and New Plymouth District Council. Plans are already being prepared for Oakura, Inglewood, Urenui, Waitara, Patea and Waverley, and others will be rolled out to communities throughout Taranaki.