Dealing with Emergencies

Usually, in the event of an emergency, the Police, Fire and Ambulance services may work together to bring the situation under control. The Police have overall control of an emergency area.

If an emergency develops to such a degree that it requires far more resources than the emergency services have available, the Civil Defence organisation is likely to become involved.

When a Civil Defence emergency is declared the Civil Defence Controller has overall control of the emergency area and resources.

Civil Defence Emergencies may be declared in order to:

• Prevent loss of life
•  Help the injured
• Relieve personal distress.

When an emergency is declared the Civil Defence Controller has powers under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002, to:

• Close roads and public places.
• Evacuate people from an endangered area.
• Requisition equipment (it must be returned in good condition).
• Requisition supplies (these must be paid for later).
• Obtain human resources from other areas.

What To Do When a Civil Defence Emergency is Declared

Listen to your radio for local emergency instructions and for latest information about the emergency.  Avoid using the telephone except to summon urgent assistance. Follow the instructions from Civil Defence or the emergency services.

If you have to leave:

• Leave as quickly as you can
• Shut off water, gas and electricity supplies.

Take with you:

• Your survival kit
• Aids for people with disabilities
• Important records and items you cannot replace.

Fill in an evacuation card to let Civil defence know that you have evacuated and where you have gone. Place the card in a front window of your house.

Take with you weatherproof jackets, strong footwear, towels, blankets or sleeping bags, toilet items and a change of clothes and footwear. Travel on roads specified or recommended by local authorities. This is especially important during flooding when low-lying routes may be impassable. When you get to shelter or a safe area, stay there until you are advised it is safe to return home.

Where Civil Defence has a reception or welfare centre in operation, make sure that you and your family are registered.

Stay out of an area that has been closed. The area has been closed because of danger or because security must be maintained. If you need to enter the closed area get permission from Civil Defence.

If you live in an isolated area and need help, display a bed sheet outside to attract attention.

Providing for your Pets

If free and uninjured, cats and dogs are capable of taking care of themselves - with a supply of water a healthy cat or dog can survive for two weeks or more without food.

In the case of floods your cat or dog are adequate albeit reluctant swimmers, plus your cat has the advantage of being able to climb trees out of harm’s way.

Territorial instinct and loyalty will keep most pets around their home area. An ID disc on your pets’ collars is good insurance should they get lost.

If you have to evacuate and can’t take your pets with you, feed them well (if time allows) before you leave and let them go free - don’t shut them inside the house. If possible leave open a shed door to provide them with some shelter.

All pets may be transported in a secure carry box - it should be labelled with your name and address and kept where it can be quickly and easily located.

If you are evacuated to a Civil Defence post, give someone there details about animals left behind - what animals and where.

If you have pets, pet food should be part of your survival kit.

A basic rule - people before pets - in an emergency situation, you and your family must come first.

Where to go in an emergency

Welfare centres are gathering points where assistance can be given to those in need. During an emergency the welfare centres have contact with Civil Defence headquarters.

Welfare centress in Southland are:

Edendale: Edendale School, Salford Street, Edendale

Lumsden: Northern Southland College, Maria Street, Lumsden

Mossburn: Mossburn Community Facilities, Holmes Street, Mossburn

Nightcaps: Takitimu Primary School, Evans Street, Nightcaps

Otautau: Non-flood event - Otautau Primary School, Elles Road, Otautau

               Flood event - Otautau Golf Club, Kendal Street, Otautau 

Riversdale: Riversdale Community Centre, Newcastle Street, Riversdale

Riverton: Riverton Racecourse, State Highway 99, Riverton

Stewart Island: Stewart Island Community Centre, Ayr Street, Stewart Island

Te Anau: Fiordland Community Centre, 20 Luxmore Drive, Te Anau

Toetoes ( Wyndham): Wyndham Community Centre, 44 Balaclava Street, Wyndham

Tuatapere: Tuatpere Community College, 47 Orawia Road, Tuatapere

Waikaia: Waikaia School, Leamington Street, Waikaia

Wallacetown: Wallacetown Community Centre,  57 Dunlop Street, Wallacetown

Winton: RSA Rooms, Great North Road, Winton