Prepare to survive
Storing water is one of the things that will help you get through a disaster
The series of earthquakes and tsunami that have jolted parts of the Pacific Rim over the past fortnight demonstrate the destructive force of natural disasters and remind us of the need to be prepared, in case disaster strikes here.
“We may not have to cope with a major disaster, but that’s no reason not to do some planning and preparations, just in case,” Greater Wellington Regional Chairperson Fran Wilde says.
Disasters include such things as tsunami, earthquakes, floods, pandemics and terrorism. “The things that all of these have in common is that they can disrupt our normal lives and deny us access to things that we normally take for granted, like our families, shelter, water, power, waste disposal, communications and transport.
“While there are many agencies and organisations that have responsibilities to help us get through a disaster, ultimately how well we each cope and survive comes back to us as individuals, particularly how we prepare.
“This week (October 12-18) is Disaster Awareness Week, and there will be lots of information available about things that you can do to help yourself and your families get through a disaster. I encourage you to read some of it and make a commitment to doing at least one thing to help you prepare.
“That could be buying a water container to hold emergency supplies, or some extra canned food, or enrolling for a first aid course, or becoming a Civil Defence volunteer. You may never have to use any of those things, but in a disaster they could help you and others survive.
“Lots of people routinely buy insurance for their possessions, install smoke alarms and check that these work. Preparing for a disaster is no different. It involves thinking about what could go wrong and what happens next, and having some things on hand that will help get through the aftermath.”