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International Disaster Awareness week marked

Friday 16 October 2009, 2:54PM

By Queenstown Lakes District Council

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Queenstown Lakes District Council emergency management officer Brenden Winder
Queenstown Lakes District Council emergency management officer Brenden Winder Credit: Queenstown Lakes District Council

QUEENSTOWN

Shoppers at New World Supermarkets in the Wakatipu and Wanaka were delighted this week to receive free ‘eco friendly’ bags, carrying the Civil Defence mantra ‘get ready get through’, Queenstown Lakes District Council emergency management officer Brenden Winder said.

“It has a full checklist of all the items you need to survive for three days,” he said. Mr Winder handed out 500 of the recyclable bags yesterday and today in partnership with New World which supported the campaign with in-store displays.

The council also acknowledged the week by featuring a ‘did you get it?’ campaign on the front cover of the council newsletter Scuttlebutt.

“What we are saying is our neighbours are experiencing earthquakes, major snowfalls and tsunamis. It’s not unrealistic to say, at some point our number could be up. Is our community prepared? Mr Winder said.

The message was timely given that on the 20 November, this year, it is the ten-year anniversary of the district’s 1999 floods and each year the Council prepared to enter the ‘flood season’.

“We live in an alpine environment, it is not inconceivable that in a heavy rain event we could for instance lose road access into the region,” Mr Winder said.

Potentially we may not be able to get basic supplies for several days into the area. “That’s when it will really pay to have a few extra loaves and some milk in the freezer, a bag of rice and some canned food tucked away,’ he said.

An event such as rainfall and the potential subsequent slips could also have an effect on something as basic as power supply. “So you have no power for a day or more, do you have a battery radio? A torch? A means of cooking food? These are all basic essentials for every home in our district,’ Mr Winder said.

It was also the time of year when Mr Winder paid an annual visit to CBD retailers in the ‘flood zones of Queenstown and Wanaka. “It’s a practical reminder that it’s time to dust off flood plans, clean out grease traps and consider contingency for stock and plant removal,” Mr Winder said.

Another community initiative to mark the week included a collection of goods for Samoa from Queenstown hotels, co-ordinated by Tanoa Aspen Hotel manager Fiona Williams (Tanoa also has a hotel based in Apia) and transported to Auckland for free by New Zealand Van Lines.

ENDS

For further information please contact Brenden Winder 03 441 0499.