Getting to know your neighbours could save your life
1 January 2005

The severe flooding in New Zealand and the disastrous tsunami in Asia in 2004 are reminders of our vulnerability to natural disasters and our reliance on neighbours for support.

New Zealand’s emergency services are amongst the best in the world, but in a severe and widespread disaster, such as an earthquake, flood or tsunami, the emergency services are overwhelmed and can not cope. Not only do they quickly run out of people, rescue equipment and supplies to respond with, but damage to infrastructure can mean it is difficult to go places or even find out what has happened and who needs help.

The last thing I want to do is alarm people, however if that is what it takes to get people motivated to prepare to survive an emergency, then Neighbourhood Support makes no apology. The kiwi “she’ll be right attitude” could cost you your life.

If an emergency struck now, do you have food and water to last you and your family a week? Do you have emergency clothing, a first aid kit, candles and matches, spare batteries for your transistor radio? Could you access family documents or duplicates should your home be destroyed?

Civil Defence is not a magic organisation that can come to your rescue. Civil Defence is about preparing you and your community to survive a major disaster in the absence of emergency services.

In a major disaster there may be no one able perform rescue work and provide first aid, food and clothing except what remains of the local community.

As individuals we must all take responsibility for preparing our selves and our families to respond to an emergency in our community.

One of the best ways to start preparing to deal with emergencies and natural disasters is to form a Neighbourhood Support Group and get to know your neighbours. In just a few minutes a month you can establish a relationship with your neighbours that will help you to prepare and feel more confident about how you would get on in a major disaster. You should know:

• your neighbours skills (nurse etc.), routines and work places
• if people have any medical or physical problems and how to care for them
• who your Neighbourhood Support street or area co-ordinator is
• where the nearest Civil Defence or Community Emergency Centre is

For more information on emergency preparation and assembling an emergency survival kit, check this link to the Ministry of Emergency Management and Civil Defence. For your nearest Neighbourhood Support contact, check this link or phone 0800 4 NEIGHBOURS 0800 463 444).