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The Whangaparāoa Community Resilience Group (WCRG) has set up a primary Community Emergency Hub (CEH) for the Whangaparāoa community at St Stephen’s Church, Stanmore Bay.
Community Emergency Hubs (CEHs), run by local volunteers, offer a safe place where resilience groups can coordinate emergency efforts and provide shelter to residents, especially during the crucial first 24 to 36 hours of a crisis. They differ from a civil defence centre, but work in tandem with the Auckland Emergency Management (AEM) team during emergencies. St Stephen’s was chosen because it meets key safety and accessibility criteria, WCRG member Lorraine Gattis says.
“It is on high ground well clear of tsunami zones and flooding, and central to the entire catchment area, as well as being close to resources such as the Plaza, police, vets, supermarkets and petrol stations, with spacious rooms and supportive staff.”
Funding from AEM and the local board meant WCRG could equip St Stephens with an emergency generator, radios and a Starlink connection.
Additional community hubs are also located at the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA, Whangaparāoa College, Manly Methodist Church, Whangaparāoa Golf Club and YMCA Shakespear Lodge Camp.
On June 28, the WCRG will hold an open day for residents to tour the St Stephens hub, see the layout, and meet the team. The group will also demonstrate the equipment and processes used in emergencies.
“We have to be supportive of each other,” Lorraine says. “Our focus is, if there is a major disaster on the coast, the community is the first responder, so where do you go? The peninsula is vulnerable to a number of hazards and has only one road in and out, so our aim is to get the community better prepared. We have made good progress over the past year thanks to the support of AEM, Hibiscus and & Bays Local Board, and St Stephen’s staff.”
The group is always keen for more volunteers. Info: email crgwgp@gmail.com.
