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Mahurangi West Community Response Group will hold an open day to ensure that the community is ready to respond in case of a major disaster.
Group member Fran Ashton says Mahurangi West is particularly vulnerable because it only has one road in and out and no fire station.
“For example, if there was a major earthquake and it cut off road access, and emergency services were busy responding elsewhere, it is quite possible we would be on our own,” Fran says.
“The idea for the day is to join together to share ideas and skills and make sure a network is in place in case of an emergency.”
There will also be a bouncy castle and games for kids and a sausage sizzle at the end of the day.
The response group has now been in operation for two years and this is the first open day event it has held since forming.
The group has a cache of supplies at the Mahurangi West Hall, including cooking gear, blankets and power generators.
It has set up a relay of radios among its residents which would allow it to communicate with the outside world in case of a disaster.
Attendees will be shown how to use a defibrillator and how to sound the portable air horn in case of an emergency.
The response group is made up of communities from Hungry Creek to Pukapuka but Fran says anyone is welcome to come along and get an insight into disaster response.
“It’s important that people from the community turn up because if there is an incident in the summer, non-permanent residents and holidaymakers won’t know what to do, and it will be up to us to guide them.”
The open day is being held at the Mahurangi West Hall on Sunday, March 15 from 3pm to 6pm.
