Our opinion – Get ready and make a plan

Severe weather is part of living in New Zealand. We are a small island nation on the edge of a vast ocean, sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms and tsunamis.

After the dual impacts of the Anniversary Day floods and Cyclone Gabrielle two years ago, many of us have built a degree of resilience to extreme weather. We know the drill: clear out anything that could cause flooding, stock up on water and food, and keep a close eye on forecasts.

The road I live on floods badly, so ahead of the recent severe weather I checked local community updates to make sure I could get home and cleared my gutters the night before.

Across the coast, large slips have affected the Hibiscus Coast beaches, while further afield, severe damage has isolated several communities.

The loss of life in Mahurangi, Papamoa and Mt Maunganui was heartbreaking and our thoughts are with the families and friends affected. 

In the midst of these events, emergency and support services are hard at work, from the moment the first alerts are issued and often for weeks afterwards. Civil Defence, Police, Land Search and Rescue, Coastguard, Surf Life Saving, ambulance services, power companies, the Army, neighbourhood resilience groups and many others all play a role.

Many of these organisations rely heavily on volunteers, as well as donations and grant funding, to keep operating. Over the past year, I have spoken with many of them, and a consistent message is emerging. As the economy tightens, it is becoming harder to secure the funding needed to support services that become essential when emergencies strike.

If you are in a position to do so, consider supporting these organisations in your community. You never know when you, or someone close to you, may need their help. Joining a local neighbourhood resilience group and having an emergency preparedness plan in place can make a real difference.

Information on how to prepare an emergency plan is available at getready.govt.nz

Adrienne Kohler, Editor