Civil Defence

Emergency Management Whanganui is led by Whanganui District Council, which is able to co-ordinate a wide range of groups and agencies, such as the Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and emergency services to: • help prevent loss of life • help the injured and relieve distress • help the community return to normal

In an emergency, everyone needs to be self-reliant and prepared to survive in their own home for at least three days without assistance. What you do now to prepare can make a huge difference to the way you and your family cope, and it helps emergency services focus more effectively on helping those directly impacted. An emergency could occur at any time in our district. Possible emergencies include: • floods • severe weather events • hazardous chemical spills (industrial/transport accident) • loss of water or power supply • earthquakes • volcanic eruptions • tsunami • pandemics In the case of an emergency, Civil Defence Centres may be opened if there is a need and the resources are available. It’s helpful to know where your nearest Civil Defence Centre is so visit www.whanganui.govt.nz/ civil-defence-centres for Google Maps links to the centres. In an emergency, these centres are the base for trained volunteers who provide help, advice and guidance for evacuees or impacted members of the public.

HOW TO PREPARE Basic supplies to have at home: • Water for three days or more –nine litres for every person • Long-lasting food that doesn’t need cooking (unless you have a camping stove or barbecue) and food for babies and pets • Toilet paper and large plastic buckets for emergency toilets • Dust masks and work gloves Visit www.getready.govt.nz for more information about how to plan for emergencies. WHERE TO GO FOR INFORMATION Follow these social media channels for up-to-date information from the Civil Defence team:

www.facebook.com/ civildefencemanawatuwhanganui Twitter: @MW_CivilDefence www.facebook.com/ whanganuidistrictcouncil Twitter: @whanganuiDC

BRIAN FM Whanganui District Council has partnered with Brian FM to ensure essential public information messages are broadcast immediately from the Emergency Operations Centre during emergencies. Listen to the

DAVID JONES MOTORS www.davidjones.co.nz

330 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui (06) 345 5115

frequencies below, or online at www.brianfm.com • Brian FM Whanganui – 91.2FM • Brian FM Taihape and Waiouru –93.2FM • Brian FM Mt Ruapehu – 90.2FM • ReelWorld Radio Whanganui –92.0FM • ReelWorld Radio Mt Ruapehu –104.6FM

Make sure you have a batterypowered radio and batteries in your emergency supplies. Messages won’t be up immediately after an event such as an earthquake but will be broadcast every thirty minutes as soon as possible. Other radio stations You can also listen to: More FM 92.8FM Magic Talk 96FM The Hits 89.6FM Awa FM 100FM NewstalkZB 1197AM

Other useful websites Get Ready Get Thru: www.getthru.govt.nz Earthquake Commission: www.eqc.govt.nz Geonet: www.geonet.org.nz

EMERGENCY MOBILE ALERT In an emergency, Emergency Mobile Alert messages can be sent to some smart phones by the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management, Defence Emergency Management Groups, New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

These messages will be sent if life, health or property is in serious danger. If your phone is capable of receiving Emergency Mobile Alerts, the alert should appear automatically on your screen with a unique and penetrating warning sound. The Emergency Mobile Alert does not replace other information about what to do during an emergency –check out Whanganui District Council and Manawatu¯-Whanganui Civil Defence Facebook pages and make sure you have a battery or solar powered radio. Visit www.civildefence.govt.nz for more information about the Emergency Mobile Alert and to see whether your phone is capable of receiving it.

CIVIL DEFENCE SIRENS Electronic warning sirens are stationed along the lower Whanganui River estuary and the Castlecliff coastline, with a separate large siren at Mowhanau. These are primarily to warn of a possible tsunami impact in the Whanganui area. Visit www.whanganui.govt.nz/civildefence to listen to the tsunami siren sound. The local urban sirens use the exact same sound. Civil Defence sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of each month at 8.30am (except January). If you hear a continuous sounding of the sirens, please tune in to your nearest radio station and listen for information.

TSUNAMI EVACUATION MAPS There are several tsunami information boards and evacuation maps throughout the Whanganui District at coastal or river areas, telling people what to do if a tsunami is generated near our coastline.

A detailed digital map of tsunami evacuation areas, evacuation routes and safe zones is available at www. whanganui.govt.nz/tsunamievacuation-map If you experience a strong earthquake which is hard to stand up in, a weak rolling quake which lasts a minute or more, or loud and unusual noises from the sea, move to higher ground as far inland as possible. Don’t wait for an official warning.

DAVID JONES MOTORS www.davidjones.co.nz

276 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui (06) 345 5115