Quake Response Proves Value Of CD Arrangements

The effective, well-coordinated response to the Canterbury earthquake by local authorities, the regional council, emergency services and other agencies has proved the value of the region's emergency management arrangements, says Canterbury Civil Defence Group manager Jon Mitchell.

Within 10 minutes of the initial earthquake on Saturday morning the Group's Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) based at Environment Canterbury was activated and run by professional emergency management staff and key personnel from the emergency services, health and our lifelines partners.

Since then, the Group ECC and local Civil Defence Emergency Operating Centres (EOCs) within the Christchurch City, Selwyn District and Waimakariri District councils have operated individually and collectively to manage the response to the quake in a highly effective manner, said Mr Mitchell.

"This is the first time that the Group ECC, the local EOCs and Environment Canterbury have worked together in a coordinated way to respond to a major disaster over an extended period and at this intensity.

"From the beginning, the management of this event has been multi-agency and disciplined.

"The fact that the Group ECC was able to be up and running so quickly allowed Christchurch City breathing space to relocate its EOC because of damage to its facilities.

"That meant that when the Christchurch EOC began functioning it was able to deal with emergency services and other agencies who had already started responding in coordination with the Group ECC."

Mr Mitchell said the Group, made up of the three local councils, the regional council and partner agencies, would continue to work together closely so that the needs of the community are met as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The ECC, EOCs, local authorities and partner response agencies are now being supplemented by fresh staff from across the nation, coordinated regionally by the ECC and supported nationally by the National Crisis Management Centre.

Mr Mitchell also thanked the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management for the strong support its staff had provided in responding to the quake.

"The way everyone in Canterbury civil defence organisations, government agencies, emergency services, community organisations and individual citizens have pulled together is an excellent example of what can be achieved by working in a unified way," said Mr Mitchell.

"As we move from the initial response to the recovery phase, that co-operation and co-ordination will continue to be a vital part of our response in Canterbury."

ends

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