Keep Calm, Get Prepared and Make a Plan.
The Wellington City Youth Council is very concerned that young people flatting in the city are under prepared for a
natural disaster.
“Sunday’s earthquake has hit home for a lot of Wellingtonians” says Jack Marshall, the Wellington Youth Council Chair.
“It could have been a lot worse. These earthquakes are a reminder, a chance to ask yourself, am I prepared for an
earthquake?” This time, Wellington has come through largely unscathed, but the Youth Council recognises; now is the time
to learn, now is the time to act.
The Youth Council believes flatters are particularly at risk of being caught out by a major disaster because they
typically do not have food and water reserves or a “plan to get through”. As flatters are away from the family support
network they typically don’t think about stockpiling food or water.
“After the Christchurch earthquakes, students were a real asset, but the big one in Wellington would be a lot
different.” says Marshall, “We’d be on our own for longer, so a week of no food, no water and no way of looking after
ourselves would make unprepared flatters a liability in a disaster rather than an asset.”
The Youth Council urges flatters to get prepared and lower their risk. Marshall says “It doesn't have to be a big deal,
sitting down with your flatmates to chat is a great first step. Be specific: what will we do if we are not at home, or
if we can’t txt each other?”. A little planning goes a long way. Marshall advises flatters to discuss where to go and
what to do after an earthquake, and to do a shop for essentials.
“An emergency kit is easy to put together, a great idea is to pick up one or two extra items for the emergency kit in
each weekly flat shop.”
Everyone knows the ‘drop, cover, hold’ but not many think beyond that. There are hundreds of young flatting households
in central Wellington that need to think about the days and weeks after a quake, not just hours. Marshall also advised
Wellingtonians to sign up to receive WREMO txt alerts, “These alerts are free and provide emergency information, which
is absolutely essential.”
More information on preparing an emergency plan and txt alerts can be found on the Wellington Regional Emergency
Management Center (WREMO) facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/WREMOnz
ENDS.