Whangarei businesses urged to develop evacuation plans

Whangarei businesses urged to develop evacuation plans

Ensuring large numbers of people can be evacuated from Whangarei’s Central Business District safely and swiftly if a major emergency happens is the aim behind a new evacuation plan for the CBD.

"Our aim is for businesses to be prepared if we need to evacuate part or all of the area the plan covers during business hours,” says Victoria Randall, Civil Defence Officer for Whangarei.

“We will be issuing a Business Response Plan flier to businesses in the CBD and Port Road/Lower Port Road area of Whangarei, which would be affected in a range of situations including flooding, tsunami, chemical spill and fire.

“The flier tells businesses where to find out about civil defence emergencies that may affect them, how to ensure their businesses are prepared and how to tap into the existing business networks to receive civil defence warnings that may affect the Whangarei CBD.”

Mrs Randall said the flier will be distributed electronically to businesses through existing business networks.

“It will also be available on the Civil Defence Pages of Whangarei District Council’s website for those who are in the area but not part of an existing business network.

“As part of our work with the business community we will include a 10 minute presentation on the Business Continuity shops being held in Whangarei in October."

Mrs Randall said emergency services kick into action quickly, but it is really important for everyone, nationwide, to take personal and organisational responsibility for being prepared.

“Each of us must do what we can to put ourselves in the best position to be able to look after ourselves and the people around us when an emergency strikes.”

The Whangarei CBD Evacuation Plan has been developed by Civil Defence in consultation with emergency services, the Northland Chamber of Commerce, Northland lifelines utilities groups, welfare agencies and Whangarei business representatives.

It covers the Central Business District and will help to identify hazards and areas that will be affected in an emergency, the facilities and networks that can assist displaced people, coordinate agencies involved and ensure Civil Defence make sound and effective decisions in an emergency in the area.

ENDS

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