Story: Civil defence

Page 3. Community involvement in civil defence

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Being prepared

Civil defence has always stressed the importance of individual and community self-reliance. Persuading people to prepare for an emergency can be difficult – many prefer not to think about something that may never happen. When disasters happen elsewhere, however, people are often shocked into making preparations, such as filling water bottles and assembling emergency items at home and work, and agreeing a plan of action with family members.

Information on how to prepare for and behave in an emergency is given on the national and regional civil defence websites, and in regular newspaper and television advertisements. Many Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) regions have a text alert system for disasters, and the National Emergency Management website provides Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Community civil defence

Community civil defence centres are an important part of the civil defence system, as they are often the first places people go to if they have to evacuate their homes. Based at schools, community centres and marae, these are run by volunteers, who can be people with specialised skills, such as nurses and builders, or general volunteers who help with tasks such as communications and welfare.

Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), which locates and rescues people trapped in collapsed buildings or landslides, also relies on volunteers.

For real

Civil defence exercises often call for people to play the role of ‘casualties’, but occasionally the afflictions of these volunteers are genuine. In a Marlborough civil defence exercise in the early 1990s, one volunteer developed mild hypothermia and another had to be treated for heatstroke.

Education and training

Volunteers receive regular training from their regional CDEM organisation. The ministry’s programme and website for primary and secondary students, ‘What’s the Plan Stan?’, supports the teaching of disaster awareness and survival skills in schools. Advanced training for civil defence professionals is offered at tertiary institutions, with qualifications ranging from entry-level certificates to postgraduate degrees.

Civil defence exercises have been run since the 1960s, increasing in number and complexity from the 1980s. These test local, regional and sometimes national civil defence personnel, systems, strategies and equipment in response to a disaster scenario. Rescue teams also take part in regular competitions and tournaments.

How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'Civil defence - Community involvement in civil defence', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/civil-defence/page-3 (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 May 2020