Putting the ‘we’ in welfare
Waipara Village residents and wider community still vividly remember the hot and windy months two summers ago which caused two wildfires and subsequent evacuations.
Waipara War Memorial Hall was transformed into an emergency evacuation welfare hub, providing a place for locals to sleep and eat while local volunteer fire brigades worked tirelessly to bring the fires under control.
It was a stark reminder for the Waipara Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) that being prepared with survival basics had to be a priority for the area.
The Team has been humbled by the generosity of local groups and businesses to help establish what is now a very well-established emergency response welfare hub.
“We are trying to be as prepared as possible, in order to provide emergency welfare,” said Paul Williams, the Waipara CERT co-ordinator.
At the moment, first aid kits, airbeds, woolen blankets, pillows and pillowcases, gas cookers, crock pots, a gas frypan cooker, a stand up freezer, gazeebos, tarpaulins and flood lighting are all available during a time of need when being at home is not an option.
Generoisty has come from Kate Valley Community Trust, Glenmark Lions Club, The Warehouse, and both Waipara Residents’ Association and locals answering requests on community Facebook pages for donated goods.
Williams added that the Waipara War Memorial Hall and the Community Emergency Response Centre ‘One Twenty’ on Glenmark Drive (which is owned by the Waipara New Life Church), have been adapted for generator power connection in the event of a severe power outage.
There are supplies of basics, such as tea and coffee, but he admitted storing food is a challenge.
“It is something we are conscious of,” he said, but was buoyant in the fact a stand up freezer will help with storage of donated frozen goods.
He added that sharing resources with other Emergency Response groups in the district was an option.
“We are aware that we have resources other groups don’t have.”
Mayor Marie Black spent significant time at the evacuation welfare hub in Waipara that summer, and wanted to remind everyone in Hurunui that preparedness starts at home.
She said working out what supplies are needed and how to get your household ready can seem overwhelming, but there is plenty of help out there either from your local CERT or the Civil Defence website www.civildefence.govt.nz
“Even something as simple as having bottled water, some cans of food and a list of contact numbers for your neighbours is a great start, because emergences can happen at any time.”
