Get Ready, with Emergency Management Officer Jim Henderson

In this month’s column, I wanted to chat about Methven and how local Civil Defence volunteers train and prepare to support the township when disaster strikes.

Methven has its own unique set of natural hazards sitting on its doorstep. Arguably, the most serious, in terms of impact, would be the Alpine Fault. The potential outcome of a large earthquake along that fault deserves its own column, however Methven is likely to experience more intense shaking than many other towns in the district, due to its proximity to the fault and the type of geology that underlies the town.

While generally not as severe as an earthquake, flooding is more common and can cause significant damage. Methven and nearby townships are susceptible to heavy rain spilling over from the Main Divide and the area is crisscrossed with a network of irrigation channels, stock water races and creeks that can overflow and contribute to surface flooding. As we experienced earlier this year during the flooding in July, it can lead to state highways being closed and Methven effectively being cut off from the rest of the district.

Fires, storms, heavy snow, and strong winds may be less common, but still occur from time-to-time and we also need to prepare for these.

The relative geographical isolation of Methven and its susceptibility to these types of natural hazards shows why having plans, supplies and a response team based in Methven is critical.

Civil Defence Emergency Management has equipment stored in the township, ready to be deployed when next required. Other available kit includes welfare supplies such as sleeping cots for people displaced from their homes, portable generators, and radio and satellite communication gear that can be operated when power and telecommunications links are knocked out.

We also have a dedicated group of around ten volunteers who make up our Methven Community Response Team and who meet regularly to train and plan for the next emergency.

During an emergency, their duties range from running evacuation centres, assisting with the delivery of critical supplies, and going door-to-door to check on residents’ welfare.

People often forget that in New Zealand, volunteers are the backbone of Civil Defence. Their local knowledge and connections are vital, and without them, our emergency response would grind to a halt. We’re always keen to have new members on board; you don’t need to specific qualifications – just a readiness to learn and passion to look after your community.

If this interests you, or you’d like to know more about the emergency preparations for Methven – I’d encourage you to come have a chat at our upcoming Open Day on Saturday 7 October in the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall.  As well as our response team, we’ll also have displays and staff from St John, Fire and Emergency NZ, Land Search and Rescue, and the New Zealand Red Cross.  
We’ll have the sausage sizzle going, so pop down between 1pm and 4pm for a free snag and a chat, I hope to see you there!

This column first appeared in the Ashburton Courier, as part of a series about being prepared for an emergency or natural disaster.