Ngakuta Bay Community Association Civil Defence Advice
Introduction
Civil Defence aims to assist communities in the event of a natural or accidental disaster by providing an outline of action for affected citizens which should minimise injury, death, and property damage.
Natural disasters for Ngakuta Bay will most likely be caused by earthquake, tsunami and fire, which can be interlinked.
Earthquake
Large Earthquake definition: lasts more than one minute and/or are unable to stand during event.
A large earthquake will affect buildings, roads, and electric power services. Water services may also be damaged or destroyed. After the quake has ceased turn off electricity at the main switchboard. This is to prevent possible fire from any damaged circuits.
If the earthquake is local and centred in Cook Strait or the near Tasman Sea a tsunami is possible with little or no warning.
Tsunami
Make for higher ground. Stay there for at least one hour.
Places to go are:
- End of Brough Place between Lots 20 and 22, and up the hill.
- Manuka Drive, to the end and up the hill.
- Eastern and western ends of the bay up Queen Charlotte Drive.
Fire
In the event of an out-of-control large fire threatening the settlement area of the bay, assemble on the foreshore area by the beach in front of the carpark.
Helicopters will be using the bay to uplift water in fire buckets and may be using other areas of the foreshore for refueling etc. Keep out of their way or you will endanger yourself and the crews.
General Information
You should have a battery or dynamo-powered radio to obtain information in the event of cell and landline phone comms being unserviceable.
Roads may be unserviceable or being used by emergency services. Do not attempt to drive out of the bay until advice is received that it is okay to do so.
Look for your near neighbours and assist to a safe area where possible.
Emergency broadcast frequencies are:
- 105.9 FM Picton
- 100.9 FM Blenheim
For emergency services (fire, ambulance, police) phone 111 or 520 7400 for 24 hour, 7 day response.
Ngakuta Bay Jetty Registered Number is Q5095 Helicopter landing site co-ordinates are:
Maritime Frequencies for Queen Charlotte Sound are channels 63 and 16.
Immediate Post Disaster Suggested Actions Earthquake / Tsunami
After a large earthquake has struck and it is clear there is no tsunami indications (unusual ebb/flow of seawater, no radio warnings, one hour elapsed) those who have assembled on higher ground (possibly as advised in Advice 1) should take note of who is there and organise groups to check properties downhill from their refuge point to find, assist, and identify those who may remain in homes or around the settlement area.
Things to check
- Communication: Do cellphones or landlines work?
- Structural Integrity: Employ extreme care when entering buildings, crossing bridges etc.
- Check for live electrical system.
Injured Persons
- Unconscious: Do not move unless they are in immediate danger. Check for breathing, bleeding. USE FIRST AID ADVICE for any treatments eg CPR, compression for bleeding, recovery position etc. Keep warm if possible.
- Conscious: Check for pain, possible internal injuries, broken bones by observation, questioning etc. Watch for erratic breathing, coldness (shock symptoms). Keep warm if possible and assist to a safer area if there is danger of further injury and the person’s condition permits.
TAKE NOTE OF POSITIONS OF INJURED PERSONS (and identity where possible).
All information gathered by all groups should be passed to emergency services i.e. police (111 calls), or Civil Defence (520 7400 calls 24hr 7days) as soon as possible.
Fire
After gathering on the foreshore (see Advice 1) it may be necessary to evacuate. This will be obvious to those there or be dictated by the senior fire officer or police officer present. If no other option is available it may be possible to use boats present on moorings in the bay. A list of persons involved in evacuation should be made and handed to the senior officer present in Ngakuta or at the point of disembarkation.
The Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management co-ordinates and manages natural disaster response
FOR ADVICE ON BEING PREPARED SEE www.getthru.govt.nz
See also advice and information at the Marlborough District Council (www.marlborough.govt.nz) under Civil Defence, and CD Emergency Management can be contacted on 03 520 7400.