Thorndon / Pipitea Community Response Plan
The Thorndon Residents’ Association in partnership with the Wellington
Region Emergency Management Office © 2015
May 2015
This plan will be reviewed in August 2016
Plan Owner:
Thorndon Residents’ Association
For further enquiries, contact:
Wellington Region Emergency Management Office
[email protected]
Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Contents
Background and process ................................................................................ 4
Where the CRP fits ................................................................................... 5
CRP Scope ................................................................................................ 6
Stakeholders ............................................................................................ 7
Community Profile ................................................................................... 8
Thorndon/Pipitea is regarded as one of New Zealand's oldest and most
historic residential suburbs, and as such holds significant heritage
values. ...................................................................................................... 8
Community Values ................................................................................... 9
Community Hazardscape ....................................................................... 10
Community Impact Assessment ............................................................. 12
Community SWOC Analysis .................................................................... 15
Local Hazard Warning Systems .............................................................. 17
Civil Defence Information Sources ......................................................... 18
Community - Critical Needs ......................................................................... 19
Community - Coordinating the Response..................................................... 24
Civil Defence Centres ............................................................................. 24
Role of Community Response Plan Stakeholders in a Civil Defence
Centre .................................................................................................... 24
Thorndon / Pipitea Civil Defence Centre ................................................ 25
Information relevant for your Emergency Operations Centre ................ 26
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Summary
Besides considerably improving awareness of vulnerabilities to natural disasters in
Thorndon/Pipitea, the purpose of this document is to empower the Thorndon/Pipitea
community to respond. The situation analysis provides new insights, the need to reset
community expectations, and a need to empower the community to take an active role
whenever a major disaster strikes.
The document outlines understandings of a community stakeholder group convened
during 2015 by the Thorndon Residents' Association (TRA) and the Wellington Region
Emergency Management Office (WREMO). This document presents the expectations in
regard to the role that the Thorndon/Pipitea community can play in a major natural
disaster.
The objective has been to highlight the realities and challenges that arise when a large
event seriously impedes any possibility of an early official response. The assumption is that
the event has a level of disruption that the community would need to cope with its own
resources for at least 3 days and quite possibly longer.
In these circumstances the community itself must coordinate initial responses. The
purpose of this document is to outline this reality, and the role the community is
empowered to play. It does not cover all circumstances i.e. this document doesn’t delve
into detail.
The Thorndon/Pipitea community is encouraged to use this document as a starting point;
to review and reappraise the situation annually; and consider ways to develop more
detailed plans over time with initiatives that could assist coordinators in the early days of a
major disaster.
The first rules of community-driven preparedness are emphasised:
- planning begins at home
- get to know neighbours
- get familiar with who lives in the street, or in the building
- know the location of the Civil Defence Centre (CDC)
- understand that you and your community are empowered to open the CDC and that the
CDC may need to coordinate things for quite some time before official resources are able
to provide support.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Background and process
A Community Response Plan (CRP) is a plan developed by the community outlining how
that community will respond in a disaster, especially if the community is cut off or the
emergency service response is delayed or limited.
The CRP is focused on managing the initial period (the first 24 – 72 hours following a
significant emergency event) when a community could be out of touch with the rest of the
district or region, and seeks to improve community preparedness to the possibility of such
a scenario eventuating.
The CRP helps to enable a community to take some initial independent action to start
looking after itself. To be effective, it is essential that CRPs are ‘owned’ by the community.
This means that they must be led and developed by the community because ultimately it is
the community that knows their area best and will implement the CRP in an emergency
event.
In a time of crisis, members of a community will organically want to come together to
assist one another; a Community Response Plan helps to coordinate and speed up this
process.
Outcomes from developing a Community Response Plan include:
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An appreciation of local hazards and the likely impacts/effects of those hazards
Awareness of local hazard warning systems and sources for civil defence
information
An opportunity to build positive working relationships amongst local leaders prior
to a disaster event
Clarification of roles, responsibilities and improved management of local strategic
resources
Identification, development or mitigation of any preparedness opportunities or
gaps
An opportunity to disseminate key emergency preparedness information to the
wider community; and
A chance to establish a foundation for the continued development of community
resilience to emergency events.
This Plan is a living document. To ensure the Plan remains relevant and up-to-date with
new hazard information and changes to local contacts, the Plan needs to be regularly
reviewed.
The planning process may also identify community preparedness strengths, opportunities,
weakness or challenges that need further work to develop or resolve. A regular review
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
cycle provides an opportunity to review progress on these initiatives and an opportunity to
re-establish relationships between stakeholders.
Where the CRP fits
Diagram 1 below defines emergency preparedness as a system that links households,
businesses, neighbourhoods, and the community, right through to local and central
government.
Diagram 1:
C
D
CIVIL DEFENCE
CENTRE
To effectively respond and recover from an emergency event the system relies on
engagement initiatives that build capacity (the sharing of knowledge and skills), strengthen
connectedness and improve cooperation. The outcome of this process of engagement is
greater coordination within and between levels, which results in a quicker and more
efficient response and more realistic expectations regarding roles, responsibilities and
resource use.
The diagram highlights that the foundation of preparedness begins in your home,
workplace and neighbourhood. The CRP process comes in at a slightly higher level and
engages with community leaders or key community resource holders to provide an
opportunity for these parties to share their knowledge and skills, build relationships and
work cooperatively to improve their collective capacity to lead and influence their
community’s response in an emergency event.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Communication flows within the system are designed to be both top down and bottom up
(i.e. each level has the capacity to influence the other). For example outcomes of the CRP
process will be filtered down to the neighbourhood and household level as well as upward
to local and central government level, and during a response the community can link in
with the official government response via community activated Civil Defence Centres.
CRP Scope
This Community Response Plan covers the geographical area defined by the boundaries of
the suburbs of Thorndon and Pipitea. The Plan focuses on developing the capacity of the
community to self- activate and respond more effectively during the first 24 – 72 hours
following a large scale emergency event when the community could be isolated or left to
act on its own.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
The CRP process is aimed at better preparing the community for the worst case scenario (a
large earthquake event), on the proviso that a community that is prepared for the impact
of a big earthquake, will also be better prepared to deal with other smaller scale
emergency events.
Stakeholders
The following list of stakeholders were involved in developing this Community Response
Plan:
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Thorndon Residents’ Association
Thorndon New World Supermarket
Pipitea Marae
Wellington Free Ambulance
Australian High Commission
Embassy of the United States
Queen Margaret College
Thorndon School
Compass Health
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Birchington Court Body Corp
New Zealand Fire Service
New Zealand Police
Archdiocese of Wellington
Local Residents from different
precincts in Thorndon/Pipitea
Wellington City Council
Certified Builders
Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Community Profile
Thorndon/Pipitea is regarded as one of New Zealand's oldest and most historic residential suburbs,
and as such holds significant heritage values.
It is bounded by the communities of Kaiwharawhara and Wadestown to the north, Wilton
and Northland to the west, with Kelburn and Wellington Central CBD on the southern
boundary.
The 2013 census gives the population of Thorndon-Pipitea as 4266 usual residents,
however this number swells to perhaps three times this number with commuters and
students flowing in from throughout Wellington region for work and school during the
week.
Pipitea comprises the Parliamentary precinct as well as part of the campus of Victoria
University. On the harbourside of Pipitea there is the port, including two Cook Strait ferry
terminals, the railway yards and Railway Station, and the Wellington Regional Stadium
(Westpac Stadium).
The geographic and infrastructure characteristics of Thorndon/Pipitea are likely to provide
challenges for those within the area, or needing to return to their homes here, following a
serious event.
Although both the National Crisis Management Centre (below the Beehive) and WREMO
are situated within this area, neither will be of specific use to the Thorndon/Pipitea
community, or to the many people who may be immobilised in the area. During any
significant emergency response the national and regional control centres will be dedicated
to setting-up and dealing with overarching responsibilities focused on the region, and on
controlling the national response.
Thorndon/Pipitea has special profiles due to all the lifelines and hazards that pass through
the suburb. The area is at the nexus of the Wellington Fault Line, the Wellington Urban
Motorway, the main trunk railway, key water and energy infrastructure, and the Cook
Strait ferry terminals.
The western residential side of the suburb sits atop the Wellington Fault, at the foot of the
Te Ahumairangi Hill. Other parts of the suburbs are on raised and reclaimed harbour-bed
or old stream beds. These increase the likelihood of failure of key infrastructure and
buildings in this area, which would cause major disruption, dislocations and may contribute
to loss of life. Disruptions could be extreme; everyone trying to depart the city may be
initially impeded from doing so, and the ability for assistance to enter the city is likely to be
limited in the immediate aftermath.
There are five schools operating in the area. This involves about 3,650 school children and
teachers. Additionally there will be students on Victoria University’s Pipitea campus, and
crèches with young children separated from parents.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
During business hours it is assumed that many people would try to evacuate the CBD,
some making their way toward the more open spaces in places such as Pipitea and
Thorndon. The numbers of displaced people moving likely to move through
Thorndon/Pipitea soon after a major event could overwhelm the local community.
Community Values
One of the most important goals of a Community Response Plan is to develop a plan that
builds on or preserves the intrinsic things that a community values and would want to
draw upon in a disaster or preserve and protect during any recovery. At the start of each
CRP process stakeholders are asked to identify the things they value most about their
community. The following is a summary of the values the 2015 stakeholder working group
felt encapsulates the special qualities of the Thorndon Community:
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The heritage aspect and collection of old buildings and homes
The history associated to the area – parliament, cathedrals, etc.
Historic pubs and eating establishments
Primary and secondary schools as well as childcare centres
The fact there is an active Residents’ Association
Historic parks and greenery
Tinakori Village shops and community
The business/government precinct with a significant daytime population
The mix of demographics, covering all age groups and several ethnic groups
Proximity to CBD and the city’s amenities
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Community Hazardscape
Hazards facing Thorndon are the same or similar to those facing many parts of the
Wellington Region. The predominant hazards include: earthquake, floods, liquefaction,
landslides, storms, tsunami, as well as chemical and other man made hazards such as
electrical failure.
The most likely hazard to quickly isolate Thorndon is a large earthquake that damages
roads, and causes landslides and liquefaction. To a lesser extent a long distance tsunami,
or a prolonged power cut could have a similar impact on the community.
A significant earthquake event is likely to result in multiple hazards happening at once,
examples include: ground shaking, liquefaction, slope failure, and possibly a local source
tsunami. It could also result in multiple adverse impacts: large slips, damaged roads,
building rubble, collapsed bridges, lifeline failure, fire, and people trapped, injured,
displaced or killed.
Fire is a major concern for Thorndon, especially following a large scale event such as an
earthquake which would see emergency service’s priorities diverted elsewhere. Old
wooden houses built close together means that fire would spread very rapidly, especially in
windy conditions. There would be little the community could do to prevent this, or to
extinguish once the fire starts. Community members and public need to be aware to stay
out of the path of fire.
The picture below highlights the Wellington Fault passing through Thorndon. The
significance of this is that a funnel to arterial/main roads and motorways to the Hutt Valley
and Ngauranga Gorge and beyond. This will be the area where Wellington’s entrance and
exit point is impeded. This would also affect buses, trains and ferries.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Community Impact Assessment
An impact assessment was undertaken using the scenario of a significant earthquake
(magnitude 7.5) affecting the Thorndon area
Injured, trapped & needing urgent assistance
Many people could be injured or trapped in buildings, and some homes may be
extensively damaged by seismic movement and liquefaction. This could result in some
residents needing rescue, medical treatment or alternative accommodation.
Access to hospitals, local medical facilities and pharmacies could be limited due to the
lack of Thorndon based facilities, and those there are not being staffed by local
residents if the emergency is outside working hours. Damaged or blocked roads could
also impede access.
Many residents will have limited means or capacity to look after themselves when
normal support services are no longer working, and some more vulnerable people (e.g.
the elderly, disabled, medically unwell) will need to be checked on and may require
urgent assistance to survive.
Overwhelmed or uncoordinated Emergency Response
Locally based emergency services and council staff are limited, and will try to respond to
protect or rescue people but could be quickly overwhelmed or delayed by the scale of
the event.
A loss of communications with their emergency service communications centres could
make it difficult for local emergency services to effectively prioritise their efforts.
However, responses will be coordinated and directed in the first instance through
centralised systems rather than local community coordination as much as possible. The
community needs to have a realistic expectation of the very limited services emergency
services will be able to provide in the immediate aftermath of a large scale event.
Access/Communications
A large earthquake could result in a significant amount of debris across the city, and the
entire region. Normal State Highway 1 and State Highway 2 access routes to the city
could be closed for 2 weeks or more, and roads within the city may become impassable
by vehicle. Rail, port and airport facilities will also be affected. In the immediate term
they will stop operating to check for damage, this is likely to be long term in a large
scale event due to the high probability of significant damage.
Thorndon sits on the edge of Wellington City and as such will be used as a thoroughfare
by large numbers of people passing through, most likely on foot, to get home to their
suburbs. Road, tunnel and bridge damage means this will take far longer than usual.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Telephone and cell phone networks are likely to be damaged, disrupted or quickly
overloaded following a large earthquake.
Welfare of the Displaced
The damaged road and rail network could isolate many local commuters for several
days. These commuters could be left stranded and in need of food, water, medical help
and shelter from the community. The volume of people needing help and the number
of casualties could be a burden on the Thorndon Community, which should be taken
into account.
Parents working outside Wellington CBD may struggle to pick up their children from the
five schools within Thorndon. There is a population of approximately 3650 school
children in Thorndon during the week, some of these children will live within walking
distance of their school. Beyond 24 hours some local schools and child care centres
could need assistance looking after children.
In some locations houses could be damaged and rendered unsafe to live in, or some
people may be left too upset to want to live alone.
A tsunami threat could also result in self-evacuation from Wellington CBD up towards
Thorndon, which could add to the demand for local support and shelter, etc.
Food
The damaged road network and power failure could make food resupply or funds to
purchase food impossible. Thorndon has one supermarket, there is also a supermarket
within the Railway Station in Pipitea, as well as several smaller grocery stores in the area
with limited capacity to supply food and goods to the community for much longer than
a couple of days. Access to these stores could also be impeded and the stores
themselves could become hazard zones with fallen shelves and broken glass.
Food could become a scare resource that may require protecting and controlled
distribution.
Water
Slips and ground shaking will likely affect the ground water table, stream and river flow
paths and overall water quality throughout the city. Power and gas mains are also
vulnerable to failure in a large earthquake and could take some time to repair.
Water could become a scare resource throughout Wellington City, including Thorndon.
The community may want to investigate ways to ensure households store emergency
water, and that water available to the public is distributed in a controlled manner.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Sanitation
A lack of clean water, access to toilet facilities and spilled sewage will increase the risk
of sickness and disease without good sanitation techniques and a clear understanding
on the best ways to self-manage urine and excrement disposal. This is especially true for
those who live in apartment buildings and have no backyard to build temporary
sanitation facilities.
Animal Welfare
Animals and pets could also be adversely affected and require care or control. It is also
important to be aware of people who may be unwilling to evacuate unsafe homes due
to not being able to find their pets. It is a resident’s responsibility, wherever possible, to
restrain and look after their own animals.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Community SWOC Analysis
A SWOC analysis was undertaken to assess Thorndon Community’s current resilience to a
large earthquake event as at May 2015. This analysis is to be reassessed during each CRP
review.
Strengths
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Good Community Facilities – open spaces, churches, school, Marae
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Close proximity to CBD, and WREMO office. If communications are down can use a
‘runner’ to communicate to the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
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Existing network of Thorndon Residents’ Association with drive for better
preparedness
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Locally based supermarket & numerous smaller stores and eating establishments
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Higher socio-economic area means the community have more means to better
prepare themselves
Weaknesses
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Many high rise buildings where people work from outside the area, may need
support if they can’t get home after a large scale event
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Large number of people not aware of tsunami warning – many waiting for a siren
to go off
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5 schools in the area mean approximately 3650 children who may need support,
also several childcare centres in the area
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Different day/night profile due to large number of people travelling into the CBD
for work
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No community centre
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Thorndon ‘funnel’. People may become ‘trapped’ in and around Thorndon if they
can’t get home
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Traffic issues if roads are damaged
Opportunities
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Hills in the area for evacuation in case of tsunami – although need to be aware of
the risk of rock falls and landslides
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Some open space for emergency tents, toilets, etc.
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A locally based supermarket and numerous other supporting businesses
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Buildings that could act as community gathering points or shelter – School halls,
churches, Marae
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Walking distance to many large resources, such as the New World supermarket
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Challenges
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Wellington fault line passes directly through Thorndon, close to Tinakori Road and
across lower Thorndon Quay
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Unrealistic expectations regarding capacity of emergency services and civil
defence
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Topography of the area gives a means of evacuation for tsunami, but also means
prone to landslides and makes it difficult to get external resources into the area
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Old infrastructure, including gas and water pipes. Pass through Thorndon and
prone to damage. Karori dam is also close by and if it bursts could result in
flooding
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Resources, e.g. fire, parliament, police, etc. not on high ground
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Historic streams which may flood, lack of knowledge about where they are and
flooding potential
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Potential collapse of motorway flyover and overbridges from the Terrace to
Thorndon
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Managing community food and water resources during a significant disaster
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Better educating the public on tsunami hazard warnings and tsunami zones
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Combating complacency and encouraging people to get better prepared
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Security and looting risks/traffic management
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Checking on and looking after vulnerable people
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Encouraging vulnerable people to get better prepared
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How to provide consistent messaging to the public during an emergency
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Potential influx of stranded commuters needing medical help, shelter, food and
water
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Local Hazard Warning Systems
In a number of emergency events there may be time for official warnings to be given.
Examples include: an approaching weather event, regional or internationally generated
tsunami, rural fire or pandemic.
It is important that the public are aware of local hazard warning systems.
Local Source
Tsunami - potentially
10 minutes or less
notice of arrival.
Wellington City has no tsunami sirens for local source tsunami
Regional & Distant
Source Tsunami potentially 1 – 3
hours’ notice of
arrival.
Television and radio media
The only warning of a locally generated tsunami will be the earthquake
itself. If the earthquake goes on for longer than one minute, or you can’t
stand up in it, immediately evacuate by foot to your nearest high ground.
Social media sites & news websites (e.g. www.getprepared.co.nz;
www.facebook.com/WREMOnz; www.stuff.co.nz; www.civildefence.co.nz)
Informal warnings from family, friends or the public. This information may
need to be verified.
Council & Emergency Service Tsunami Warnings
River & Stream
Flood Events
Metservice: www.metservice.com/towns-cities/wellington
Storm & Other
Weather Events
Television and radio media
Other Emergency
Incidents (e.g. rural
fire or a hazardous
spill)
Television, radio media, social media & news websites
Television and radio media
Metservice website, Facebook or twitter alerts.
Emergency services
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Wellington Region Tsunami Warning
There are three types of tsunami categorized by their source: locally generated (e.g.
earthquake in the Cook Straight or off the East Coast of NZ), regionally generated (e.g.
earthquake off the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu or Samoa) and distant source tsunami (e.g.
earthquake off Chile or Peru).
In a locally generated tsunami the only reliable warning the community will receive is the
earthquake itself. There is unlikely to be enough time for an official warning.
In a regional or distant source tsunami there is more chance for an official warning, and in
addition to warnings issued by the media, the Ministry of Civil Defence, Wellington City
Council, Wellington Region Emergency Management Office and local emergency services
will do everything they can to physically warn coastal communities of a tsunami threat.
Civil Defence Information Sources
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WREMO: www.getprepared.co.nz
WREMO Facebook: www.facebook.com/WREMOnz
Wellington City Council: wellington.govt.nz
Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management: www.civildefence.govt.nz
Radio stations will also be broadcasting emergency information, much of which will be
through liaison with the Emergency Operations Centres. Historically Civil Defence have
provided a list of radio station frequencies for the public to tune into, however this is no
longer the case and everybody is encouraged to scan through all radio channels until
arriving at a station that is broadcasting relevant information.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Community - Critical Needs
This section of the Plan lists a summary of the skills and resources available within
Thorndon in response to eight critical needs relevant to all communities following a largescale emergency event, when there could be limited external support or direction,
particularly in the first 24 – 72 hours. This section also details important information that
the public needs to know before and during an emergency so that they can better prepare
and respond with their community.
1.
Everyone has water to drink within 24 hours
People/Agencies & Role
Resources
Public information/education
Thorndon School
Either 2 x 10 000L
or
1 x 25 000L water tank to
be installed by WCC in next
12 months
Distribution will need to be
controlled and monitored
Thorndon Pool
The pool is empty during
winter, but holds 657 000
litres capacity during
summer
Chlorinated water – not good for
drinking but can be used for
washing
Thorndon New World
Water available for
purchase, however supplies
are limited and are likely to
be depleted within 24
hours based on past
experience
As per below, encourage public to
store their own water
Minimum of 3L per person
per day per household
Constant reminders of need to
store water and why
Household water storage
Allocation of water from
supermarkets may be done so in a
controlled way, through the CDC
Information on where water can
be found during an emergency
Push 200 liter water tanks, sold at
WCC
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
2.
Everyone has eaten within 24 hours
People/Agencies & Role
3.
Resources
Public information/education
Thorndon New World
Groceries and food/water
items for a few days, public
likely to panic and rush to
buy food, stocks will likely
run out very quickly
People need to store food supplies
at home, don’t assume will be able
to source it during or after a large
scale emergency. Try to avoid
storing food that requires water
for cooking, such as rice and pasta.
Various restaurants and
pubs throughout Thorndon
Immediate food on hand,
however no large stores
Consider alternative cooking
facilities such as barbecues in the
event of no power
Pipitea Marae
Function facility and large
kitchen
With 48 hours the community is starting to coordinate its Search & Rescue
People/Agencies & Role
Resources
Public information/education
NZ Fire
Major building collapse
rescue only
The focus for the fire service will
be within the CBD and other jobs
as directed by Fire Comms.
Suburban public should not rely on
their assistance for the first 72
hours
Local Community members
and volunteers
Door to door house checks
Encourage Neighbourhood
Preparedness plans using WREMO
It’s Easy resources
It’s Easy: Prepared
Households and It’s Easy:
Prepared Neighbours will
soon be available in Sri
Lankan Tamil, Latin
American Spanish,
Simplified Chinese,
Burmese, Samoan, Arabic,
Russian, Somali
Awareness of vulnerable groups,
e.g. elderly, disabled, English as
second language. Get to know
them now, rather than after an
emergency
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
4.
Everyone has a suitable place to go toilet within 48 hours
People/Agencies & Role
Resources
Public information/education
Open space for
communal sanitation
fields if required
 Information on where to buy:
www.composttoilets.co.nz
Possibility of chemical
toilets, portaloos,
however not likely in
immediate response
5.
or how to make an emergency toilet:
http://www.getprepared.org.nz/toilets

Information on the importance of
maintaining good hygiene and
having sufficient water for
cleaning – It’s Easy Guides
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High number of apartment
dwellers who will be unable to
flush their toilets due to damaged
sewage systems. Promote use of
buckets and bags
People can access medical assistance within 48 hours
People/Agencies & Role
Thorndon Medical Centre
Resources
2 x Doctors who do not live
locally
Local Emergency Groups
(LEGs) being formed in the
area which means local
health professionals will
make their way to closest
medical centre if
emergency outside working
hours
Defibrillators for Thorndon
are at the following
locations:
Beca
Thorndon Pool
ACC
Police National HQ
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Public information/education
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Trained medical staff who
live but do not work in
Thorndon to make contact
through dissemination of
the plan
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Due to lack of immediate
medical resources the
community should be
aware that first aid begins
at home and in your
neighbourhood. Encourage
first aid courses and first
aid kits

Keep stocks of required
medication
Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
People/Agencies & Role
Resources
Public information/education
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Café Classic
NZ Red Cross
Min of Health
NZ Rugby House
NZ Contractor’s Federation
National Library
6.
WFA provide
People have access to a safe place to rest within 24 hours
People/Agencies & Role
Resources
Archdiocese of Wellington
Open spaces to erect
shelter
Pipitea Marae
Can comfortably
accommodate up to 500
people, have mattresses for
sleeping
Queen Margaret College
and Thorndon School
Halls and gymnasiums for
shelter
Hotels in Thorndon –
Kingsgate Hotel?
Other Churches and halls,
including Wellington Girls
High School
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Public information/education
 Stay at home if it is safe to do
so and support your neighbours
– It’s Easy Guides
 Develop a safe alternative to
your home as part of your
household plan - ‘It’s Easy’
Household Guide
Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
7.
Vulnerable people’s needs are being met
People/Agencies & Role
Resources
Catholic Centre
Some counsellors and social
workers may be available
Other Church Groups
Large links to the
community, maybe able to
provide support
Public information/education
 Find out who in your street will
need assistance in an
emergency– “It’s Easy
Neighbour’s Guide”
 Schools & school teachers need
to have good response plans
due to the potential of children
being displaced – It’s Easy
Guides
 Identification of
interpreters/those who speak
other languages in the
community to assist with
getting key messages out
8.
Animal welfare is provided for livestock and companion animals
People/Agencies & Role
Individual community
members need to be
responsible for their own
pets, including
microchipping for ease of
reunification if required
Resources
Limited resources.
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Public information/education
Be aware that some people may be
unwilling to evacuate unsafe
buildings if they cannot locate
pets. Possible work could be done
with SPCA or WCC animal control
to encourage registering of dogs?
Information guidelines, pet
emergency kits
Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Community - Coordinating the
Response
Civil Defence Centres
A Civil Defence Centre (CDC) is an official gathering point for the community after a
significant emergency. CDCs are opened and run by the community as a means to:





share resources and skills
gather and share information on what has happened
provide basic psychological comfort and support to one another
make contact with the District’s Emergency Operations Centre; and
coordinate the community’s response.
Role of Community Response Plan Stakeholders in
a Civil Defence Centre
A key outcome of the CRP process is the realisation amongst stakeholders of the
importance of information sharing and working together to problem solve. A CDC can
help accommodate this by acting as a pre-determined meeting place to start developing a
coordinated community response.
Whilst there is no guarantee that stakeholders will be available on the day of a disaster, it
is hoped that as a result of the CRP process, they will do their best to either:



help establish and assist with the running of a CDC (perhaps even taking a leadership
role if appropriate);
liaise with their local CDC; or
ensure their staff or other members of their organisation are aware of the role a CDC
plays and how they can use it to link with the community and district response.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Thorndon / Pipitea Civil Defence Centre
All CDC’s are permanently signposted by yellow or blue road signs which point to the
location of the centre. Yellow and blue Civil Defence Centre signs are also usually on posts,
fences or walls outside of the actual buildings. During an event, additional signage such as
whiteboards or a hand painted sign will need to be used to let the community know that the
CDC is operational.
Thorndon’s signposted Civil Defence Centre (CDC) is located at Thorndon School, on
Turnbull Street and Hobson Crescent off Hobson Street.
It is agreed however that the topography of Thorndon/Pipitea is such that the area could
be divided into two. It may be that another location could be more suitable, or that a
secondary location also be identified and agreed as a meeting place by stakeholders.
It is important to consider that if a secondary location is established resources are not
spread to thinly, and one centre serves as the primary centre for decision-making,
especially for the spending of funds (outlined below).
Functional Areas within a Civil Defence Centre
It is recommended that CDCs are split into a public/information area, and a
working/administration area.
In the public area a reception should be set up to assist people on arrival and to collect and
provide basic information. An information board should be set up in a suitable position.
An area should be set aside for people to congregate and comfort each other.
A separate quieter space should be identified to allow for the analysis of information,
coordination and planning activities, and radio communications.
A leader should be identified from those present at the CDC to ensure activities run
smoothly and are well coordinated. This person may also be given authorisation to make
some expenditure on behalf of the Local Controller.
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
Leadership in Emergencies
It is important to remember that those involved in the development of this CRP may be
looked to by others for leadership. Another key point to remember is that everyone is there
to help, and if everyone is ‘working from the same page’ it will lead to a more efficient and
coordinated response. Communication is essential. Take some time to stop, talk as a group
and do the following:
1. Assess the situation: what has happened, what hazards are there
2. Identify objectives: what are the most pressing needs to deal with right now
3. Plan tasks: as a group, how will you deal with those needs.
Once a plan has been formed, assign tasks and ensure everyone is confident with the
task they have been assigned. Review your plan regularly to ensure it is still appropriate for
the current situation.
Effective leadership in communities is not about control and giving orders. It is about
working with a group to achieve desired outcomes. Every individual within a community will
have something different to offer, they will also have different views and ways of achieving
goals. It is important to accept differences and work with them – as long as everyone is
working in a way that is safe for themselves and others.
Information relevant for your Emergency
Operations Centre
A working CDC is an important link between the community and the Emergency Operations
Centre (EOC) which will be coordinating the district-wide emergency response. The EOC will
be attempting to create some situational awareness on what is happening within
communities so that they can provide appropriate and timely support. Relevant
information that a CDC could pass on to the EOC to help them with this would include:
o The general status of streets or neighbourhoods:
o Which buildings/homes have been checked and cleared and which haven’t
o The location and number of people trapped or injured
o The extent of house and infrastructure damage
o The level of accessibility to streets or neighbourhoods
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Thorndon Community Response Plan 2015
o The presence of any hazards: such as liquefaction, arcing power lines,
damaged roads, buildings on fire etc.
o The location and number of people needing help to evacuate
o The details of the displaced and missing or people needing help with food,
water and shelter.
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