Response/Recovery Challenges

Response/Recovery Challenges

by Craig Gilbert -
Number of replies: 0

  1. What are the most serious hazards your community (or organisation) faces? Tsunami is my community's most serious hazard, especially a locally generated one in the Tongan-Kermadec Trench.  Also earthquake is a hazard, potentially from the Kerepehi fault.
  2. How would your community (or organisation) respond to the most significant hazard now?  Text notification, phone apps - red cross, civil defence warnings may be issued.  Long or strong philosophy would hopefully be applied by community (but not a given) who would/should self - evacuate to higher ground - these points generally known by local community dwellers.  Self sufficiency would be paramount but not guaranteed, meaning people may be immediately reliant on CD assistance, welfare support including for essentials etc.  Local emergency response teams would activate and triage assistance, depending on staff numbers/capability etc.  Many emergency responders live locally in our small town, who may assist assistance initially.
  1. What issues would come from that Response or Recovery? Self evacuation would  be limited if event occurred at night, especially if tsunami was locally generated with minimal time before impact.  Limited evacuation routes, so bottle necks in evacuating traffic which would halt/impede evacuations.  Unknown whereabouts of family members, friends, pets etc especially during day, resulting in emotional harm (amongst other things) requiring operational/intel/welfare support.  Highly unlikely people would not have adequate food/water/fuel/battery charge etc so support would be needed.  Telecommunication/power issues could well be a factor, causing logistical and well-being challenges, needing support.  Especially if tsunami resulted from earthquake, obvious transport/logisitics issues related to infrastructure which would need ongoing support during recovery phase, by lifeline providers etc.