Quake test for Greytown volunteers

Mike Gray, Greytown Civil Defence co-ordinator, calls the shots. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

An earthquake drill in Greytown yesterday galvanised emergency services in the district and launched into action a tight band of Civil Defence volunteers.

Greytown civil defence team leader and co-ordinator Mike Gray, a former long-time South Wairarapa District councillor, said "a very big" simulated quake had collapsed the Waiohine Bridge and a civil defence nerve centre was set up at the Greytown Town Hall, which complied with earthquake standards.

The centre had been shifted to the town hall from the South Wairarapa Workingmen's Club about two and a half years ago when the new community response team was launched.

The drill involved fire service and St John officers and ran from 9.47am, when the faux quake struck, until about 2pm.

Mr Gray said a comprehensive list of "victim volunteer scripts" had been handed to Lions and Lioness club members, who portrayed scenarios such as victims of fire or heart attack, or an elderly woman trapped in her home, or a Muslim family looking for a place to worship.

Members of the community service groups and the public were invited to alert to each scenario the team of six CD volunteers, paramedic and firefighting officers, who were stationed at the town hall with a communication centre, a first response medical kit, and stations for people wanting to volunteer, or who were seeking emergency accommodation, assistance, family members or friends, or pets.

"We would link all the first responders and emergencies services together from here and link in with the other towns in a big disaster. They know what we're going through and we could help keep them in the picture about cordoned streets or areas of dangers, for example," Mr Gray said, adding each scenario was dealt with and logged in to a "civil defence cloud" of information, which would be vital in a disaster.

"We want to help inspire a greater awareness or the risks and requirements in a disaster that everybody faces and a greater willingness to be prepared."

Mr Gray said each householder and business owner in the district would ideally have a disaster plan, which was outlined in booklets available through Civil Defence.