KEY POINTS:
Apathy about being prepared for a natural disaster in New Zealand is slowly improving but still concerning, according to Civil Defence's latest Impact publication.
The publication outlines the recently released National Hazardscapes Report, which says natural disasters such as floods have caused the most significant damage in recent years, but brings attention to more unexpected disasters such as possible volcanic eruptions in the Auckland region.
To help prepare for such an event, several key agencies have joined for Exercise Ruaumoko, which runs through the scenario of an eruption and takes place in the Auckland region over the next few months.
The report predicts such an event could destroy buildings, block roads, and damage essential services such as water, electricity, phone and radio.
Total destruction was likely to occur in areas near the volcanic cone and such a disaster would cause major economic, political and social issues.
Another scenario involving a South Island-wide response to a major earthquake is under way and follows the testing last year of emergency response plans to such an event in Wellington.
The report was released to inform those involved in policy making and hazard management in carrying out hazard and risk management at national and local level and increase cohesion between such groups.
On a personal level, a survey shows the number of New Zealanders who have some sort of plan in an emergency situation is gradually increasing, but still low.
About a quarter are prepared for an emergency when they are at home, but the figures are lower for people when they are at work.
The report said the nature of major emergencies to have hit New Zealand over the past couple of centuries had changed significantly.
The 1800s and early 1900s included shipping accidents, fires and epidemics such as measles (1854) and influenza (1918) - the latter two accounting for 12,600 deaths.
The 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption and 1931 Hawkes Bay earthquake were the worst natural disasters, accounting for 153 and 256 deaths respectively.
Since the mid-1950s there have been relatively few deaths from natural disasters, with most hazard-related deaths being attributed to transport accidents.
The Tangiwai train disaster in 1953, Wahine sinking in 1968 and Mt Erebus plane crash in 1979 were among the worst, with the latter claiming 257 lives.
- NZPA
