KEY POINTS:
If disaster struck in Rotorua tomorrow, more than 65 per cent of us would be totally unprepared.
Rotorua is at risk of earthquakes, volcanic and geothermal eruptions and pandemics, with flooding less likely.
Pauline Hitchcock, emergency management co- ordinator for the Rotorua District Council, believes many of the district's families would struggle to cope on their own for several days in case of a Civil Defence emergency.
"I would say there are too many people out there who have the attitude that 'it will not happen to me'."
Mrs Hitchcock said a survey this year showed only 33 per cent of Rotorua residents had a full survival kit and 36 per cent had a family emergency plan.
"That means only one-third of Rotorua are prepared for a disaster and that's not enough."
The co-ordinator said people had to be prepared to fend for themselves in an emergency for up to three days.
"This means no water, power or emergency services."
Mrs Hitchcock said all households should have a survival kit, a family emergency plan and a getaway kit in case of an emergency.
"Because of our location there is always a chance of something happening. We are in an area with geothermal activity, faultlines running through Rotorua and it's also a volcanic area. We should always be prepared."
Mrs Hitchcock put the lack of interest in preparing for "the big one" down to apathy.
She said because there was no way to precisely predict when a natural disaster could happen, people tended to get tired of the warnings. "Y2K was a classic example. We had many people preparing for an event that basically fell flat. Then you get people thinking 'yeah, nothing's going to happen'," Mrs Hitchcock said.
"A disaster will happen - it's not if, but when."
Steve Apperley, is one Rotorua local who is prepared. He has just returned from two years in Iraq, a place were he said planning is everything. "I'm ex- army so it's by default that you always prepare for the worst. What I will say is if this places cooks off, I'm ready for it," Mr Apperley said.
Mr Apperley who has been learning to fly helicopters since returning to New Zealand two months ago, said he had bottled water, canned food, spare batteries for his torch, [water] purifying tablets and "enough stuff to keep me going for a few days".
Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management director John Hamilton said some New Zealanders thought if they didn't think about it, it wouldn't happen.
"What I can tell them is that if they do get some water and food stored they will feel a lot better about facing an emergency. Any event affects the people who staff emergency services as well and can cut roads, power lines and phone links.
Next week is Disaster Awareness Week when Civil Defence staff around the country will be pushing the "get ready, get through" message.
- DAILY POST
