Proper emergency management is key

• Andy Baker, Franklin Ward councillor

In a previous life, I was the Civil Defence Officer and Principal Rural Fire Officer for
Franklin District Council. I also looked after Rural Fire in Waikato and Papakura Districts, so
I have a vested interest in Emergency Management.

Fair to say when asked as part of the Bush Review into the response to the 2023 storm events, I was blunt as to my thoughts regarding our capabilities as a council and in particular our lack of local knowledge through the erosion of community-based plans, networks and associated ability to adequately reduce risk, help communities be ready and to actually respond to incidents.

Things had gone backwards (in my humble opinion) since 2015, when some very poor
decisions were made politically and operationally despite the fight against the changes of the then-Franklin elected reps.

So, you can imagine my excitement recently as I attended the blessing and dedication of the new fleet of vehicles to be used by our three emergency response teams, including the latest group based at Ardmore.

These vehicles will not only allow volunteer specialists and their equipment to gain access to areas of need during emergency events but allow for appropriate support through a command vehicle and also a mobile kitchen that can feed and water the workers but also be used at halls and marae when people need to gather there if they cannot be at home in an event.

They can also be used to support our emergency services at long-running incidents. Having a team of 40 well-trained and lead volunteers in Franklin to work in the south is a massive step in the right direction, as it is likely we will see more extreme weather events where people need assistance.

Our crews and gear are also available to assist other areas in NZ when needed. When talking recently to a friend with experience responding internationally to disasters, he talked of how the term natural disaster is a bit misleading, as most impacts from weather and natural events can be attributed to poor decisions and actions of humans.

Thought-provoking that!