Source: Auckland Council
Ensuring no disabled person is left behind during emergencies was top-of-mind this month at a hui hosted by Auckland Council’s Disability Advisory Panel.
The hui was an opportunity for Auckland Emergency Management to hear about the experiences and requirements of disabled people before and during an emergency, to share reminders on emergency preparedness and foster relationships with the disability community.
Barry de Geest, co-chair of the Disability Advisory Panel says the hui sparked healthy discussions about how the community and agencies can do better during the next emergency event.
“Natural disasters and emergencies are becoming more frequent, so it’s vitally important that the disabled community familiarise themselves with what to do during an emergency and plan ahead to be emergency-ready.
“The hui generated some candid discussions, and it was great to hear first-hand experiences and ideas from community members about emergency readiness and their own adaptability.”
“It’s important the disabled community and emergency response agencies including Auckland Emergency Management continue to work together, so no one is left behind during an emergency.”
Adam Maggs, General Manager Auckland Emergency Management says the agency will take on board the feedback from the hui and look to continually improve engagement with the disabled community.
“This year we have focused on ensuring all the buildings we could use for civil defence centres are accessible and that there are effective systems for letting the public know where and when a centre is open. We have trained more staff across the council to set up and operate a centre.
“In 2025, we will work with disability organisations to make readiness messages more accessible and so that the experiences of disabled people inform how we train staff and manage responses.”
Also in attendance at the hui were Storm Recovery Navigators, from the council, who work with those impacted by Auckland’s 2023 extreme weather events. The team is already supporting disabled people and whānau and is keen to work more closely with the disability community moving forward.
Mr Maggs says disabled Aucklanders can take steps to be better prepared for emergencies.
“The disabled community, like all communities, could be affected by an emergency situation, such as flooding or a major power outage.
“These often happen out of the blue, so it pays to be prepared in advance.
“Think about how you will know an emergency is happening; how an emergency could affect you; the support you need; having essential supplies for at least three days and where to go if you cannot stay at home.”
“For disabled people, these could include accessibility aids, medications, prescriptions, a medical alert tag, communication aids (e.g. if you are Deaf or cannot speak) and supplies for service animals.
“Think about who would support you during an emergency. It may pay to think about having more than one buddy you can call on for support, as your go-to support person might not be available when something happens. Think about planning for not being able to get home, for being stuck at home or for having to leave in a hurry. Plan for each of the places you spend a lot of time at (for example, work or your place of study).
Useful resources
For information on emergency preparedness for disabled people please visit getready.govt.nz
Please visit aucklandemergenymanagement.govt.nz for information about getting ready for an emergency in the Auckland region.
