Weare all Civil Defence

The truth is, it was doing its part and the flooding that at times paralysed parts of the South Island brought it to the fore. Declarations of states of emergency were just the next step among many taken.

The emergency management teams were the official face of the response, but the response went much deeper.

Civil Defence is not a single organisation. It is an amalgam of many different groups that come together to manage an emergency.

It is also not just an amalgam of groups. It is also a bunch of people often not part of a formal group, and it is the sum total of all their actions.

Civil Defence is all of us. It is a recognition of our responsibilities to ourselves and each other in an emergency, and an acknowledgement there are people there to help.

The callouts attended by paid and volunteer fire crews on Friday were acts of civil defence, as were the innumerable traffic calls and home visits performed by police.

The lines company contractors who worked to keep power flowing, and the contractors attending to flooded roads and properties, were all there for civil defence.

The council workers and contractors who cleaned drains and traps did so for civil defence, as did the St John officials. At the community welfare centres, the volunteers readying for an influx of evacuees were performing their part for Civil Defence.

Elsewhere, Civil Defence actions happened without being labelled. Neighbours were checked by telephone and door knock; dry wood was taken next door, cooked meals were offered and tractors were made ready.

Family, friends and neighbours were ready to help if the worst happened: some needed to help clean up in the aftermath.

The past few days have also shown there is plenty of room for people to be more effective in making sure they weather any storm.

How many of us have plans for an emergency, and how many of us are sure our homes and businesses are as resilient as possible. How many of us know about the community emergency response plan for our area, or where we can go for help?

We all have a responsibility to contribute, in our own way, to civil defence before, during and after an emergency.