Disaster risk preparedness is everyone’s responsibility

Now that Cook Islands are getting over the tsunami alert last week and a tsunami watch this Wednesday, we all need to realize that disaster risk preparedness is everyone’s responsibility and to ask yourself: Are you prepared?
“Disaster risk management is for everyone” said EMCI coordinator, Willie Tuivaga who said when are dealing with forces of nature, we must be as prepared as we can be especially as we move into our tropical cyclone season beginning November.
Under the Disaster Risk Management Act, all organizations are required to prepare their emergency plans and forward them to EMCI.
One of the first organizations to come on board was the Ministry of Education which recognizes that our children are our most precious citizens and the most vulnerable. Every school has an emergency plan and the ministry requires each and every school to hold an emergency drill at least once every school term. The school teachers are the designated safety wardens and at the drills, the children are instructed to hold hands as they walk as fast as they can to safety led by their teachers in their capacity as safety wardens.
One of the schools involved is Arorangi School which was part of a joint community effort in April 2007 led by then Vaka Mayor, Robert Heather and his councilors in conjunction with the school and EMCI. The council purchased a single Carmel & Carmel siren which has been installed on top of Aroa Nui hall. During their drills, the school managed to evacuate the entire school within 13 minutes with the children and their teachers out first and the principal of the school being the last to leave.
EMCI say it is important for all organizations from government ministries, departments and agencies to all private businesses to also have their own plans and forward them to EMCI.
His advice is to write out the plan and step by step emergency procedures, and then test their plan to its fullest extent to check whether it is effective and works properly.
Office management and staff need to consider how to safeguard their valuable equipment such as their computers so as not to lose valuable records that are vital to the running of the department or business.
Plans need to factor in the safety of their own staff as well as all visitors and customers on their premises during an emergency. The aim is to get everyone out of harm’s way as quickly and safely as possible so as not to cause undue panic.
Community groups are encouraged to also have their plans in place if and when any large scale emergency occurs.

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