by Ady Shannon

Civil Defence Centres - an insight

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Trudy Downes, MCNZ Carer and Civil Defence Volunteer Newbie, shares relevant learnings from her recent participation in Civil Defence workshops.

Earlier this year, I had cause for reflection. With the amount of flooding we have experienced and because of one phone call from someone saying they wanted to open their church for flood survivors, I joined Civil Defence in April. It is fascinating and I want to share some of what I have learnt about opening a building as a Civil Defence Centre (CDC). 

“A Civil Defence Centre is a place set up and run by Civil Defence Emergency Management. Here, we can provide support to those that need urgent help. A CDC is also open to members of the public who are unable to stay at home or with friends and family ... the location and number of Centres will depend on the size of the event and how we need to support communities.” Christchurch City Council Civil Defence Emergency Management

A CDC is as large as the function it needs to provide. A CDC information hub could be a caravan on the side of the road; or you can scale up to sports stadiums that are set up to sleep hundreds of people. These large CDCs will need distinct spaces for distinct activities such as (but not limited to):

  • CDC Reception
  • Information zones
  • Catering
  • Eating
  • Sleeping (separating single men from single women from families)
  • Bathroom and toilet needs
  • Quiet time
  • Kids activities
  • Civil Defence management
  • Civil Defence staff time out
  • Welfare assessments
  • Distribution (clothes, household goods, etc)
  • First Aid

Some things that surprised me.

  • You can’t always rock up to a CDC and be accepted as a volunteer if you are not trained or vetted.
  • If someone from the CDC personally knows you, they may vouch for you, and you may be allowed to help. Otherwise, the CDC may give someone who poses a risk access to people who are in a vulnerable state.
  • If you have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you should be welcomed with open arms! Considering our terrain and the types of events that we have, any form of transport, like 4-wheel drives, is invaluable at the time of our events!
  • Home-baked goods and other donated second-hand goods may cause more problems than their worth at a CDC.
  • Not all CDCs will operate in the same way, but I was a bit shocked about some not accepting baked goods until one of the long-term members spoke about biting into a muffin and discovering a long hair baked in the muffin. And someone else spoke up about not knowing what was in the muffins with regard to allergies, malicious bakers, or the hygiene of the kitchen. Another spoke about their CDC being shut down after a gastric outbreak. The CDC’s role is to look after the community that comes to them for help, and part of that is risk-assessing home-baked goods.
  • Second-hand clothing, towels and bedding need to be washed, dried and sorted before use. Most CDCs do not have the resources to do that, let alone space to store the quantities of goods that may come through. If other community entities can cope with second-hand goods, then send those goods there.
  • A CDC provides the basics. If people can be accommodated elsewhere, then that should be encouraged.

I am finding being a Civil Defence volunteer far more rewarding than I thought I would, and I am of the opinion that our churches would be very useful Civil Defence Centres.

If you want to get involved then see your local council’s civil defence group (Click here)

  • get them to have a look at your building and discuss how it could work
  • get them to talk to your team or parish about what happens
  • sign up and join up yourself!

One key thing I have learnt: understanding how a CDC works will make it easier to manage a response even if your building is not a CDC.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Keep Safe.

Local authorities are responsible for civil defence emergency management (CDEM) in their area. If life or property is threatened always dial 111 for Police, Fire or Ambulance.