Tai Tokerau Timebank
Emergency Preparedness
There's something strange in the neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Timebankers!
Okay so we're unlikely to have a problem with ghosts, but given our precarious geographical location we are likely to have a problem with cyclones, flooding, landslides and power cuts.
When emergency situations arise it's good to be prepared, whether that is a case of having plenty of supplies in, or knowing who can give you a hand to put your fence back up or help you clear debris out of a drain.
Obviously if it's a 111 type of emergency then don't hesitate to call them first, but so often what help we need is way too far down the priority list of the Emergency Services, but it still needs done. This is where Timebanking can help.
There are several ways we can do this.
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Getting to know each other better so we know who to ask, and who might need our help
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sharing and learning new skills that help us to be more resilient and prepared to weather the storms (literally and figuratively!)
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sharing resources, sources of things that can help us 'get through', and tips to make it less of a basic survival scenario but rather living a bit differently.
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improving our communication networks and community resources.
It doesn't have to be an official emergency to feel like one! If in doubt, shout out. It may be just your home or street that's affected, it doesn't have to be the whole area. In fact if the problem is localised the easier it'll be to find help!
"A community-led response
and recovery displays Whakawhanaungatanga and
Manaakitanga which demonstrates the resilience of
Northland communities."
NRC CDE Management Plan
In the event of an emergency your neighbours are obviously the closest at hand to help, but we don't all know our neighbours, or local Timebank members. We'll be working on ways to help Timebankers get to know who all else is near by, and how they can help each other.
Workshops to help better prepare you to cope with an emergency, whether it is loss of power, being cut off locally or regionally or anything else that might make life at home difficult or unsafe
A collection of resources available online, to access via Timebank and some checklists etc to help you plan for your own situation.
Database
We'll be gathering information on what skills and resources our members have that could be useful in an emergency situation, also making sure we know who are more vulnerable members are so that we can ensure that they are check in on and get the support they need, even if it's just a warm fire to sit by!
Neighbourhood networking.
Between the 2023 cyclones and general wetness, past summer droughts, lengthy closures of SH1 in at least one place, and 'that' power outage we've all had experience of what the weather (and human error, but that's harder to plan for!) can throw at us. With the climate crisis escalating we're going to see more extreme weather events happening.
Sharing our stories and experiences is a great way to not only get to know each other better, but it broadens our perspectives on what is possible, and how to achieve it.
Things to be thinking about
- what are the biggest risks where I live (flooding, power outages etc)
- what has been particularly useful to me in past emergency type situations?
- what have I wished I had that I haven't got?
- how could I be better prepared for 'next time'?
- what might I be able to offer others to help them be better prepared, or cope in/after an extreme weather event etc?
Planning ahead
There are three main options for most of us in the event of an emergency
- Leaving on foot - what can you carry? What do you need? How easy is it to grab in a hurry?
- Leaving by car - you're able to take more, but what?
- Stuck at home - if you're safer staying put do you have sufficient supplies and resources to last at least a week?
Workshops
We'll be organising a number of workshops that help you be better prepared for whatever happens. If you have a workshop that you would like to see near you please contact us and we'll see what we can do!
Resources
Official Resources
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
National Civil Defense https://getready.govt.nz/
Northland Civil Defense https://www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence/
NRC Civil Defense Facebook page
MetService http://www.metservice.com/
Northland Civil Defense Emergency Management Group Plan 2021-26
Building resilience
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
Community Gardens etc for learning and sharing linked to Timebank
Kaitāia: Māra Kai o te Hapori, Puckey Ave (behind Te Hiku Connect), Tuituia te Kahanuku
Kaeo: Garden Ninjas Kaeo, Crop Swap Kaeo
Kerikeri: Māra Tūī Community Garden & Crop Swap (at Kerikeri Organics)
Rāwene: Ara Rongoa (at Rāwene Hospital)
Whangārei: Maunu Gardens, Aroha Gardens, Mahinga Kai Ngunguru
Dargaville: Circus Kumarani Community Garden
Paparoa: Grow Whakatipu Paparoa
Composting Toilets
Urine separators https://www.farnorth3dp.co.nz/urine-separation
Contact us to get a TTT member discount if you don't already have a code
Response: When it actually happens
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you have to evacuate
Things to take with you that you might not have thought of that others have found useful or wished they had
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Proof of address for getting back again if access is restricted
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Children are used to carrying a school bag - fill theirs with a change of clothes and/or sleepwear, snacks and a full drinks bottle, a comfort item and something for them to do eg a toy, book etc. It saves you carrying it, and gives them some security if they get separated from you.
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Pillowcase - you can stuff it with clothes for a pillow, and it also gives you an extra 'bag' to keep your belongings together during the day if you're at an evacuation centre.
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A list of useful phone numbers and email addresses written down in case your phone goes flat and you can't recharge it.
Do you know where to go? Whether that's your nearest evacuation centre or a friend/whānau member who is closer. What are your options?
Recovery: The aftermath
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
"The Recovery process is about supporting people to rebuild their lives, restoring their emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing as quickly as possible to assist with the functioning of the wider community."
NRC CDE Management Plan
What happens next?
You might need help, be able to provide it, or both!
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Restoration of damaged property
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Managing stress and anxiety
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Needing to 'debrief'
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Rebuilding your life
How can this happen?
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Contact a timebanker directly for help
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If you have a Neighbourhood group reach out to them
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Post an Offer or Request on TimeOverflow for a wider reach
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Contact your Local Coordinator if you need assistance
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Working Bees to tackle larger tasks
This resource from Wellington on Psychological First Aid after natural disasters provides some useful insight, especially for those needing to explain things to children.