Otago Regional Civil Defence Emergency Management

Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management
Hazards information
Preparing for an emergency

At a local and regional level, Civil Defence agencies prepare for and co-ordinate the responses to catastrophic events.

In Otago the natural hazards most likely to cause a civil defence emergency are flooding, earthquakes, storms, heavy seas, landslips and tsunamis. Emergency responses may also be called on to deal with major human or agricultural disease outbreaks.

By knowing how to reduce the risks and what action to take if an emergency occurs, you can improve the way we get through.

Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEMG)

The Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group (CDEMG), administered and co-ordinated by the Otago Regional Council, is a partnership between all local authorities in Otago. The group is responsible for managing the planning and delivery of civil defence emergency services across the region.

We are supported by and work alongside the police, Fire Service, St John, Southern District Health Board, and a number of other key agencies that would respond to an emergency.

The group has a new website. To visit it, click here

Do you have a disaster plan?

If you are aware of hazards that may threaten you and your family, you can respond best if you have plans in place to help you recover from emergencies.

Natural disasters can cause any of our essential services to fail without warning, perhaps for some time, or for homes and buildings to be evacuated at short notice. This disruption could affect:

• roads and transport services
• electricity and gas
• telephone and internet networks
• water and wastewater
• technology services.

It is important you are prepared for a disaster. Remember, once it is happening, it may be too late. Get ready now.

View information about Otago emergency hazards here.

How do I contact emergency services?

For normal emergency service response you should call the appropriate emergency service whether it is the Fire Service, Police or Ambulance on the emergency number 111.

Your local authority will play a major part in responding to a civil defence emergency in your part of Otago. The following links will give you information about your local civil defence emergency response.