SHOULD NEED ARISE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 107, 8 January 1940, Page 8

SHOULD NEED ARISE

WHAKATANE'S EMERGENCY SCHEME \ ' - MR D. V. SAUNDERS IDEAS Owing to the fact that the emcrgencv precautions scheme prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs for local bodies, was considered too elaborate lor application in the cases of smaller boroughs, the Whakatane town clerk, Mr D. V. Saunders, has prepared a scheme of his own for this borough. He believes that with the necessary mollifications it could, be made to apply to most of the smaller towns. The scheme has been adopted by the Whakatane Borough Council with the realisation that although the necessity for its application at any future date may be very remote, it nevertheless is a wise measure to have a scheme prepared which could be worked upon immediatelj* should the necessity arise. BOROUGH OF WHAKATANE. Emergency Precautions Scheme Medical and Nursing Committee. Responsible for — 1. All medical arrangements including First Aid. 2. Evacuation of casualties. Controller —Mayor. Principal Officer —Hospital Medical Superintendent who will act in conjunction with other Whakatane doctors. Temporary Hospital—Whakatane Infant School, Domain Road. Temporary Mortuaiw —King Street Hall. Action in Emergency. 1. Controller and Principal Officer report immediately at Borough Chambers. 2. Get message to Chairman or Secretary of Red Cross to arrange— (a) Trained assistants for temporal'}* hospital. (b) Canvas of town for camp • stretchers, matresses, all classes of bedding, towels, basins, linen for temporary dressings, and all other immediate essentials (transport Committee will supply vehicles if required). 3. Get message to St. John Ambulance Association to arrange— (a) Squad of trained members systematically to cover whole of borough, render urgent first aid, list casualties, list and report to controller cases requiring transport to Hospital, temporary hospital or temporary mortuary. (b) After first urgent cover of town, again cover systematically to render first aid assistance where necessary. 4. Through committee of supply obtain all requirements of all medical supplies. 5. Through committee of supply obtain all other requirements, viz., cooking appliances and utensils, crockery, cutlery, foodstuffs. etc., advise requirements re sanitary arrangements, etc. 6. Requisition vehicles through Transport committee for evacuation of casualties, if necessary. 7. Requisition committee of supply for services of clerks and messengers. 8. Unless otherwise advised Controller and Principal OfTicer to attend meeting at Borough Chambers at 8 a.m. each morning during emer gency. Note—Other Committees will be working simultaneously to restore services, viz., water, electricity, tele phones, drainage, road repairs and to deal with fire, etc. IMPORTANT—Keep systematic re cord of patients received, treated, discharged, evacuated and died. Make immediate arrangements for system of patients' treatment charts Supply, Communications, Accommodation, Finance and Records, Publicity and Information Committee. Responsible for— Supply—Control and suppl}* to other committees and to the public all foodstuffs, clothing and other essentials. Communications. —P rov i s ion an d maintenance of all forms of communication including telephone., telegraph and messengers. Accommodation—To arrange accommodation and temporary feeding for shocked and homeless persons, and, if necessary, the evacuation of uninjured population. Finance and Records—To control ! and co-ordinate all emergency expenditure and keep all control records. Publicity and Information—Prepare and distribute information and instructions throughout area. Controller—Mayor.

Principal OfTicer—ToAvn Clerk. Action in Emergency—Controller and Principal OU'icer report at Borough Chambers. Supply: • l. To prevent bxcessivc sales and hoarding, dispatch men to see that the following shops are closed meantime for business—grocers, butchers, bankers and bakehouses, fruit and vegetables, clothing and bedding. 2. Issue instructions that none of the above goods is to be sold Avitliout the production of ration cards or coupons. 3. Arrange salvage stores in demolished premises and transfer to central supply depot—Parish Hall. Transport Committee will : supply vehicles. Make every effort to tally and record goods as they are taken over, viz., from, whom taken, items, quantities, etc. I. Prepare coupons for use in place of ready cash, value 3d, 6d, 1 - and 2'-. These will be issued as temporary advances to populous, employers, or in payment of wages. Communications. 1. Contact Postmaster —P. and T. Staff to proceed to restore communications in accordance with urgency, and, installing phones at temporary hospital, supply depot and other important points. 2. Delegate Scouts, Guides, motor cyclists, and other messengers to emergency institutions for duty. Finance and Records. 1. Contact County Councils, Government Departments and firms for supply of clerks. 2. Allot clerks to other committees as necessary, establish records and accounting system. NOTE —Unless otherwise advised, Controller and Principal Officer to attend meeting at Borough Chambers, at 8 a.m. each morning during emergency. ' Works, Electricity, Transport, Fire, Law and Order Committee. Responsible for —• Works—Restoring water supply and drainage, rescue and street clear ing personnel, all temporary construction, labour including requirements of other committees. Electricity —Restoration, provision and maintenance of electrical supply system. Transport —Control, an,d distribution to other committees of all forms of transport. Fire —Law and Order —Attendance at and suppression of fire, maintenance of law and order. Controller—Chairman of Works Committee, Borough Council.

Principal Officers —Borough Foreman, Electrical Engineer, and Fire Brigade Superintendent. Action in Emergency. Works. 1. Principal Officer report at Borough Chambers, also Controller. 2. Contact County, P.W.D., Labour Office and employers of labour for men required, plant and tools. 3. Allocate staff and give instructions of reservoir and mains. Upon receipt of reports, allocate gangs for repair work and to cut off leaking services. 4. Allot gangs for rescue work, street clearing, demolition of unsafe buildings. 5. Arrange pickets to exclude unauthorised persons, sightseers, etc., from demolished areas. Electricity. 1. Principal officer report at Borough Chambers. 2. Contact Power Board for extra stalf required. 3. Allocate staff and give instructions re inspection of transmission line and substations, and damage within Borough. Upon receipt of reports allocate gangs for repair work concentrating on main lines and substations. 4. Contact contractors and staffs for wiremen and allocate to jobs in accordance Avith urgency, viz., hospital, temporary hospital (Infant School, Domain Road), temporary mortuary (King Street Hall), line to pump house and pump repairs, street lights and lloodlights in devastated areas. 5. Detail men to pull pole fuses on all installations in affected areas as precautions against accident and fire, and in readiness of livening up of system. o. When all clear and main line and substation repairs effected, have power switched on. 7. In case of shortage of material, list requirements, and procure i through committee of supply. ' 8. Detail contractor's staff to cov- [ ar Borough and effect repairs to pri vatc installations—same to report, Borough staff to replace pole fus? and test. Transport. ! 1. Contact County Council, P.W.D Garages, for vehicles required with drivers. 2. Provide vehicles at request cf "iLher committees. 'Continued nt foot of next cohi:n :)

Fire. 1. Fire Brigade Superintendent to work in close collaboration will) Controller in dealing with fires in accordance with importance, demolishing unsafe buildings, etc. Law and Order. i. Confer with senior Police Officer and arrange for maintenance of law and order and for protection of property from theft, vandalism, etc. Note —Unless otherwise advised Controller and Principal Officers lo attend meeting at Bnroug'i Cham-V'-s at 8 n.m. each morning c'.ir:ng emergency.