LIFE AND HEALTH IN DISASTER

Evening Star, Issue 21742, 9 June 1934, Page 26

LIFE AND HEALTH IN DISASTER

‘ CHRISTCHURCH PLANS FOR POSSIBILITIES [Special to the 'Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, June 8. An elaborate scheme to provide for the preservation of life and public health if Christchurch should ever be devastated by earthquake, flood, tidal wave, conflagration, or epidemic is being prepared (states to-night’s ‘ Sun '). An immense amount of detailed work has to be done, it is assumed that essential services, such as lighting and power, water and sewage disposal, are out of commission, that buildings are wrecked, and that transport is disorganised. Parts of the preliminary investigations cover the use of parks and other open spaces as' dressing stations, hospitals, and camp sites, and rallying points from which citizen effort could ho directed. The. distribution of food, clothing, and so on would be controlled by experienced men. The full plan is not ready, and it will probably be a considerable time before it can be produced. In the meantime those associated with the collection of information, including representatives of local bodies, the Defence Department, the Health Department, the Railway Department, the Fire Brigade, and the transport organisations, are preparing reports covering their own particular functions. The committee, after going thoroughly into all the proposals that are being put before , it, will advise the public of those measures considered to be essential guides to their procedure in the event oh calamity.

It is emphasised that there is no desire to create public uneasiness, nor is there need for such uneasiness. It is not considered that there is any particular likelihood of disaster by earthquake or other causes, but wisdom, it is felt, counsels a reading of the lesson given by the Hawke’s Bay disaster and the preparation of emergency procedure. The measures are being planned to meet as well as possible such situations as would be created by the failure of the electricity, water, and sewerage installations. Experienced officials who are acquainted with the calamities on the West Coast and at Hawke’s Bay are collaborating to sketch out the steps that would be necessary to maintain a supply of food, provide tents and blankets for public use, if necessary, and attend to sanitation. Camps might bo necessary to accommodate families whose homes had been wrecked or who were disinclined to remain under their roofs for the time being. Centralisation of medical supplies and drugs and medical services also is among the matters receiving attention. In addition to being possible sites for hospitals and camps, parks are being considered as potential bases from which combined effort among the men of the community could be directed once the men had seen to the urgent needs of their own dependents. The scheme of operations in emergency wguld presumably function, though on ' a less genera] scale, if Christchurch were ever the victim of a severe bombing raid.