Western Bay of Plenty District Council is encouraging people to get to know their local Community Emergency Hub – before they need it.

Recent heavy rain and tsunami threats are a reminder of how quickly things can change and how important it is to be prepared, said the council’s community resilience adviser Kurt Waugh.

“Natural events like this can happen with little warning, so knowing your local hub is really important.”

Community Emergency Hubs were in place across the district to help locals connect and support each other when the unexpected happens, said Waugh.

“These are led by the community, not emergency services. In a major emergency, it’s the people around you who make the biggest difference.

“It’s all about locals helping locals – and the more people who know where these hubs are and how they work, the stronger and more resilient our communities will be.”

Over the coming weeks, Waugh will host emergency drop-in sessions at Western Bay libraries, where people can find out more about the hubs and what they can do to stay safe in an emergency.

From Pukehina to Waihī Beach, there were 15 Community Emergency Hubs in the Western Bay, run by more than 100 volunteers.

The council provided training to volunteers, and each hub has a guide document which explained the different roles needed and how to organise an emergency response.

Located at schools and community facilities, hubs may be opened up by key holders living in the area, when there has been a large-scale emergency.

“In a major disaster, like a big earthquake or flood, roads and other infrastructure can be damaged, cutting off communities. Emergency services will be focused on the most urgent needs and may not be able to reach everyone right away,” said Waugh.

“Community Emergency Hubs are places where locals can gather and help each other out, in a coordinated way. We’re grateful to all the amazing people in our community who already volunteer their time, and we’re always looking for others ready to step up and help when an emergency happens.”

Locally, the hubs are gaining more visibility, with new signs starting to appear throughout the district.

The hubs in the Te Puke district are at Te Puke Memorial Hall, Eastern Districts Rugby Club, Paengaroa, Maketū Gentlemans Club, Pongakawa Hall and Ōtamarākau School.