As part of post Cyclone-Gabrielle recovery works, Hastings District Council is installing life-saving defibrillators in 30 new local community emergency hubs.
More than $2 million in external funding has been used to supply equipment for Civil Defence Centres, the purchase of two mobile welfare trailers, and to support the rollout of 30 community emergency hubs in Hastings district, the Council said today.
“During Cyclone Gabrielle rural communities stood up their own community hubs, and in the wake of the event hub leaders expressed the need to continue to build on the current community hubs, particularly in rural communities more likely to become isolated,” it said.
With funding received from New Zealand Red Cross and the Ministry for Primary Industries North Island Weather Event Fund, Council says the hubs are being established to increase community resilience, equipped with the likes of additional clean safe water storage and upgraded switch boards to allow for generators to be easily used.
All the hubs, which range from community halls to marae, are also being provided with new
publicly accessible defibrillators, first aid supplies and new radios that connect directly with Civil Defence to support communications during an emergency.
“Community defibrillators improve heart attack survival by over 35%. I recommend all members of the community find the location of their nearest public defibrillator, but it’s always important in an emergency to call 111,” said Hato Hone St John emergency medical technician, Josh Kluts (pictured).
The community emergency hub project has been adopted regionally and ongoing training will be supported by Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (HBCDEM), Council confirmed.
