Civil Defence ‘has poor image’

Press, 14 March 1985, Page 33

Civil Defence ‘has poor image’

PA Wellington Civil Defence, like town and country planning, has a poor public image and lacks support from local and central Government, according to a paper presented to a Civil Defence seminar. The paper, by three Auckland University staff members, was delivered to a seminar at the National Civil Defence School, Marton. The seminar studied the likelihood of earthquakes and the ability of the Civil Defence warden system to cope with such disasters. Points made in the paper were: A need existed for a clear distinction in both Civil Defence and town and country planning to be made between the amount of damage that could be done in a disaster and the probability of one occurring. This would remove one confusion which

has impeded the proper preparation for disaster. Civil Defence needed specialised planning and a recognition that resources were needed to apply planning to specific emergencies. Much of the information needed to deal with emergencies and the technology needed to use that information would be available if town and regional planning methods were improved. Better town and regional planning would also help with the early identification and response to natural and man-made hazards. The authors Dr Robert Mann, Mr Michael Pritchard, and Dr Morris Taylor urged civil defence authorities to clarify their needs for presentation later this year at the forum on the proposed Ministry for the environment.