Debriefs by emergency personnel following May’s flooding in South Canterbury, have shown better communication is needed. Paul Cooper, Civil Defence Controller and Timaru District Council group manager environment, said overall the Civil Defence Emergency Management performance during the floods, which began on May 30 when persistent rain hit the district, was generally rated as “quite good” during the debriefs. Heavy flooding occurred in the Opihi, Orari and Temuka rivers following with a district-wide state of emergency declared on May 30 and lifted on June 4. “We would commend the farmer in question for assessing their situation and proactively evacuating themselves,” Cooper said. “It's timely to remind people that they need to be prepared for when an emergency strikes, particularly if they live in higher risk areas.

Source: Stuff August 08, 2021 01:41 UTC