Emergency Management
Diseases outbreaks, floods, earthquakes and other man-made or natural disasters can happen without warning and when we least expect.
Toi Te Ora Public Health (Toi Te Ora) provides advice and information across the four R’s of emergency management; reduction, readiness, response and recovery.
In an emergency Toi Te Ora may be called upon to provide advice on:
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Air quality
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Burials
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Disease prevention and control measures
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Drinking water
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Hazardous substances, such as chemical spills
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Pests
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Psychosocial welfare
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Radioactive substances
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Refuse disposal
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Sewage disposal
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Spills
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Water quality (includes water for sanitation and drinking, fresh and marine recreational water)
Toi Te Ora has identified possible emergency scenarios and has prepared contingency plans. Staff at Toi Te Ora are trained in emergency response systems to work as a team and manage emergencies in a co-ordinated and effective way.
The overall health goal of Toi Te Ora is to minimize the health risks to communities and individuals in an emergency. An emergency may or may not be a declared civil defence emergency. This is what transpired in 2009 for the H1N1 Pandemic that involved a whole of ‘Health’ lead response which public health services played a key role.
Self Care and Wellness
It’s normal to feel upset after extreme events. If you need support or advice, or have feelings of anxiety, stress, prolonged fear, hopelessness or anger and need to talk with someone, you can phone Healthline on 0800 611 116.
The below resources may also be helpful:
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Self Care and Wellness – Lakes District Health Board
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Common Reactions to Disasters Leaflet – Bay of Plenty District Health Board
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Common Reactions to Disasters Flyer – Bay of Plenty District Health Board
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Helping Children Leaflet – Bay of Plenty District Health Board
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Helping Children Flyer – Bay of Plenty District Health Board
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Helping Adolescents Leaflet – Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Resources to help with mental distress after Christchurch incident:
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Need to talk - Ministry of Health
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Coping after a traumatic event - Ministry of Health
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Helping children cope - Mental Health Education and Resource Centre
For more information:
Preparing for and during an emergency:
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Get Ready, Get Thru - this website will show you how to get ready for an emergency, so you'll get through. The site is translated into nine languages including English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Te Reo Maori, Samoan, Tongan and Arabic. Simply click on the language required and it translates the website.
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Download the Hazard App to help you and your family prepare for and respond to hazards in New Zealand. The app is a vital tool to help you get through emergencies and get disaster alerts.
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Preparing you and your family for a disaster and protecting your health in an emergency
Specific events:
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Influenza: Influenza information and advice
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Flooding: Flooding information and advice
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Volcanic:
General:
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Bay of Plenty District Health Board Emergency Management Planning
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Public Education Toolbox - This toolbox is aimed at supporting those tasked with developing public education programmes for their communities.
Contact us for more information.

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