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Graeme MacDonald, Regional Recovery Manager for the Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, says the recovery plan is focused on addressing the long-term rehabilitation of the community after last week’s storm.

“In a nutshell, the detailed plan involves work to minimise and repair the ill-effects from the storm, as well as looking for ways to try to avoid future exposure to similar risks.”

Mr MacDonald says to be effective, the pre-prepared plan - developed by the CDEM Group about two years ago for such an eventuality - relies on the active collaboration of a number of partners and stakeholders.

“Key is the welfare of people and the Ministry of Social Development is leading current efforts to ensure affected Northlanders’ welfare needs are being met, including food and accommodation.”  The Ministry is being assisted by a raft of other groups from both within and outside Northland.

The plan also sets out steps to assist the region’s economic recovery after the storm, in particular the impacts on the rural sector which had now suffered a weather-related ‘double-whammy’ this year, as well as restoring Northland’s ‘built environment’ which includes things like roading and other infrastructure.

“The recovery plan is regionally co-ordinated and specially-trained Recovery Managers have now been appointed for each of the three Districts which make up our region.  In turn, each Recovery Manager is working with Liaison Committees made up of representatives from the welfare, infrastructure, economic, housing and rural areas.”

Mr MacDonald says a series of meetings have already been held around Northland in the wake of the storm to implement the recovery plan and further meetings are planned.

However, he says it’s important for the wider community to realise that recovery from a storm of the magnitude that struck last week will not be an overnight process.

“This is going to involve a lot of work by a lot of people over several months.”