When an emergency or disaster affects a community, one of the strongest predictors of how well people cope is how well they know and support one another.

Knowing your neighbours, understanding who may need extra assistance, and being aware of the skills and resources available within your neighbourhood are all important parts of emergency preparedness. Yet these are often overlooked. At Safer Cambridge Neighbourhood Support, helping neighbours connect and support one another is at the heart of what we do.

Our national organisation, Neighbourhood Support New Zealand (NSNZ), works alongside the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), particularly in the area of information sharing and communication. If a major storm, earthquake, or other emergency were to occur, NEMA can rely on NSNZ to help distribute important information quickly through its network. In turn, local Neighbourhood Support organisations can share timely updates and advice with residents and supporters in their communities.

Locally, Safer Cambridge Neighbourhood Support maintains strong relationships with Civil Defence and Emergency Management agencies. These connections help information flow more quickly during an emergency and support ongoing collaboration throughout the year on preparedness, resilience, and risk reduction initiatives.

We are also represented on the local Civil Defence Welfare Committee and regularly participate in training exercises and community events. During an emergency, we can help gather information from affected neighbourhoods, identify areas of damage, check on residents who may need assistance, and relay this information to the Civil Defence response team.

A key part of our work is helping neighbourhoods develop their own Neighbourhood Emergency Plans. These plans identify residents with first aid or medical expertise, available equipment and resources, and people who may need support if an evacuation is required. If a community becomes isolated following an earthquake or other major event, neighbours are better prepared to check on one another, share resources, and respond effectively until external assistance arrives.

Our neighbourhood database also plays an important role. It contains valuable information provided by residents, including emergency contact details, skills, resources, and information about those who may require assistance during an evacuation. We are committed to protecting this information and will only share it with authorised emergency agencies when there is a genuine emergency involving risks to life, property, or community wellbeing.

Of course, our work does not begin when disaster strikes. We are actively involved in emergency preparedness education and encourage families and neighbourhoods to prepare before an event occurs. A crucial part of that preparation is getting to know the people who live around you.

Our goal remains the same in both ordinary times and emergencies: to help create safe, resilient, and connected neighbourhoods across the wider Cambridge area.

Thanks to Leonie Clough for picture from Unsplash