Mental Health Needs Following a Disaster

Two recent articles in the news highlight the need to help groups of people following a disaster by sharing techniques to help them with their pain, grief and fears, and to reinforce that, while these emotions are difficult and unpleasant, they are normal, natural and necessary to healing and getting through the emotional pain to rebuild their lives and communities.  This might also alleviate some of the overwhelming burden on professionals in the mental health field.

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Emergency Text Alerts from WEMO

Be the first to hear about Wellington emergencies, e.g. tsunami warnings.

Sign up to receive Emergency Text Alerts from WEMO (Wellington Emergency Management

Office, the "Civil Defence" people).

• The service is FREE, but signing up costs four texts under your normal price plan.
• We will send you two test messages per year. Any other message will be a genuine alert.
• Does not currently work on 2degrees. (29/06/2010)
  

Sign up to WEMO Emergency Alerts

(If your cell phone number is already registered on Twitter, go to step 4).

1. Text the word "start" to 8987 (wait for a reply after each send)

2. Text "signup" to 8987

3. Text username to 8987 * (if rejected or password requested, try again)

4. Text "follow WemoNZ" to 8987.

That's it - you're now on the Alert List. There's nothing more to do.

* You won't need to remember your username. Try using the first five letters of your street

name plus birthday, e.g. BlumP020671.

Safe Camping and Caravaning

At last, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer and HOPEFULLY, sunnier. 

Before you know the kiwi mass exodus to the beach or country side will begin.  Perhaps you're going to be getting away from it all on your holiday and live in a tent or a caravan and fire up the barbecue.  Of course, for others there are the joys of staying at their favourite holiday park - complete with all the traditional fun of this classic kiwi getaway.

However, before you are caught up in the inevitable end of your rush, it is a good time to take steps to make sure that you are ready to get through your holiday safely.

The Ministry of consumer affiars' energy Safety Service has some advice.  Several people have died in New Zealand because caravans were incorrectly hooked up to an electricity supply - make sure you're hooked up correctly. 

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Holiday Preparedness - Avoid Burglaries