Accessible care during floods "quick as a flash"

Chris Ford needed help to evacuate from his home in South Dunedin when flooding caused a local state of emergency.

Globally, more and more of these types of events, and the devastating outcomes they can have on people’s lives and livelihoods, are being experienced. With the increasing frequency of disasters and the escalation of conflicts causing unimaginable pain for vulnerable communities, it is deeply troubling to see the immense suffering and complex humanitarian crises around the world.

More than ever before, we need to be prepared – to be here for humanity, ensuring we can deliver life-changing humanitarian assistance wherever the need is greatest.

It’s hard to escape a flood in a wheelchair

Chris Ford has been through a few floods in his lifetime. As an infant in 1972, and again in 1978 when there was significant flooding across Otago and Southland. Then in 1980, due to flooding, he and his family were evacuated from their home in south Balclutha. You could say he’s got a bit of an instinct as to how bad things can get. Chris uses a wheelchair, so he has some different needs when it comes to mobility.

Evacuating during a flood is definitely something that requires extra consideration for him. So, when the “red” severe weather warning was issued for Dunedin, Chris started to worry.

As the rain got heavier and heavier, Chris decided he’d better start packing some bags with essential items like clothing and medications in case he needed to evacuate. “Throughout the day I had been concerned, but I was vigilant. I monitored the news and the forecast…but there was now a growing pool of water along the side of the house.”

Chris began to get stressed. Could he get through the night? Would the neighbours help? How would he escape in a wheelchair if water came surging through the back door? What if he had to find another home…would his power wheelchair get ruined by water?

It was 11pm at night when Chris received a message from a concerned friend asking if he was okay. Chris replied he might need to be evacuated. Within minutes, that message was passed on to the Dunedin Emergency Operations Centre. Chris became increasingly worried and then “as quick as a flash,” Red Cross was dispatched and on his doorstep.

“Red Cross was really helpful. They were friendly and professional, did a quick assessment of my needs and confirmed I should evacuate. They carried my luggage, turned the power off at the switchboard and made sure the property was secure. They even arranged for sandbags to be delivered,” says Chris.

Disaster response team to the rescue

Who were these “guardian angels” as Chris later called them?

They were dedicated and skilled Red Cross team members Orla White and Dan Wilden. As it happens, both were deployed to support those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, and Dan had even been through the 2015 Dunedin floods and knew just how quickly situations can change for the worse. With the emergency now in their own backyard, it felt very personal. But they were both well-prepared, fully equipped and able to support those affected by the flooding.

Our specially trained disaster response team members were getting ready to support anyone who had to be evacuated when they got the call about Chris Ford.

Dan and Orla were immediately deployed to Chris’ address just as flood waters started to rise at the back of his house.

“If we hadn’t been able to respond it might have been harder to get him out,” says Orla.

Chris wasn’t the only person to be helped. Over two nights, New Zealand Red Cross Disaster Welfare and Support Teams supported 116 people, including both residents and even a few travellers, who arrived at the evacuation centres. There they were given a safe place to rest, a listening ear, security and comfort.

Red Cross even had a box of toys available which kept the children entertained.