About Lifeboat Buildings

WHAT DOES ICW WANT TO ACHIEVE WITH ‘LIFEBOAT BUILDINGS’

Resilient Residents.
We want to help apartment building residents to consider what they can do - individually and together - to be better prepared for an emergency. This includes residents thinking about things like:

  • who lives here? ways to get to know my neighbours - on my floor and in the building - and if any have special needs that might mean they need extra help in an emergency (eg: mobility, power to medical equipment etc)

  • what to store? how much food, water, resources and tools do I need to store in my apartment if I need to stay in place for seven days (eg: food, water, buckets, batteries, first aid supplies, fire extinguishers, tools, torches, carry cases for pets etc)

  • can we share? can my neighbours and I share some of these supplies (eg: a set of shared tools such as crowbars, torch, rope, power packs etc)

  • extra storage? where - on my floor or in my building - could supplies be stored if my apartment is too small to hold everything I will need (eg: is there a supply cupboard? could an emergency supplies locker be added on the floor? etc)

  • do I stay or do I go? planning and practising what to do in an emergency (eg: do I stay or do I go? and if I go, where would I go?)

  • what’s in the neighbourhood? what buildings in my immediate area might be places for supplies or shelter (eg: local church hall, local diary, local retailers with space, other apartment buildings)

  • how to power? what alternative power supplies could I have (eg: powerpacks, batteries, solar power, wind-up, EV car network and chargers etc)

And

  • how can they get in (to help me)? how emergency services can reach me if I need help - because swipe cards may be needed to open my building’s secure front door, use the lifts and access my floor

WHY IS ICW WORKING WITH NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT?

We think that Neighbourhood Support’s experience, infrastructure and resources is a great fit for Lifeboat Buildings.

Emma McGill, Senior Area Coordinator  |  Greater Wellington Neighbourhood Support
explains the resources and infrastructure that Neighbourhood Support can offer:

  • If you were to start a Neighbourhood Support group for your floor or building you would have the following:

  • a group of your neighbours to connect/ engage/ support with

  • registration on our database which allows us to connect those needs and wants within your building in the event of emergency/need (e.g who needs physical help/ who has what resources)

  • a monthly newsletter from Neighbourhood Support with crime states, local info and events.

  • a coordinator with whom to engage and help initiate any projects you may be interested in running in your building/ with your community.

  • help in building resilience plans with key partners

  • a general sense of wellbeing - we know that connected neighbours feel safer, less isolated and have a greater sense of engagement.

HOW IS ICW WORKING WITH WREMO (WELLINGTON REGIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE)

We have been working with WREMO to ensure they consider how their advice and resources match the realities of apartment living. For example, WREMO is drafting an emergency guide specifically tailored for residents in apartment buildings and we will be facilitating input from residents so that it fits the needs,

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Be part of Lifeboat Buildings. Find a representative/s in your building interested in finding out more and contact us so we can have a coffee catchup and explain everything.

For VSP only:

From Jill, ICW (innercitywellington@gmail.com/0274 448 463).
Thanks again for our recent meeting at the Garden Room!