"If There Was a Dire Emergency, We Never Would Have Been Able to Get in There”: Domestic Violence Reporting and Disasters

This paper examines domestic violence reporting in a community in New Zealand struck by a snow storm. Results are based on in-depth interviews with representatives of agencies involved in domestic violence response and emergency management, as well as statistics and case file summaries. Interviewees were asked about domestic violence reporting and their awareness of any changes during the disaster, as well as policy and planning in place at the time of the snow storm. Issues that arose from a lack of planning or policy are discussed, and suggestions are made for improving emergency planning.