The key hazards which might befall the town were covered in the town's emergency management response plan, discussed at the Cromwell Community Board meeting.
The plan was prepared by the Central Otago District Council's emergency management officer, Trevor Andrews, in conjunction with local emergency service personnel, community leaders and community groups.
"Cromwell is the first cab off the rank for Central Otago but community response plans like this will be prepared for every area,'' Mr Andrews said.
Board members discussed whether Pisa Moorings, Lowburn and Bannockburn should be included in the document but Mr Andrews said those areas would eventually have a dedicated plan of their own.
Board chairman Neil Gillespie said the plans would need to include the surrounding areas, at least in the interim.
It was likely some families would be divided if a disaster struck, with some family members in one part of the district and the remainder in another part.
Mr Andrews said the development of community response plans was a key part of emergency management in Central Otago.
"These plans are tailored to the local hazards and risks of specific geographic locations. They provide information, advice and direction on what individuals, organisations, vulnerable communities and community leaders should do before, during and after a major disaster.''
He thanked all the people involved in helping to draft the plan.
Local emergency services personnel, community leaders and community group representatives had formed a community response group, which would activate the plan and work with emergency services, the council emergency management and the Cromwell community in the event of a disaster.
A copy of the plan would be sent to each household, Mr Andrews said.
The document contained a section on emergency survival kits, what to do before, during and after fires, flooding, landslips, snowstorms, earthquakes and major transport crashes.
It also highlighted civil defence centres, Cromwell evacuation routes and sites of "vulnerable people'' - early childhood centres, health centres, schools and aged-care facilities.
