Woeful lack of emergency knowledge, quake inquiry told

3:41 pm on 4 September 2012

The Property Council has told a Royal Commission there is a woeful lack of knowledge about what building owners should do in an emergency.

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission is investigating why buildings failed during the earthquake on 22 February last year, resulting in 185 deaths.

A panel of experts on Tuesday discussed goals for managing buildings after a disaster.

Property Council president Tony Sewell told the commission there is a both lack of knowledge and preparedness among property owners.

However, he said there are also insufficient systems to provide the information needed.