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Abstract
At the time of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, 33 years old Edwin (Ted) Scott was employed as a civil engineer by the Christchurch Drainage Board. He was also a member of the Christchurch metropolitan emergency committee. In those two capacities he was sent to observe and report on the restoration of services in Hastings, where his father happened to be the municipal Electrical Engineer. He completed this report back in Christchurch, dated 24 April 1931. He later became Chief Engineer of the Christchurch Drainage Board.
 The report is very well written giving detailed information on the immediate emergency response period in one of the worst affected towns, Hastings, where the intensity was Modified Mercalli X. This report is complementary to the overview paper on damage and intensities in the Hawke's Bay earthquake by Dowrick [1]. Scott's report contains much that is of value in planning response to future Civil Defence emergencies in New Zealand and elsewhere.
 The report discusses the scale of the emergency in Hastings, the setting up of committees, dealing with the dead and injured, the roles of the Police, essential services (including lifelines), food supplies, and the work of the Citizens' Committee which steered and co-ordinated all of the emergency work on behalf of the community.
 Apart from omitting the detail of some forms and certificates developed in the emergency. Scott's report is reproduced here in full. The few editorial additions and amendments, made for clarity, are given in square brackets.
Highlights
1.1 Introductory This earthquake was a severe one, with its centre just to the north of Napier
Scott's report contains much that is of value in planning response to future Civil Defence emergencies in New Zealand and elsewhere
Councillors and members of the Earthquake Executive worked and collaborated together for the sake of the community in all the various activities, realising that the strongest men were required at the head of each department of organisation
Summary
1.1 Introductory This earthquake was a severe one, with its centre just to the north of Napier. Amid the ruins and wreckage and in the dense pall of dust and smoke, men moved, some to retrieve papers and documents of their businesses left in their first rush, to try and secure strong room doors, others helping in the work of mercy; the firemen getting their engines and hose from the damaged station and quelling the fires, while the men of the power house staff re-entered the shaking building, started up the standby Diesel engines, and had the water supply pumps going within an hour and a half of the first shake. Every man to his job, and those without jobs, helping where and as best they could
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