Plan for an emergency

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In a disaster will you be ready?

In New Zealand we have a lot of natural hazards. Earthquakes, floods, landslides, severe weather, tsunami, volcanic activity, and other hazards can happen any time and often without warning.

An emergency plan helps you ensure your household knows what to do and what supplies you'll need to get through an emergency.

Consider the impacts

Have a chat with the people in your household and consider what you would do in the following situations. These conversations will form the basis of your emergency ready plan.

Stuck at home – this may be without power and water or any way to get supplies.
Can't get home – public transport may not be running, and roads and neighbourhoods may be blocked off.
Have to evacuate – some houses, streets and neighbourhoods may not be safe to stay in and you may have to leave home in a hurry.
No power – what would you do if the power was out for days?
No water – how would you wash, cook or clean? What would you drink?
No phone or internet – How will you keep in touch, arrange to meet up or keep up with news and weather alerts?

Supplies you may need

A rule of thumb is to have supplies for three days, but you may want to have enough to last longer, especially if you live in an area that is likely to become isolated during an emergency.

You probably have most of the things you need already. You don't have to have them all in one place, but you might have to find them in a hurry and/or in the dark.

- Clean drinking water
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- First aid kit
- Non-perishable (canned or dried) food
- Torch and radio
- Fire extinguisher
- Face and dust masks
- Hand sanitiser
- Can opener
- Emergency toilet provisions
- Wind and waterproof clothing, strong outdoor shoes and sunhat
- Gas barbeque to cook on
- Medication
- Pet supplies
- Food, formula and drinks for babies and small children

Make a plan

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and often without warning. It is important to make emergency plans so you know what to do when an emergency happens.

A household emergency plan lets everyone know what to do in an emergency and how to get ready. Think about the things you need every day and work out what you would do if you didn't have access to them.
Tailor your plan to include requirements of disabled people, older people, babies, young children, pets and other animals.
What to include in your plan:
- A list of your household members, their contact numbers and any specific requirements or needs.
- A meeting place. List the names and contact details for someone outside the area who you can all check in with if you can't meet up.
- A plan for the impacts of an emergency, including loss of power, communication, isolation, and what that might mean for you and your whānau.
- A list of all the ways you can get reliable information and stay informed during an emergency.
- Details on how to safely turn off water, electricity, and gas if required.
In an emergency, you may be stuck at work without any transport home. Make a personal workplace emergency plan so you know who to contact at work and have a plan to get home safely.
Make sure you know what your early childhood centre or school's emergency plan is.
- Find out their safe location and know where to pick your children up from, after the 'all-clear' is given.
- Plan to collect your children by foot or bike, if possible. Routes to and from school may be jammed.
- Make sure the contact details your early childhood centre or school has are up to date. Give them a list of a few other people who can pick up the kids if you can't get there.
Make a marae emergency plan to help your marae be as prepared as possible for an emergency.

Get connected

- Share contact details with your neighbours so you can contact one another if an emergency occurs.
- Tell your neighbours about your emergency plan and ask about their plans.
- Have a chat about some of the hazards and risks in the area. They may have some fantastic local knowledge gained from previous experiences with floods, fires, earthquakes or storms.
- Find out who amongst your neighbours may be able to help you or may need your help in an emergency.
- Follow Civil Defence on Facebook, and your local council website.
- Learn what radio stations Civil Defence will broadcast through in your area in an emergency.
- You can find the websites, social media channels and radio stations that Civil Defence will use in your local area.
- Get involved with the local community groups or volunteering opportunities in your local area. The better connected a community is, the better a community can respond to, and recover from, any type of emergency.
- Share information and updates about incoming weather or Civil Defence alert with your family, friends networks.
- Join a local online community through sites like Facebook or Twitter.

Emergency Mobile Alert

If your life, health or property is in danger, Emergency Mobile Alerts can be sent to your mobile. You don't need to sign up or download an app.

Emergency Mobile Alerts are sent by authorised agencies to capable mobile phones through a broadcast from targeted cell towers.

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. Take steps to be prepared.

GetReady.govt.nz

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