Critical infrastructure

Think about how you would manage at home with no phone or internet. How will you keep in touch, arrange to meet up, or keep up to date with news and weather alerts? 

Keep in contact with family

• Plan who will collect children from school/care.
• Ask your school for their plans during an emergency.
• Have an agreed meeting and contact point if you're not able to get home.

Stay informed

• Battery-powered radio (with spare batteries).
• Car radio.
• Phone battery banks.

Seek help

• Call 111 if life or property are at risk.
• Make a plan with your neighbours and discuss meeting places.
• Connect with local community groups to support each other during an emergency.

Think about what you would do if the power was out for days. How would you see, cook, keep warm? 

Power cuts could also affect EFTPOS and ATM machines. Have some cash at home, or enough supplies to see you through for three days or more. 

Keep away from affected sites

• Don’t attempt to cut or move trees in contact with power lines.
• Call 111 to report this as a risk to life and/or property.
• Report trees down on public land to your local council.

In an emergency 

• Make sure everyone in your household knows where the tourches and batteries are. 
• Have a solar or battery powered radio, so you can keep up with the latest news and alerts. 
• Have a stock of food that doesn't need to be cooked (canned is good) or something to cook your food on (gas barbeque or camp stove). Don't forget food for babies and pets. 
• If power goes out, eat food from your fridge first, then your freezer. Then eat the food in the cupboard or your emergency kit. 

Contact your neighbour

Phone a neighbour and check if they have power. If they do, the fault may be with your property – perhaps a fallen tree. A quick check for obvious problems before phoning the power company could pinpoint the location and save time. Treat all electricity as live and never touch exposed electrical equipment.

Check with your electricity company

Your electricity company’s power outage website will normally have information on the extent of the outage and estimated restorage time.

• Powerco
• Counties Energy
• WEL Networks
• Waipā Networks
• The Lines Company
• Unison
• Mercury

Think about having no water for three days or more. How would you wash, cook clean? What would you drink? 

In an emergency, your water supply may be cut off or the water coming out of the taps may become contaminated. 

Learning how to turn off your property's water will help prevent damage caused by broken pipes or by contaminated water getting into the hot water cylinder - which may be your best supply of drinking water for a while. 

Storing water 

• Keep your empty water and fizzy drink bottles, give them a good clean and fill them with water. Don't use milk bottles - they are hard to clean and could make you sick. 
• Remember to store water for cooking and cleaning. You can use the water in your hot water cylinder, but store some in large plastic containers. 
• You can also keep stored water in the freezer. These can keep food cool if the power is off and can also be used for drinking. 
• Remember to store extra water for babies and pets. 

Emergencies can damage and block roads. If you can’t take your normal route home, how will you get there? Who will you go with? Where will you meet if your street is a no-go zone? If you get stuck at home, do you have what you need for at least three days? 

Stay informed 

• Check Waka Kotahi to find up-to-date information about road conditions and closures.
• For local roading informtion, check with your local council. 

Supplies 

• Keep at least one week's supply of essential medications in case you can't get to a doctor. 
• Have adequate food and water stored. Don't forget babies and pets. 

Access for emergency services 

• Emergency service may not be able to get to you. Have a comprehensive first aid kit and keep a fire extinguisher on hand.