Be Prepared

A household emergency plan lets everyone in your household know what to do in an emergency and how to get ready.

Here are some tips to ensure your plans make actual emergency situations less stressful:

Make a plan with your whānau to get through an emergency. Think about the things you need every day and work out what you would do if you didn’t have them.

Make sure your plan lines up with other emergency plans for places where you spend a lot of time.

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.

• Water for three days or more — make sure you have at least nine litres of water for every person. This will be enough for drinking and basic hygiene.
• Long-lasting food that doesn’t need cooking (unless you have a camping stove or gas barbecue) and food for babies and pets.
• Toilet paper and large plastic buckets for an emergency toilet.
• Work gloves and a properly-fitted P2 or N95 mask.

If you have special dietary or medication needs, make sure you have enough to last three days at home. As well as in a grab bag. If you have to evacuate, emergency shelters may not have the food and/or medications that you need.

Don't forget that you and your neighbours can help each other by sharing supplies too.

By looking after yourself and your household, you'll also be helping emergency services focus their limited resources on the people who need the most help.

Download our Preparedness flyer below.