Create a household emergency plan

When an emergency happens, you need to be able to look after yourself and those in your care for at least 3 days.

Get everyone in your house together and agree on a plan — this will help you respond safely and quickly when a disaster happens. On their website, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has templates and information to help:

• make a plan
• disabled people
• know the tsunami evacuation zones.

Prepare your emergency supplies

Before you need supplies in an emergency, it’s best to make sure you have them ready. You’ll need to keep items in your stock of supplies up to date and maintained. NEMA recommends keeping certain items:

• at home
• in a grab bag
• in your car, if you own or hire one
• at work.

Work out what supplies you need — NEMA

Food for at least 3 days

For an emergency food supply, NEMA provides a list of:

• specific types of food to stock
• how much food to stock for at least 3 days, but consider enough for 2 weeks
• advice for packing and maintaining this food supply
• steps to follow in a power cut when you lose refrigeration.

Have emergency supplies — NEMA

Water for at least 3 days

NEMA recommends storing water for more than 3 days, if you can manage it. 

Make sure you know how to store water safely, as there’s more to it than just filling up any containers with tap water.

Storing water — NEMA: Get Ready

Protecting animals in emergencies

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has advice and checklists to help you with caring for your animals in your emergency planning and response. This includes, for example:

• pets
• livestock and horses
• assistance or guide dogs
• lifestyle block animals.

Preparing animals for emergencies — MPI

Stay informed during an emergency

Know the different ways to stay informed during an emergency, such as:

• listening to the radio
• going online to check for local and national updates
• reading the Emergency Mobile Alerts
• knowing your neighbours’ contact details.

Stay informed — NEMA: Get Ready

Get information in an emergency or disaster

If you have to evacuate

Some houses, streets and neighbourhoods may not be safe to stay in and you may need to leave home in a hurry.

If you have to evacuate:

• take your grab bag
• decide where you will go
• take your pets with you.

Have to evacuate — NEMA: Get Ready

More information and contact details

• For information specific to your region, contact the local authorities who are responsible for your area’s civil defence and emergency management.
  Local civil defence groups — NEMA
• For detailed advice about preparing for emergencies, see all or parts of the NEMA’s ‘consistent messages’ guidance. It also explains what to do for specific emergencies and hazards.
  Consistent messages — NEMA
• You can contact or read more information about the NEMA.
  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
• The Ministry of Health (MoH) has information about public health emergencies and what you can do to protect yours and others’ health.
  Emergency management - MoH