Preparing to Evacuate
Preparing to evacuate
If you need to evacuate your home, you may not have much time to prepare so put together a getaway kit or grab-bag and keep it in a handy place. You'll want to tailor this to your household's specific needs, but consider including:
- Change of clothes
- Toiletries
- Medication and personal support equipment such as hearing aids and spare batteries, glasses or mobility aids
- Emergency water and easy-to-carry food rations such as energy bars and dried foods in case there are delays in reaching a civil defence centre or a place where you might find support. If you have any special dietary requirements, ensure you have extra supplies
- Essential items for infants or young children such as formula and food, nappies and a favourite toy
- Phone charger and essential contact numbers
- Include important documents: identification (birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licences and passports), financial documents (e.g. insurance policies and mortgage information), and precious family photos. You may want to save scans of your documents onto a memory stick or save them in the cloud.
- Remember your pets – include petfood and a carrier / leash
Disruption to electricity
While many organisations will help in an emergency, individuals are ultimately responsible for protecting themselves and their property from the effects of disasters. In a catastrophic emergency where bridges and roads are destroyed you will have to rely on your own resources for some time.
Readiness is all about knowing what you need to know and having what you need to have to be better prepared for an emergency situation.
Disruption to electricity can have an impact on the following:
Cooking
- BBQ with fuel or full gas bottle
- Camping stove with gas cylinders
Food storage
- Use food in this order: fresh, refrigerated, frozen then dried foods (cans and packets)
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible
Heating
- LPG heater / log burner
- Warm clothes
- Sleeping bag / foil survival blankets
Lighting
- Torch with spare batteries
- Glow sticks
- Lanterns
Portable phones
- Standard non-cordless phone in the house or car charger for cell phones
Loss of communication
Loss of communication can be a scary time but it doesn't have to be if you are prepared for the following:
Keeping in contact with family
- Plan who will collect children from school/care
- Have an agreed message point (eg. front of fridge)
- Have an agreed meeting and contact point
Seeking help
- Know where the nearest civil defence centre, Police and Fire Station are
- A sheet or towel hung out of the window is a signal for help
- Discuss emergency actions with neighbours
- Contact neighbourhood support or start a group
Being informed
- Battery radio (with spare batteries)
- Car radio
Disruption to water
If your water supply is cut or the water coming out the taps is contaminated be prepared to do the following:
Cooking / drinking
- Used stored water - header tank, hot water cylinder, toilet cistern
- Have container to collect rain or stream water
- Use bottle water and other drinks (juice, sodas)
Hygiene
- Alcohol based hand sanitizers
Every adult and older child should learn how to turn off your home's water. It would also be wise to learn how to do this at work. Turning off the water will save water damage caused by broken pipes and will prevent any contaminated water getting into the hot water cylinder which may be your best supply of drinking water for a while.
Storing bottled water
To store bottled water, follow the steps below:
- Wash bottles thoroughly in hot water. Fill each bottle with tap water until it overflows
- Store in a cool dark place and replace the water every 12 months
- Treat before using - add five drops of unscented household bleach per litre of water (or half a teaspoon for 10 litres)
How much water you need depends on how many in your household and what you want to be able to do:
Road blocked
In a disaster you may not be able to get to your doctor or pharmacy for several days - especially if you are evacuated from home. It is wise to ensure you never run low on essential medicines and don't forget to take them with you if you have to evacuate.
Visiting doctor / pharmacy
- Keep at least one week's supply of essential medications
No emergency services available
- Have a comprehensive first aid kit and training
- Have a fire extinguisher for fighting small fires
Getting groceries
- Have adequate stocks in the pantry (at least 3 days)
Waste
Toilets
- Camping toilet / bury waste
Rubbish collection
- Store rubbish in plastic bags in a secure area
If public announcements say don't flush your toilet - don't. What you flush may end up in someone else's home.
Until the system is fixed, a caravan toilet or covered bucket in the house, garage or shed should be used. Dig a deep hole in the garden to empty these into. Put a fly proof cover over the hole.
Alternatively you could make a privacy screen around a garden pit and use it as a toilet.
It may be some time before regular rubbish collection resumes. Bury bio-degradable rubbish in the garden, compost it or store it in well-sealed bags with other rubbish and keep the bags away from animals. Listen to your radio for details about collection.
House damage
If your house is damaged and you and your family are unable to remain in it, you will need to make alternative arrangements - you could think about the following:
Shelter
- Caravan / tents
- Discuss alternative accommodation with family or friends
Care of pets
If you have pets you will want to look after them during and after a disaster. Keep extra pet food on hand - tinned or dry food is best as it keeps the longest. A pet carry cage will be invaluable if you have to leave your home in a hurry. If you cannot take your pets with you, leave them free inside your house so that they can move away from danger. Leave plenty of food and water and a dirt box for them. Place a note clearly visible for emergency workers, informing them what animals they will encounter and where you can be contacted.
For more information on how to care for pets and animals during an emergency visit https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/animal-welfare/animals-in-emergencies/