Auckland Region Emergency Management Group - CDEMG

Think about how you would cope if you had to suddenly leave your home. Or how you would get along if you had to stay indoors for 3 days or more, perhaps without power and water. Or what you would do in a flood, dangerous gas leak or earthquake.
These are all quite possible within the Auckland region. Would you and your family be OK?

Here are 5 simple steps to prepare your own Emergency Plan:
Step 1: Find out about Auckland region's hazards that may affect you
Step 2: Make your house safe
Step 3: Fill in the lift-out plannning guide with your family, housemates and friends
Step 4: Talk to your neighbours, and consider joining Neighbourhood Support
Step 5: Prepare a Survival kit

Roads and Transport
If key roads are blocked for any reason, you may have to arrange for children to stay at school or with friends; getting to and from work or shops may not be possible; a small food stockpile may be needed.
Telephone
In a widespread emergency, telephones (including cellphones) may be overloaded.
Electricity
These won't be working:

Evacuation
You may have to leave your home at short notice. A battery radio will allow you to hear important information; clothing, medicines, personal belongings and pets need to be planned for; food and water may be needed.

The range of hazards in Auckland region is a little different to those in some other parts of New Zealand. Hazard scientists and emergency managers have identified many hazards that we face in our region, looking at their seriousness and our current preparedness.

Some hazards that we can prepare for at home by having our own Emergency Plan are:

Loss of Essential Services (Infrastructure failure):
Our most important services are probably transport and electricity. Without these, we face doing without food supplies, refrigeration, computers, personal and business transport, communications and so on.
Hazardous Materials:
Auckland region has had several serious hazardous materials emergencies in recent years, with serious results. In 1985 in Manukau City, a petrol tanker accident released explosive petrol gas into the City's stormwater drains, needing only a spark to set off a huge explosion. Hundreds of homes and buildings were evacuated.
Extreme Weather (wind, rain, flood, drought):
Storms bring high winds and heavy rain, often disrupting services and flooding or damaging buildings.
Volcanic Eruption - local or distant:
The Auckland Volcanic Field is almost certainly still active and it is impossible to predict the site of the next eruption. Also, our area has been affected in the past by eruptions from volcanoes in the central North Island and Taranaki.
Earthquake:
The risk of a major earthquake in Auckland region is not as high as some other areas of New Zealand, but we are definitely at risk and the impact on our lives could be truly disastrous.
Fire:
The Auckland urban area has large areas of forest at its northern and southern boundaries. A major forest fire in a dry season could devastate a large area, including housing. Explosive materials are transported or stored all around the region, and these have caused damaging fires in the past.
This summary covers a few of the known hazards in the Auckland region. More information

Install smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher
Insure your home and contents
Find out about hazards around your home:
(your local Council can help you)

Store all chemicals safely:

Increase your survival skills:

Remove or secure any objects that could fall and do harm:

Turn off Utilities
In an emergency, utilities such as gas, water and electricity may need to be turned off. This may be because they are damaged or to prevent further injusry to people and property. A plan of your home can be drawn up showing where to turn off water, electricity and gas (link to Step 3 a plan of our house…). Always seek professional help before reconnecting the gas supply.
Communication and Escape Plan
A communication plan outlines what you will do if your family/housemates are separated during an emergency. It includes safe meeting places, arrangements to collect children from school and contact details of relatives living outside the affected area.
An escape plan outlines the safest ways out of each room of the home, and gives an outside meeting place

Prepare a Survival Kit

On October 12 th 2005 the Auckland CDEMG launched a new booklet designed to help you and your family minimise the effects of an emergency. The booklet, “An Emergency Plan Could Save Your Life” is available by clicking here (pdf format 700 Kb) . Print out a copy and fill it in with the members of your household. This plan requires Adobe Acrobat reader, which is free to download. Click here for a copy of Adobe Acrobat reader.

Talk to your neighbours and join Neighbourhood Support

Check your neighbours they may need your help

In a Civil Defence Emergency you and your family/housemates should remain in your home and be prepared to look after yourselves unless you are advised otherwise

Basic Survival Kit Contents:

You must also have:

Note: It is not important to have all these items in one place but it is important to know how to locate them in a hurry.

Leave home only in immediate danger or if you are officially advised.
Stay inside (unless you are advised to evacuate) if there is:
Chemical or gas disaster
Storm
Volcanic Eruption
Earthquake
Evacuate if there is:
Fire - Get Out and Stay Out
Any immediate and obvious danger
Flood
Official advice to do so (if you have time, take your B Ready kit and listen to your radio)

In the event of a chemical or gas disaster, storm, earthquake, or volcanic eruption you may be safest staying indoors and listening to the radio or TV for information. If the power is off, your car radio will still work.
Chemical and Gas Leaks:
Chemical and gas leaks may lead to evacuation, but are not usually of long duration. You will be advised by radio and TV of what to do. Seal up doors and windows.
Extreme Weather:
In a storm, act before things get worse. Broken glass and loose objects like corrugated iron can be very dangerous - secure loose items, close curtains and stay away from windows. Bring pets inside and move stock to shelter.
Volcanic Eruption:
Volcanic eruptions are only likely to be physically dangerous in the immediate vicinity. However, a major eruption can deposit huge quantities of volcanic ash over a large area, which isn't toxic but very abrasive and hard to get rid of. . Driving may be dangerous and you are safest indoors - if you have to go outside, use a mask or cloth to keep ash from your eyes, nose and mouth. Save water and listen to your radio or TV. Wet ash is very heavy and can cuase roofs and gutters to collapse, and may need to be swept off.
Earthquake:
In an earthquake, get under cover (a bed, desk or table) and hold on, or go to a doorway. Stay there until you are certain it is safe to move - there may be aftershocks. Afterwards, don't go outside until you know it's safe. City streets may be particularly dangerous - listen to the radio or TV.

If there is an immediate and obvious danger, or if you are advised to do so, you may have to leave your home.

Flooding:
Flooding can occur very suddenly, and can be dangerous - don't go into flooded areas and don't drink floodwater. If you leave home, pack your B Ready kit, switch off the power, and take pets with you if you can. Think about others who may need your help.
Tsunami:
Tsunamis, which are very large ocean waves, can devastate low-lying coastal areas and travel at great speed. If a warning is issued or you feel an earthquake near the sea or estuary, go immediately to higher ground, at least one kilometre inland or 35 metres above sea level. Your life may depend on urgent action.
Loss of Essential Services:
A long-term electricity or water failure may make your home uninhabitable.
Look after those who may need your help - neighbours, people with disabilities, children and pets.