BE PREPARED: The first two days, especially, is critical to prepare for and be self-reliant since there may be power outages, water and sewerage failures, road closures, communication blackouts and limited access to shops, cash, or medical care.
Be prepared
Your Emergency Plan
Know where to meet, how to contact each other, and how to care for pets. Talk about it with everyone in your home.
A strong household emergency plan is the backbone of real resilience. It turns chaos into coordinated action, reduces fear, and helps everyone in your home know exactly what to do when the unexpected happens. In Wellington especially—where earthquakes, landslides, storms, and tsunami risks intersect—a well‑designed plan is essential.
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1. Know your household’s needs
Every plan starts with understanding who you’re planning for.
Consider:
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Number of people in the home
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Ages (children, elderly)
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Mobility or medical needs
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Essential medications
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Disabilities or sensory needs
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Pets and animals
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Language or communication needs
This shapes everything else—supplies, evacuation, communication, and support networks.
2. Identify your local hazards
Your plan should reflect the risks in your area.
In Wellington, this includes:
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Earthquakes
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Tsunami (if you live, work, or study in a zone)
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Landslides
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Storms and flooding
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Power and water outages
Actions:
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Check your tsunami zone
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Identify safe high ground
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Understand your building’s risks (e.g., unreinforced masonry)
3. Plan your evacuation routes
You may need to leave home quickly—or be unable to return.
Include:
Safe meeting places:
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Near home (e.g., neighbour’s driveway)
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Outside your neighbourhood
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How to evacuate with pets
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How to evacuate if roads are blocked
4. Create a communication strategy
Communication often fails first in a disaster.
Plan for:
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How you’ll contact each other if separated
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Who will pick up children from school or daycare
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An out‑of‑region contact person everyone checks in with
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A written list of important phone numbers
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What to do if mobile networks are down
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How to receive updates (radio stations, community hubs)
5. Decide how you’ll shelter in place
Sometimes the safest option is staying home.
Plan for:
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Where you’ll shelter during an earthquake (drop, cover, hold)
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How you’ll stay warm if power is out
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How you’ll manage without water
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How you’ll manage without sewerage
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How you’ll cook without electricity
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How you’ll secure pets indoors
6. Prepare your grab bags and emergency supplies
Your plan should link directly to your gear.
Include:
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Where grab bags are stored
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Who is responsible for grabbing what
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What items must be collected on the way out (if time allows)
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Where your home emergency supplies are kept
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How often you’ll refresh them
7. Know How to shut off utilities
This prevents fires, flooding, and gas leaks.
Include:
8. Plan for pets and animals
Animals rely entirely on you during emergencies.
Include:
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Evacuation plan for pets
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Pet grab bag
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Where carriers, leads, and food are stored
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Who is responsible for each animal
9. Build your support network
Emergencies are easier when communities are connected.
Include:
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Neighbours who may need help
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Neighbours who can help you
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Shared resources (gas BBQs, radios, tools)
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Contact details for nearby friends or whānau
10. Organise Important Documents
You’ll need access to key information even if your phone dies.
Include:
11. Keep your plan updated
A plan is only useful if it’s current.
Review when:
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Someone moves in or out
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A baby is born
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A pet is added
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Medical needs change
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You move house
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Annually (minimum)
