Be ready for anything
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 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 that you need.
Power cuts could affect EFTPOS and ATM machines, so it’s a good idea to have some cash at home.
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.
For the full official list - check out getready.govt.nz.
Pack a grab bag (or three)
Have grab bags ready for everyone in your family. A grab bag is a small bag with essential supplies.
Each bag should have:
- Walking shoes, warm clothes, raincoat and hat
- Water and snack food (remember babies and pets too)
- Hand sanitiser
- Portable phone charger
- Cash
- Copies of important documents and photo ID
Remember any medications you might need and keep your first aid kit, mask or face covering, torch, radio and batteries somewhere you can grab them in a hurry.
If you have special dietary needs, make sure you have the food you need in your grab bag too.
For the full checklist, see getready.govt.nz.
