Get Ready - Home

Hawke's Bay is a fantastic region to live in and to visit, but like the rest of New Zealand, hazards can create emergencies - severe weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunami can all happen, which could make it difficult to get around, to communicate with family and friends and to access everyday necessities. Below we have listed advice and links that can help you get your household ready.

Work out what supplies you need in a grab bag, at home and in your car.

In an emergency, you may be stuck at home for three days or more. Figure out what supplies you need and make a plan to work out what you need to get your household through.

Emergency supplies you should have at home.

You most likely 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 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. 

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 resources on the people who need the most help.

Emergency supplies you should have in a grab bag.

Having grab bags ready for everyone in your household will is a great step to being prepared, 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.

Emergency supplies you should have in your car.

Plan ahead for what you will do if you are in your car when an emergency happens. A flood, snowstorm or major traffic accident could leave you stranded in your vehicle for some time. Keep essential emergency survival items in your car, store:

• a pair of walking shoes
• a waterproof jacket
• essential medicines
• snack food
• water
• a phone charger lead
• and a torch in your car
• Keep up to date with weather and road information when planning travel.

If you are driving in extreme winter conditions, add:

• a brush
• a shovel
• windshield scrapers
• tire chains. 
• warm clothing.

Make a plan

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere, and often without warning. It is important to make emergency plans, so you know what to do when an emergency happens.

Create a household emergency plan online. 

Click here to view the Get Ready website on making and tailoring you household plan.

Make your home safer.

We can't predict natural disasters, but we can prepare for them. One of the best places to start is with your home. Find out what you can do to make your home safer.

Click here to view the section on the Get Ready website on making your home safer.