Older Adults Emergency Preparedness Handbook.

Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence are excited to have launched the ‘Older Adult Emergency Preparedness Handbook” a booklet specifically for older people in the Hawke’s Bay. This booklet covers preparation, local hazards, important contacts and focuses on issues often faced by older people in a disaster.

Take the time to be prepared, understand the risk, and have a plan will help you be better situated to get through an emergency. Being well prepared will reduce the risk, pressures, and impact of an emergency. The more you do, the better you can look after yourself and your loved ones in an emergency. 

Section One - Reduction.

Reduction involves minimizing or avoiding the risks of a hazard. We cannot completely eliminate all hazards and their impacts on our households and communities, as such it is important to know what to do in an emergency and take steps to be prepared.

Reduction can take many forms, ranging from individual personal actions to look after themselves, their family, business, and property, through to collective actions undertaken on behalf of communities. This section outlines actions that can be taken to reduce the potential impact of an emergency.

Section Two - Readiness.

Learning about the hazards that can occur in your community, and the impacts they can cause, will you work out steps you can take to get prepared. Prior to any emergency, there are a number of steps that you can take to improve your readiness.

These include staying informed, making a plan, preparing emergency supplies and a grab bag. This section also gives advice on medication and disabilities in emergencies, building a support network, and planning for your pets. Readiness includes building personal resilience, and also having a plan to: shelter in place, evacuate, and a section on going to your Community Emergency Hub.

Section Three - Response.

The Hawke’s Bay region faces a number of major hazards, such as flooding, severe weather, earthquakes, and tsunami. When emergencies happen Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management, emergency services, local councils, and communities will all respond. So, knowing what actions to take before, during and after to mitigate impacts such as how to Lock, Cover and Hold will help you best be able to respond.

Section Four - Recovery.

Recovery is an essential step following a response. Recovering after an emergency can be a long and stressful process, but there are some steps you can take to get back on your feet as quickly and safely as possible. Likely you will not be the only one affected, so it is important to know how your community can help each other, and you can help your community.  

Acknowledgment.

Hawke’s Bay Emergency Management wishes to thank the following for their contribution to this booklet: Gore District Council's Ready for Living, Emergency Management Southland and Age Concern for their advice and recommendations,

This booklet was originally produced and distributed by Gore District Council. It has been altered with permission by Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management