Working from the same page: consistent
messages for CDEM
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 June 2010
Working from the same page: consistent messages for CDEM Introduction Version 1.0, June 2010 3
Reference Documents for the Development of Consistent Messages in Civil Defence Emergency Management
This document is the product of a collaborative effort between individual professionals, agencies and organisations
partnering with the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.
Contributing agencies include:
• Earthquake Commission
• GNS Science
• Massey University
• MetService
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
• NZ Fire Service
• NZ Police
• The Insurance Council of New Zealand
• The University of Auckland
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM is based on Talking About Disasters: Guide for
Standard Messages, a document produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, for which the American
Red Cross provided project management.
Contents
Part A: General information
Pre-disaster preparedness
Household Emergency Plan
Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit (including Stocking and Storing
Food and Water and Emergency Supplies for Your Vehicle)
First Aid Kit and First Aid Kit for Pets
Evacuation, sheltering-in-place and post-disaster safety (including Emergency Sanitation)
Part B: Hazard-specific information (messages)
Natural hazard
Coastal storm inundation
Earthquakes
Floods
Heat
Landslides
Major storms
Snow
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes
Tsunami
Volcanoes
Pandemic and other hazards
Pandemic
Information is the key to understanding hazards, managing risks, and for helping people to take the appropriate
actions in an emergency. It is important that the information and messages we provide are readily available to our
wide audience and can be distributed in a timely manner.
It is absolutely crucial that those messages are accurate and consistent as people will always be looking for an
authoritative source and particularly when public safety is involved. This reference document has been developed
to help us all achieve those objectives.
If the information we provide be that directly, via websites, in the media, or any other way, is inconsistent, we
create doubt and undermine the strength and importance of each others’ messages. Inconsistency will result in
people being less likely to prepare before an emergency, or worse take some action during an emergency that is
not based on the best advice.
The reference material provided in this document captures research that has been done for you by New Zealand’s
leading experts. Science institutes, universities, government and non-government agencies, emergency services,
insurance providers and others have spent three years researching, discussing and preparing this resource. We
have all agreed that this is New Zealand’s standard reference for public messages about major hazards.
Any organisation involved in preparing for, responding to or recovering from an emergency, can confidently use
these New Zealand-specific guidelines – they will be your key references for the messages you need to get to your
particular communities. When we consistently give the same messages, we reinforce each others’ advice and
generate better public confidence and promote faster, better co-ordinated and informed actions by the public.
I strongly encourage all organisations who are involved in helping people prepare for, respond to and recover from
emergencies to use this reference.
John Hamilton
Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM is written to assist those responsible for
developing and providing civil defence emergency management (CDEM) information to the general public. The
document contains nationally agreed information on:
• specific hazards
• the impact of those hazards on the community, and
• the actions that individuals, families and communities can take to reduce, prepare for and protect themselves
from the effects of major disasters.
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM should be consulted when developing public
information related to an event or regional hazard. It also should be consulted when developing hazard-related
educational material, displays and bulletin boards, print and electronic media, radio and television broadcasts and
any other medium in which emergency safety is communicated to the public.
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM is a ‘living document’ presented in a format that
allows for continuous improvement based upon experience and evolving best practice. The content of this
document is based on the consensus among many organisations that specialise in the area of emergency
management, natural and other hazards and/or risk communication. This includes science institutes, universities,
government and non-government agencies, emergency services, insurance providers and others. It has been
carefully refined to ensure accuracy, consistency and appropriateness of key messages. To maintain its currency,
individual chapters will be revised on a regular basis as new information becomes available.
Contradictory advice has, at times, been communicated to the public by different agencies, even when science or
other specialist institutions have been consulted. This has created confusion and criticism of the agencies
involved, and has ultimately undermined the credibility of official advice. The CDEM sector recognised the need for
a detailed reference document that would enable the development of consistent emergency-related advice by all
agencies involved. In this way, public assurance would be reinforced through hearing the same message from a
variety of sources.
A document (Talking about Disaster – Guide for Standard Messages) had already been developed in the United
States, based on the experience of similar agencies. This is a comprehensive document that took over ten years
to produce. It was created through the collaborative efforts of hundreds of professionals, practitioners, scientists
and researchers in the US. Contributors came from a variety of federal agencies, non-governmental organisations,
academic institutions and other not-for-profit entities that formed the Coalition of Organisations for Disaster
Education.
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM emulates the US model in its form and structure,
and to a large degree, in its content. It has, however, been developed by leading New Zealand researchers and
practitioners from many institutions who used Talking about Disaster as a template. The hazards addressed and
the corresponding public safety information messages in Working from the Same Page are specific to New
Zealand. Some of the information may not adequately apply to other countries or regions.
This document is indebted to the American Red Cross and all the organisations who contributed to development of
Talking about Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages (Washington, DC. 2006), available at
www.redcross.org/disasterguide. The Ministry gratefully acknowledges the assistance provided by the (U.S.)
National Disaster Education Coalition’s project management leader in development of this publication
This document is aimed at emergency managers and CDEM officers, public information managers, educators, risk
mitigation specialists, media personnel and communicators. It provides information to support the development of
specific emergency and disaster prevention-related messages or training programmes and materials.
The messages/information provided in this document may be freely disseminated. It is expected that the
information will be referenced by citing Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM
(www.civildefence.govt.nz).
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM is divided into two parts – Part A and Part B –
each comprising several chapters.
Part A contains general information. These chapters contain core preparedness messages common to all hazards.
Part B contains hazard-specific information. These chapters address the most common hazards in New Zealand
and provide key public information messages related to these hazards. It is recommended that these chapters are
read in conjunction with the chapters in Part A.
In general, all chapters are divided into awareness messages, core action messages and hazard-specific general
information sections. The messages are presented in a question and answer format and the core messages are
introduced in a box at the beginning of each chapter.
Awareness messages provide a description of the hazard and threats/risks presented by that hazard. Where
appropriate, examples of warning messages are included (for example, see Tsunami section). Awareness
messages are found at the beginning of each chapter.
Core action messages are overarching messages describing essential actions to be taken to prepare for and
survive a disaster and/or a major emergency. All core action messages for each chapter are grouped together on
the contents page for quick reference. Core action messages should always be read in conjunction with the
remaining text in the chapter, particularly with specific action messages.
Action messages are sets of possible actions individuals and families/households can take to prepare for, mitigate
and respond to a disaster or a major emergency. They are numbered for ease of referencing when developing
material based on this document. The hazard-specific general information section contains media and education
ideas, common misunderstandings (fiction) and corresponding facts, and useful links to more detailed information
on the subject.
Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM is available for download from the Ministry’s
website in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. To open these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available
as a free download from Adobe’s website (www.adobe.com).
A limited number of printed copies are available and can be ordered from the Ministry of Civil Defence &
Emergency Management. As Working from the Same Page: Consistent Messages for CDEM is a ‘living document’
it is important to check the date and version of each chapter (provided as a footnote on each page) to ensure you
have the most recent version. The latest versions are posted on the MCDEM website, www.civildefence.govt.nz in
the Publications area, accessible from the homepage.
Household emergency plan
Be prepared for disasters – make a plan
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp5-14)
Find out what could happen.
Create a Household Emergency Plan.
Complete a Household Emergency Checklist and put together your Emergency Survival Items.
Have a Getaway Kit.
Practice your plan and keep it up-to-date.
If you or anyone in your household has a disability or a mobility problem, make special plans.
Know in advance how to care for your pets in a disaster situation.
Awareness messages
Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighbourhood or confine you to
your home. What would you do if basic services, such as water, gas, electricity, or telephones, were cut off?
Emergency services will be on the scene after a disaster, but in the immediate aftermath of an event, they will not
be able to get help to everyone as quickly as needed. This is when individuals and communities are at their most
vulnerable. This is why it is important for everyone to plan to be able to look after themselves for at least three
days in the event of a disaster. Don’t forget to include pets/livestock in your plan.
You and the other members of your household could be separated during a disaster without any means of
contacting each other as phone services are likely to be affected. Having a plan will help you work through where
you will meet, who will pick up the kids from school, etc. Families can and do cope better with disaster by
preparing in advance and working together as a team. Knowing what to do beforehand is your best protection and
your responsibility. Learn more about Household Emergency Plans by contacting your local civil defence
emergency management office or visit www.getthru.govt.nz.
A Household Emergency Plan is a personalised action plan that lets each member of a household know what to
do in particular disaster situations and how to be prepared in advance. A functional Household Emergency Plan
helps alleviate fears about potential disasters, makes actual disaster situations less stressful, and saves precious
time in the face of disasters.
You can find an example of a Household Emergency Plan on the Get Thru website, www.getthru.govt.nz, on the
‘downloads’ page.
Parents and caregivers should:
• Tell children that a disaster is something that happens that could hurt people, cause damage, or cut off essential
services such as water, telephones, or electricity. Explain to them that nature sometimes provides “too much of a
good thing” – fire, rain, wind, snow. Talk about typical effects that children can relate to, such as loss of electricity,
water, and telephone service.
• Give examples of several disasters that could happen in your community. Help children recognise the warning
signs for each. Discussing disaster ahead of time reduces fear and anxiety and lets everyone know how to
respond.
• Suggest that parents have a look at the What’s The Plan Stan? (www.whatstheplanstan.govt.nz) information
about hazards in New Zealand and what to do. This resource is used by teachers in New Zealand schools and has
been written for a younger (8-12 years old) audience. It presents information in a user-friendly language aimed
specifically at a younger audience.
• Be prepared to answer children’s questions about scary things that they have heard about or seen on television,
such as earthquake or tsunami damage. Give constructive information about how to be prepared to protect
themselves and how to respond.
• Teach children how and when to call for help. Teach them to call 111 or your local emergency telephone number.
At home, post emergency numbers by all telephones and explain when to call each number. Include the work
numbers and cell phone numbers of household members. Even very young children can be taught how and when
to call for emergency assistance. If a child cannot read, make an emergency telephone number chart with pictures
or icons for 111, “daddy,” and “mummy” that may help the child identify the correct number to call.
• Tell children that in a disaster there are many people who can help them. Talk about ways that an emergency
manager, police officer, fire-fighter, teacher, neighbour, doctor, or utility worker might help after a disaster.
• Teach children to call your out-of-town contact in case they are separated from the family and cannot reach
family members in an emergency. Tell them, “If no one answers, leave a voice message if possible and then call
the alternative contact.” Help them memorize the telephone numbers, and write them down on a card that they can
keep with them.
• Quiz children every six months so they will remember where to meet, what telephone numbers to call, and safety
rules.
• Explain that when people know what to do and practice in advance, everyone is able to take care of themselves
better in emergencies. Tell them that is why you need to create a Household Emergency Plan.
• Allay children’s fears by emphasizing that, in an emergency, a parent or caregiver will be there to help.
• Many children now carry cell phones. Teach them how to include an ICE (In Case of Emergency) number on
their cell phone, explain why there could be times when others may need to know how to contact mum or dad in
an emergency.
Action messages
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
Find out what could happen.
Create a Household Emergency Plan.
Complete a Household Emergency Checklist and put together your Emergency Survival Items.
Have a Getaway Kit.
Practice your plan and keep it up-to-date.
For general preparedness:
1. Every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan.
2. Every household should have Emergency Survival items/Emergency Survival Kit at home to be able to look
after themselves for at least three days.
3. Every household member should have a Getaway Kit with the essential items in case they have to leave home
in a hurry or have to evacuate.
4. In addition, every household should take precautions specific to the types of disasters that could affect the local
community and plan for and practice what to do when these disasters occur.
By learning what emergencies could occur in your community and what your risks may be (for example, living in a
floodplain or near a volcano), you can prepare for the emergencies most likely to occur in your area. You should
be prepared wherever you may be in case disaster strikes and learn steps you can take to prevent or avoid
disasters. Learn more by contacting your civil defence emergency management office at the nearest local council.
Be prepared to take notes.
Ask the following questions:
5. What types of emergencies are most likely to happen in your community?
6. What types of human-caused or technological emergencies could affect your region? Ask about chemical
emergencies, which can occur anywhere chemical substances are stored, manufactured or transported.
7. Find out if your home, farm or business is in a floodplain.
8. How should you prepare for natural and human-caused emergencies?
9. What can you do to protect your household and avoid or reduce the impact of the emergencies?
10. Call your local council/civil defence emergency management and find out:
Does your community have a public warning system?
How will your local radio and television stations alert the community if there is an emergency?
What do your community’s warning signals sound like and what should you do when you are notified?
11. If you care for young or elderly people or people with disabilities, how can you help them in an emergency
situation? What might be some special needs to consider?
12. What about animal care after an emergency? Pets (other than service animals) usually are not permitted in
public shelters or other places where food is served. Where could you take your pets if you had to go to a public
shelter? Have you adequately planned and provided for livestock?
13. Find out about the emergency plans at your workplace, your children’s school or day care centre, and other
places where members of your family spend time.
For information on emergency preparedness see the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages or visit
www.getthru.govt.nz.
You can adapt the Household Emergency Plan to any household – couples, related or unrelated individuals, adults
without children, adults with children. Even people who live alone should create a Household Emergency Plan
Once you know what emergencies are possible in your area, have a household meeting to talk about how to
prepare and how to respond if an emergency should occur. Plan to share responsibilities and to work together as a
team.
14. Know what to do in case household members are separated in an emergency. Emergency situations are
stressful and can create confusion. Keep it simple.
15. Pick two places to meet:
Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
Outside your neighbourhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to leave your neighbourhood.
16. Pick two out-of-town contacts:
A friend or relative who will be your household’s primary contact.
A friend or relative who will be your household’s alternative contact.
Both adults and children should know the primary and alternative contacts’ names, addresses, and home and cell
telephone numbers, or carry the information with them. In addition, include these contact numbers on your pet’s
identification tags, or add to the microchip related information so that someone could call to report finding your pet.
Add an ICE (In-Case-of-Emergency) number to the contact list in your mobile phone. Separation is particularly
likely during the day when adults are at work and children are at school. If household members are separated from
one another in a disaster, they should call the primary contact. If the primary contact cannot be reached, they
should call the alternative contact. Plan where to meet if phone lines are disrupted.
Make sure that adults and children know how to tell the contact where they are, how to reach them, and what
happened or to leave this essential information in a brief voice mail.
When creating your Household Emergency Plan you should also:
17. Discuss what to do if a family member is injured or ill.
18. Discuss what to do if authorities advise you to shelter-in-place. (See Evacuation, Sheltering-in-place and PostEmergency Safety)
19. Discuss what to do if authorities advise you to evacuate. Learn about public shelter locations in your
community. Make “in-case-of-evacuation” arrangements for a place to stay with a friend or relative who lives out of
town or with a hotel, motel, or campground you are familiar with that can be reached by an evacuation route you
would expect to take.
20. Be familiar with evacuation routes. Plan several evacuation routes in case certain roads are blocked or closed.
Remember to follow the advice of local officials during evacuation situations. They will direct you to the safest
route; some roads may be blocked or put you in further danger.
You can download a checklist from the ‘downloads’ page on www.getthru.govt.nz. Complete a household
emergency checklist that includes the following information and ensures you take the following actions:
21. Emergency services telephone numbers (fire, police, council/civil defence emergency management office,
ambulance, etc.). Farmers should also include emergency numbers for vets, local livestock transport companies,
alternative powers supply equipment, Local Rural Support Trust etc. You may not have time in an emergency to
look up critical numbers.
22. Teach all responsible members of the household how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at the
main switches or valves. Turn off utilities only if you suspect a leak or damaged lines, or if you are instructed to do
so by authorities. If you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on. Become familiar with the
location and operation of shut-off valves. Do not actually turn any valve unless it is a real emergency. Place a tag
on shut-off valves to make them easier to identify.
23. If you need them, make sure that you have necessary tools in a conspicuous place close to the gas and water
shut-off valves.
24.Check if you have adequate insurance coverage. Ask your insurance agent to review your current policies to
ensure that they will cover your home/business and belongings adequately. If you are a tenant, your landlord’s
insurance does not protect your personal property; it only protects the building.
25. A tenant’s insurance pays if a tenant’s property is damaged or stolen. Contact your insurance agent for more
information.
26. If you are especially vulnerable to floods, consider relocating.
27. Be sure to have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home (For more information
about fire safety visit: www3.fire.org.nz/fire-safety/index.php).
28. Consider equipping your home with alternative heating sources, such as fireplaces, wood- or coal-burning
stoves, or patio heaters. This is particularly important in isolated rural areas. Be sure all heating sources are
installed according to local codes and permit requirements and are clean and in working order. (For more
information about fire safety visit: www3.fire.org.nz/fire-safety/index.php).
29. Get training from the fire service in how to use your fire extinguisher, and show household members where
extinguishers are kept. Different extinguishers operate in different ways. Make sure that responsible members of
the household know how to use your particular model. There is no time to read directions during an emergency.
Only those trained in correct usage should handle and use extinguishers (For more information about fire safety
visit: www3.fire.org.nz/fire-safety/index.php).
30. Conduct a home hazard hunt. During an emergency, ordinary objects in your home can cause injury or
damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a home hazard. For example, during an earthquake
or a tornado, a hot water heater or a bookshelf could turn over or pictures hanging over a couch could fall and hurt
someone. Look for electrical, chemical, and fire hazards. In your hazard hunt, include your barns, outbuildings, or
any other structures that house animals. Be aware of hazards your pets are exposed to at nose and paw or hoof
level, particularly debris, spilled chemicals, fertilizers, and other substances that may not seem to be dangerous to
humans.
31. Keep weed-killers, insecticides and other chemicals above your estimated high-water mark for flooding and
also away from the reach of children.
32. Contact your local fire station to learn about home fire hazards. Inspect your home at least once a year and fix
potential hazards.
33. Make sure your fences are sound and positioned to allow grazing animals to move to high ground in the event
of flooding.
34. Consider your need to add physical protection measures to your home or critical buildings. Ensure your roof is
tied to the main frame of your house securely with metal straps for protection in case of cyclones or tornadoes;
ensure your house or critical buildings is bolted to the foundation to reduce earthquake damage; or take other
measures you may find on www.eq-iq.co.nz. Ensure that access and evacuation are manageable for elderly
members of your household or those with disabilities.
35. (See Emergency Survival Items section). In most emergencies you should be able to stay at home or at your
workplace. In this situation you may have to rely on your Emergency Survival Items. Place your Emergency
Survival Items somewhere that is easy to get to and make sure everyone in the house knows where they are kept.
If you keep some of your emergency survival items in the house for everyday use make sure you know where to
find them quickly when an emergency occurs. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle and at work.
36. Ensure everyone has a Getaway Kit with essential items at home and at work should you have to leave in a
hurry (see Emergency Survival Items section).
37. Keep a portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries in your Getaway Kit. Maintaining a communication
link with the outside is a step that can mean the difference between life and death. Make sure that everyone knows
where the portable, battery-operated radio is located, and always keep a supply of extra, fresh batteries.
38. Take a first aid and CPR class and have other household members take one too. You will learn basic safety
measures and skills that can be indispensable in an emergency. These classes can be fun for older children.
39. Plan home escape routes. Determine the best escape routes from inside your home in case a fire or other
emergency requires you to leave the house quickly. Find two ways out of each room if possible.
40. Find the safe places in your home for shelter during different types of disaster. Certain disasters require
specific types of safe places. In this guide, safe places recommended for a particular type of disaster are
discussed in the chapter covering that disaster.
41. Make a complete inventory of your home, garage, critical buildings, and surrounding property. The inventory
can be written or videotaped. Include information such as serial numbers, make and model numbers, physical
descriptions, and what you paid (receipts, if possible). This inventory could help you prove the value of what you
owned if your possessions are damaged or destroyed. Do this for all items in your home, on all levels.
42. Keep the originals of important documents in a safe deposit box, if possible, and make two copies of each
document. Keep one set of copies in a waterproof, fire-resistant, portable container in your home and give the
other set of copies to an out-of-town relative or friend. Important documents include:
. . Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, vehicle titles, shares and bonds
. . Passports, driver’s licenses, work ID badges, immunization records
. . List of bank account names and numbers and credit card names and numbers
. . Inventory of valuable household goods
. . Important telephone and cell phone numbers
. . Family records (birth, marriage, adoption, and death certificates)
. . For your pets, vaccination and veterinary records, photographs showing your pet clearly (best with you in the
photos), and any other special records
43. Practicing your plan will help you respond appropriately and quickly during an actual emergency. To make sure
your household is ready for disaster:
. . Review your Household Emergency Plan and check your Emergency Survival Items at least every six months.
You may need to update them.
. . Observe the expiration and/or “use by” date on stored food and water. If you have prepared your own containers
of water, replace them every twelve months/six months to ensure freshness.
44. Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills at least twice a year.
. . At home, practice escaping from various rooms, particularly bedrooms, and meeting at the place you have
selected right outside your home.
. . Have each driver actually drive evacuation routes so each will know the way. Select alternative routes and
familiarise drivers with them in case the main evacuation route is blocked during an actual disaster.
. . Mark your evacuation routes on a map and keep the map in your Getaway Kit. Remember to follow the advice
of disaster officials during an evacuation. They will direct you to the safest route, away from roads that may be
blocked or put you in further danger.
45. Include your pets in your evacuation and sheltering drills. Practice evacuating your pets so they will get used to
entering and travelling calmly in their carriers. If you have horses or other large animals, be sure that they are
accustomed to entering a trailer. Practice bringing your pets indoors, into your safe room, so that if you are
required to shelter-in-place, they will be comfortable.
46. Use the test button to test your smoke alarms once a month. The test feature tests all electronic functions and
is safer than testing with a controlled fire (match, lighter, or cigarette). If necessary, replace batteries immediately.
Vacuum cobwebs and dust from the mechanisms once a month. Make sure your children know what your smoke
alarm sounds like.
47. Replace batteries at least once a year in battery-powered smoke alarms. You may have heard it
recommended that you replace batteries when the time changes from standard to daylight savings time each
spring and then back again in the fall: “Change your clock, change your batteries.” Pick an easyto-remember
anniversary, such as your birthday or a national holiday, as the day to change the batteries each year.
48. Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years. Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time.
49. Look at your fire extinguisher to ensure that it is properly charged. Fire extinguishers will not work properly if
they are not properly charged. Use the gauge or test button to check that there is proper pressure. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for replacing or recharging fire extinguishers. If the unit is low on pressure, damaged,
or corroded, replace it or have it professionally serviced. maintain your plan
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . If you or anyone in your household has a disability or a mobility problem, make special plans.
If you have a disability or a mobility problem, you should consider adding the following steps to your emergency
preparations:
50. Create a network of relatives, friends, or co-workers to assist in an emergency. If you think you may need
assistance in a disaster, discuss your disability with relatives, friends, or co-workers and ask for their help. For
example, if you need help moving or help getting necessary prescriptions, food, or other essentials, or if you
require special arrangements to receive emergency messages, make a plan with friends or helpers. Make sure
they know where you keep your Emergency Survival Items. Give a key to a neighbour or friend who may be able
to assist you in a disaster.
51. Maintain a list of important items and store the list with your Emergency Survival Items. Give a copy to another
member of your household and a friend or neighbour. Important items might include:
. . Special equipment and supplies, for example, hearing aid batteries.
. . Current prescription names, sources, and dosages.
. . Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of doctors and pharmacists. If you get prescriptions by mail, confirm
where you will be able to get them locally in an emergency.
. . Detailed information about the specifications of your medication or medical regimen, including a list of things
incompatible with medication you use, for example, aspirin.
52. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office for further information on how you can prepare.
Local civil defence emergency management offices may maintain registers of people with disabilities and their
needs so they can be located and assisted quickly in a disaster.
53. Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to identify your disability in case of an emergency. These may save your
life if you are in need of medical attention and unable to communicate.
54. Know the location and availability of more than one facility if you are dependent on a dialysis machine or other
life-sustaining equipment or treatment. There may be other people requiring equipment, or facilities may have
been affected by the disaster.
55. Store a writing pad and pencils in your Emergency Survival Items and your Getaway Kit to allow you to
communicate with others.
56. Keep a torch handy to signal your whereabouts to other people and for illumination to aid in communication.
57. Remind friends that you cannot completely hear warnings or emergency instructions. Ask them to be your
source of emergency information as it comes over the radio.
58. If you have a hearing ear dog, be aware that the dog may become confused or disoriented in an emergency.
Store extra food, water, and supplies for your dog. Trained hearing ear dogs will be allowed to stay in emergency
shelters with their owners. Check with local emergency management officials for more information.
59. Be aware that the animal may become confused or disoriented in an emergency. Changes that occur during
emergencies may often mask or confuse scent markers that are part of your service animal’s normal means of
navigation.
60. If you are blind or visually impaired, keep extra canes placed around your home and office, even if you use a
guide dog.
61. If you have a guide dog, train the dog to know one or two alternate routes out of your home or office. A guide
dog familiar with the building may help you and others find a way out when no one else can see.
62. Be sure your service animal has identification and your phone numbers attached to its collar, including
emergency contact information through a national pet locator service, or a microchip.
63. Have a complete pet disaster kit with food and water, medical records and identification, bowls, extra leash, a
favourite toy, and a pet first aid kit. (See Emergency Survival Items section)
64. Trained service animals will be allowed to stay in emergency shelters with their owners. Check with your local
emergency management office for more information.
65. Show friends how to operate your wheelchair or help you transfer out of your chair so they can move you
quickly if necessary.
66. If you use a power wheelchair, make sure friends know the size of your wheelchair, in case it has to be
transported, and know where to get a battery if needed.
67. Inquire about emergency equipment that would make it easier for others to help you get out if you live or work
in a high-rise building and might have to evacuate via a stairwell. Make arrangements with others to be carried out,
if necessary, and practice doing that.
People with disabilities have the same choices as other community residents about whether to evacuate their
homes and where to go when an emergency threatens. Decide whether it is better to leave the area, stay with a
friend, or go to a public shelter. Each of these decisions requires planning and preparation.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Know in advance how to care for your pets and animals in a disaster situation. They are your responsibility.
If you have pets or animals, you should
68. Take your pets with you if you evacuate. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for them. Leaving them may
endanger you, your pets, and emergency responders.
69. Plan in advance where you will go if you evacuate, as pets (other than service animals) are usually not allowed
in welfare or evacuation centres. Some communities have established sheltering options for pets. Contact your
local civil defence emergency management office and SPCA to see if there are any emergency animal shelters in
your community or along your evacuation route. However, this should be your last resort as shelters have limited
resources.
70. Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check their policies on accepting pets and
restrictions on the number, size, and species. Ask if “no pet” policies could be waived in an emergency.
71. Ask friends, relatives, or others outside your area if they could shelter your animals. If you have two or more
pets, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately.
72. Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24hour telephone numbers. Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a
disaster situation. Animal shelters may be overburdened, so this should be your last resort unless you make such
arrangements well in advance.
73. Keep a list of “pet friendly” places, including their telephone numbers, with other disaster information and
supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations. Hotels and motels with “no-pet”
policies may waive these policies during a disaster, particularly if the pet is housed in a carrier. Contact
establishments along your evacuation route to see if they will waive “no-pet” rules, and make sure you have
adequate facilities and supplies for your pets.
74. Carry pets in a sturdy carrier. Animals may feel threatened by some disasters, become frightened, and try to
run. Being in its own carrier helps reassure a pet.
75. Have identification, collar, leash, and proof of vaccinations for all pets. At most locations, you may need to
provide veterinary records before boarding your pets. If your pet is lost, identification will help officials return it to
you. Microchip your dogs.
76. Assemble a portable pet emergency survival kit. Keep food, water, and any special pet needs in an easy-tocarry container.
77. Have a current photo of your pets in case they get lost.
78. Create a plan in case you are not at home during an emergency to ensure that someone takes care of your
pets, even evacuating them if necessary. The plan should include these elements:
. . Give a trusted neighbour the key to your home and instructions, as well as your daytime (work or school)
contact information.
. . Make sure the neighbour is familiar with your pets and knows the location of your pet emergency kit.
. . Make sure the neighbour listens to a local radio or television station for emergency information and puts your
shelter-in-place or pet evacuation plan into action.
. . Have a plan to communicate with your neighbour after the event. You will want to arrange a meeting place in a
safe area so you can be reunited with your pets.
79. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office, SPCA and animal control agency to see if your
community has sheltering options for animals and for families with pets. If not, learn more about emergency animal
shelters and volunteer to include this option in local disaster preparedness efforts.
80. Have a domestic aninmal and livestock emergency plan for events that are likely to occur in your area. Include
knowing which paddocks to move livestock to keep them out of harm. Ensure they have adequate water and food
and will be regularly checked. If you are on a dairy farm think about back-up plans, particularly if there is no power
for the milking shed, effluent, water pumps, or electric fences. Livestock remain the responsibility of the owner.
81. Work with local print, radio, and television reporters to:
. . Get the word out about how to make a Household Emergency Plan and how important it is for each household
to have one and to keep it up to date.
. . Publicise information on how people with mobility impairments or disabilities should plan for a disaster.
. . Help the reporters to localise the information by providing them with the local emergency telephone number for
the fire, police, and emergency medical services departments (111) and emergency numbers for the local utilities
and hospitals. Also provide the business telephone numbers for the local emergency management office.
82. Work with officials from the local fire, police, and emergency medical services; utilities; hospitals; and civil
defence emergency management office to prepare and disseminate guidelines for people with mobility
impairments about what to do if they have to evacuate.
83. Within neighbourhood organisations introduce disaster preparedness activities that help people think about
how they can prepare for a disaster, stay safe during a disaster, and help each other should a disaster occur. For
example:
. . Encourage neighbourhood residents to prepare Household Emergency Plans and keep them up to date.
. . Encourage neighbourhood residents to create Emergency Survival Items in their homes and keep them up to
date.
. . Encourage neighbourhood residents to plan how they could work together after a disaster until help arrives.
Have them also consider ways they can cooperate with each other during recovery. Working with neighbours can
save lives and property.
. . Encourage neighbourhood residents to develop Community Response Plans.
. . Encourage neighbourhood residents to consider a street barbeque or gathering once a year to get to know their
neighbours. It can be an ideal opportunity to meet others on the street and update contact details.
84. Check with your local New Zealand Fire Service station, or civil defence emergency management office
whether training is offered for interested residents.
85. Create a neighbourhood map with names and home and cell phone numbers next to each address so
neighbours can contact each other in an emergency.
86. Encourage people to find out their neighbours’ special skills (for example, medical, technical) and consider
how they could help in an emergency situation.
87. Identify elderly and disabled people in the neighbourhood, single parents with young children, or others who
might need help. Determine how neighbours can help them if a disaster threatens (transportation, securing the
home, getting medications, etc.).
88. Encourage parents to make plans with neighbours for child care in case parents cannot get home in an
emergency situation.
89. Have a livestock emergency plan for events that are likely to occur in your area. Include knowing which
paddocks to move livestock to keep them out of harm. Ensure they have adequate water and food and will be
regularly checked. If you are on a dairy farm think about back-up plans, particularly if there is no power. Also think
about other domestic animals such as poultry, pigs, and farm dogs. Livestock remain the responsibility of the
owner.
90. Ensure you have a list of emergency contacts such as your vets, power company, electrician, shed technician,
supply company, and your Local Rural Support Trust
Useful links
• www.bopcivildefence.govt.nz/be-prepared/Disabilities
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit
. . Be prepared for disasters – collect together emergency survival items
. . Store food and water
. . Store emergency supplies in your vehicle
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p5)
. . Assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit.
. . Store food and water.
. . Assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items for your car or workplace.
. . Assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items for pets.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit.
Awareness messages
After an emergency, local civil defence emergency management staff and other relief workers will be on the scene,
but they cannot reach everyone immediately. You could get help in hours, or it may take days. Basic services,
such as electricity, gas, water, sewage treatment, and telephones, may be cut off for days or even weeks. You
may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You probably will not have the
opportunity to shop or search for the supplies you will need. Emergency Survival Items can help you and your
family stay safe and get through a disaster.
If an emergency occurs while you are at home, you should be able to stay at home. In this situation you may have
to rely on Emergency Survival Items. Emergency Survival Items are a collection of basic items that members of a
household are likely to need in the event of a disaster. The emergency survival items should be stored in a
portable container(s) near, or as close as possible, to the exit door and in a place that everyone can access easily.
If you prefer to keep some of the emergency survival items in the house for everyday use, make sure you know
where to find them quickly, and possibly in the dark, should an emergency occur. You also need to ensure that the
food items are regularly replenished to provide a sufficient stock of food in the event of an emergency. Every
household should assemble Emergency Survival Items and keep them up to date. The number of people in a
household and their ages and abilities will determine what you need to have in your Emergency Survival Items.
In addition, you may want to consider stocking enough food and water for up to two weeks in your home for
prolonged emergencies such as a pandemic (See Appendix: Storing Food and Water safety).
Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle and at work (See Emergency Supplies for Your Vehicle later in this
chapter).
If you have to evacuate, you will need certain essential items that are easily portable. This collection of essential
items that is ready for you to take should you have to leave in a hurry is called a Getaway Kit. Ensure that
everyone has a Getaway Kit at work and at home.
Parents and caregivers should:
• Involve children in emergency preparedness at home so they are aware of the need to prepare and know what is
being done. As they are able, have children help plan and assemble items and kits and put them where they will
be ready if needed. Involving children is the first step in helping them know what to do in an emergency.
• Ask children to help the household remember to keep Emergency Items and a Getaway Kit updated by rotating
the emergency food and water or replacing it every six months, and by replacing batteries as necessary. Children
could make calendars and mark the dates for checking emergency supplies.
• Ask children to think of items that they would like to include with the Emergency Survival Items or in a Getaway
Kit, such as books or games or non-perishable food items.
• Involve children in preparing plans and survival items for pets and other animals.
• Suggest that parents have a look at the What’s The Plan Stan? (www.whatstheplanstan.govt.nz) information
about hazards in New Zealand and what to do. This resource is used by teachers in New Zealand schools and has
been written for a younger (8-12 years old) audience. It presents information in a user-friendly language aimed
specifically at a younger audience. It also has a game that kids can play to identify what they need with their
Emergency Survival Items.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit.
. . Store food and water.
. . Assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items for your car or workplace.
. . Assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items for pets.
You should assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a portable Getaway Kit that you can use at
home or can take with you if you must evacuate. In addition, if you have a vehicle, you should always keep it
stocked with basic emergency supplies.
In a disaster situation, you may need access to your Emergency Survival Items quickly, whether you are sheltering
at home or evacuating.
Assemble the following Emergency Survival Items:
1. Food – at least a three-day supply readily accessible for use if you are confined to home. In addition, you may
want to consider stocking a two-week supply of food and water in your home for prolonged emergencies such as a
pandemic. See Appendix: Storing Food and Water Safety for a list of suggested foods, packaging options, and
food safety tips.
2. Water – at least three litres per person per day for drinking. In addition, you will also need water for washing and
cooking.
3. Portable, battery-powered radio and additional fresh batteries.
4. Torch and additional fresh batteries.
5. First aid kit. (See Appendix: First Aid Kit.)
6. Medications - prescription and non-prescription that are regularly used. Check with your physician or pharmacist
on storage requirements.
7. Cash as banks/ATM/credit card transactions are likely to be affected in a disaster.
8. Copies of personal identification, such as driver’s licenses, passports, and work identification badges, and
copies of medical prescriptions and credit cards.
9. An extra set of car keys and house keys.
10. Matches in a waterproof container.
11. Map of the area marked with places you could go along with contact details.
12. Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, teats, dummies, powdered milk, and medications not
requiring refrigeration.
13. Special items, such as denture needs, contact lenses and supplies, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid
batteries.
14. Items for seniors, disabled persons, or anyone with serious allergies.
15. Kitchen accessories: manual can opener; mess kits or disposable cups, plates, and utensils; utility knife; sugar
and salt; aluminium foil and plastic wrap; resealable plastic bags.
16. Household liquid (chlorine) bleach.
17. For each person, one complete change of clothing and footwear, including sturdy work shoes or boots, wet
weather gear, and other seasonal items, such as hat and gloves, thermal underwear, sunglasses, dust mask.
18. Blankets or sleeping bag for each person.
19. Small tent, compass, small shovel.
20. Paper, pencil, needles, thread, small fire extinguisher, medicine dropper, whistle and a copy of your Household
Emergency Plan.
21. Sanitation and hygiene items: toilet paper, towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer, liquid.
22. Detergent, feminine supplies, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip balm,
sunscreen, heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and ties, medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid, disinfectant,
household chlorine bleach.
23. Entertainment, such as games and books. Favourite comfort dolls, stuffed animals for small children.
24. Roll of duct tape (10 millimetres thick) and scissors.
25. Plastic sheeting pre-cut to fit shelter-in-place room openings.
Note:
In the unlikely event that a certain type of chemical hazard prompts officials to advise people in a specific area to
shelter-in-place in a sealed room, households should ensure that the room they have selected for this purpose
contains the following:
• Plastic sheeting pre-cut to fit room openings
• Duct tape and scissors.
Three square metres of floor space per person will provide sufficient air to prevent carbon dioxide build-up for up
to five hours. Local officials are unlikely to recommend the public shelter in a sealed room for more than two to
three hours because the effectiveness of such sheltering diminishes with time.
Note:
Always keep necessary tools near the gas and water shut-off valves in your home and critical buildings.
Assemble the following items for your Getaway Kit:
26. Torch and radio with spare batteries.
27. Important documents (identification such as birth and marriage certificates, driver’s licences and passports);
financial information (insurance policies, mortgage information).
28. Hearing aids, glasses, mobility aids for elderly or vulnerable members of your household.
29. Emergency food rations that can easily be carried, such as energy bars and dried foods, in case there are
delays in reaching a welfare centre or a place where you might find support. If you have any specific dietary
requirements it is important to ensure you have extra supplies.
30. Emergency bottled water.
31. First aid kit and essential medicines.
32. Essential items for an infant or young child.
33. Change of clothes (wind and waterproof clothing, sun hats, and strong outdoor shoes).
34. Toiletries – towel, soap, toothbrush, sanitary items, toilet paper.
35. Blankets or sleeping bags.
36. Face and dust masks.
37. Selection of family photos.
In addition to the basic vehicle safety items – a properly inflated spare tyre, wheel wrench and jack – you should
also keep a smaller version of your Emergency Survival Items (page 5) and a first aid kit (See First Aid Kit) in your
vehicle.
Include maps for areas in which you drive regularly, basic tools (pliers, adjustable wrench, screwdriver, etc.), torch
and extra batteries, duct tape, a reflective triangle, signal flares, a phone card for making phone calls, coins for
using vending machines, and essential fluids (water, oil, coolant and transmission fluid). Rags are helpful to wipe
up fluid or cleaning grime off your hands.
You may also consider having a fire extinguisher, jumper cables, bottled water, non-perishable food, medications,
toilet tissue and pre-moistened towelettes in case you break down or get stuck. Check your vehicle supplies
regularly for expired or unusable items.
When driving in extreme winter conditions or cold climates, you should add a windshield scraper, brush, shovel,
tire chains and warm clothing. Blankets or sleeping bags will keep you warm and can also be used to cover the
ground when making repairs or changing tyres. Extra socks and shoes are helpful if your feet get wet or you are
wearing non-waterproof shoes.
Prepare Emergency Survival Items for pets that include:
38. Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book also is
good to include (See First Aid Kits, Appendix: First Aid Kit for Pets).
39. Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely and to ensure that your pets cannot escape. A
carrier should be large enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet may have
to stay in the carrier for hours at a time while you have taken shelter away from home. Be sure to have a secure
cage with no loose objects inside it to accommodate smaller pets. These may require blankets or towels for
bedding and warmth, and other special items.
40. Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others identify them in case you and your pets become
separated and to prove that they are yours.
41. Food and water for at least three days for each pet, bowls, cat litter and litter box, and a manual can opener.
42. Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behaviour problems, and the name and telephone
number of your veterinarian in case you have to board your pets or place them in foster care.
43. Pet toys and the pet’s bed, if you can easily take it, to reduce stress.
44. Other useful items include newspapers, paper towels, plastic rubbish bags, grooming items, and household
bleach.
Appendix: Storing food and water safety
Even though it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your food supply for two weeks, consider maintaining a
supply in your home that will last that long. The easiest way to develop a two-week stockpile is to increase the
amount of basic foods you normally keep on your shelves. Check expiration dates frequently and follow the
practice of first-in, first-out.
Pack at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water with your Emergency Survival Items to be used
in case you need to evacuate. Three days worth of supplies should be enough to get you to a location that has
additional supplies. This may be outside the impacted area. You need to have these items packed and ready in
case there is no time to gather food from the kitchen when an emergency strikes. Include both compact,
lightweight items like dehydrated foods, which are easy to carry if you must evacuate, and canned foods like fruit,
juices, and vegetables that supply a source of water. Choose foods that require no refrigeration, preparation, or
cooking. If you must heat food, pack a can of cooking fuel, such as used for camping.
Do not pack fuel/petrol, kerosene, or LPG.
Familiar foods can lift morale and help people feel secure in time of stress. Try to include foods that everyone will
enjoy. Look for foods high in calories, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Look for canned foods with
high liquid content in case water is scarce.
Specifically, consider packing:
45. Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables.
46. Canned juice, milk, and soup.
47. High-energy foods such as peanut butter, jam, salt-free crackers and energy bars.
48. Trail mix (pre-packaged or homemade).
49. Comfort foods such as hard sweets, sweetened cereals, snack bars, and biscuits.
50. Instant coffee, tea bags.
51. Compressed food bars. They store well, are lightweight, taste good, and are nutritious.
52. Dried foods. They can be nutritious and satisfying, but may contain a lot of salt, which promotes thirst. If salt is
a problem, used dried fruit, like raisins.
53. Freeze-dried foods. They are tasty and lightweight, but will need water for reconstitution.
54. Whole-grain cereals (oatmeal, whole-wheat, multi-grain).
55. Instant meals. Cups of noodles or cups of soup are a good addition, although they need water for
reconstitution and may contain a lot of salt.
56. Snack-sized canned goods, which generally have pull-top lids or twist-open keys.
57. Pre-packaged beverages. Those in foil packets and foil-lined boxes are sealed and will keep for a long time if
the seal is not broken.
58. Foods for infants, elderly persons, or persons on special diets.
59. Non-perishable foods for pets and other animals.
When selecting foods, keep in mind that:
60. Salty foods are usually not a good choice because they will make you thirsty and drinking water may be in
short supply.
61. If your water supply is limited, you should avoid eating foods that are high in fat and protein, even if they are
part of your emergency supply, because they require more water for the body to metabolise.
62. Commercially dehydrated foods often require a lot of water for reconstitution and effort to prepare.
63. Food packaged in glass bottles and jars is usually heavy and bulky, and the glass can easily break.
64. Meal-sized canned foods are usually heavy and bulky, but they can be useful because they contain water.
65. Whole grains, beans, and dried pasta require water and cooking time for preparation that could be difficult in a
disaster situation.
If your electricity is cut off and you lose refrigeration:
66. First, use perishable food from the refrigerator.
67. Then, use the food from the freezer. To minimise the number of times you open the freezer door, post a list of
freezer contents on it. In a well-filled, well-insulated freezer, foods will usually still have ice crystals in their centres
(meaning foods are safe to eat) for at least two days.
68. Finally, begin to use non-perishable foods and staples.
Having an ample supply of clean water is a top priority in an emergency. The following guidelines will help you
ensure that members of your household have sufficient water in an emergency situation:
69. Keep at least a three-day supply of water, that is, a minimum of three litres of drinking water per person per
day (at least nine litres per person for the three days). This equates to four 2.25 litre soft-drink bottles. It is strongly
recommended that you store more if possible. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double the
amount required. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will also need more.
70. Be sure to include drinking and clean-up water for your pets. The amount needed will depend on their sizes
and the conditions. Remember that pets often drink more water than usual when under stress.
71. To prepare the safest and most reliable emergency supply of water, purchase commercially bottled water.
Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it.
72. Store bottled water in the original sealed container and observe the expiration or “use by” date.
73. If you are preparing your own containers of water, follow the directions below for selecting, cleaning, and filling
the containers with water:
. . Purchase food-grade, water-storage containers from surplus or camping supplies stores to use for water
storage.
. . If you chose to use your own storage containers, chose two-litre, plastic soft-drink bottles – not plastic jugs or
cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately
removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them.
. . Do not use glass containers because they can break and are heavy.
. . Do not use cardboard containers, because they can leak easily. These containers are not designed for longterm storage of liquids. If storing water in plastic soft-drink bottles or food-grade water-storage containers:
74. Thoroughly clean them with hot water.
75. Fill them to the top with regular tap water until it overflows. Add five drops of non-scented liquid household
chlorine bleach per litre to the water. Do not drink for at least 30 minutes after disinfecting.
76. Tightly close the containers using the original caps. Be careful not to contaminate the caps by touching the
inside of them with your fingers.
77. Place a date on the outside of the containers so that you know when you filled them. Store them in a cool, dark
place.
78. Check the bottles every 12 months, for example at the beginning of daylight saving. If the water is not clear,
throw it out and refill clean bottles with clean water and bleach.
Useful links
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.whatstheplanstan.govt.nz
• www.nzfsa.govt.nz (Food Safety Authority)
• www.pantrylist.com.au
• www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/animal-welfare
• www.dairynz.co.nz/page/pageid/2145836847/Animal_Welfare
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
First aid kits
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER
. . Assemble a first aid kit to include with your emergency survival items
. . Include additional first aid items for your pets
First aid kit contents
Assemble a first aid kit to include in your emergency survival items and one for each vehicle. Additional items may
be added to personalise or customise this kit.
• Accident register and pencil
• Absorbent compress 5x9 dressing to cover and protect open wounds
• Adhesive wound dressing (bandages) (assorted sizes) to cover and protect open wounds
• Adhesive tape (cloth) 25mm hypoallergenic (1 roll) to secure bandages or splints
• Antibiotic ointment packets (approx 1 g) – anti-infection
• Antiseptic wipe packets - wound cleaning/germ killer
• Antiseptic solution – chlorhexidine steritube 30ml (4)
• Aspirin (chewable) 81 mg for symptoms of a heart attack
• Blanket (space blanket) to maintain body temperature when in shock
• CPR breathing barrier (with one-way valve) for protection during rescue breathing or CPR
• Eye wash container
• Eye wash solution – saline steritube 30ml (1)
• Instant cold compress to control swelling
• Gloves (large), disposable, non-latex to prevent body fluid contact (2 pairs)
• Hydrocortisone ointment packets (approx 1 g) for external rash treatment
• Scissors to cut tape, cloth, or bandages
• Plaster strip dressings (1 packet)
• Roller bandage 50mm (individually wrapped) to secure wound dressing in place
• Roller bandage 75mm (individually wrapped) to secure wound dressing in place
• Safety pins (1 card)
• Splinter forceps (1 pair)
• Sterile gauze pad 7.5x7.5 (2) to control external bleeding
• Sterile non-adhesive pads – small (2) and large (2)
• Sterile eye pad
• Thermometer, oral (non-mercury/non-glass) to take temperature orally
• Triangular bandages (2)
• Tweezers to remove splinters or ticks
• First aid manual
• Card listing local emergency numbers
Note:
Remember to include prescription drugs with your emergency survival items. Because the storage requirements of
prescription drugs vary, some may have to be added to the kit at the last minute. You may want to pin or tape a
note to the outside of your kit container reminding you to take along prescription drugs if you have to evacuate.
First aid kit for pets
A fully equipped household first aid kit contains almost all of the supplies you may need for your pets. A sample
first aid kit for your pets should include these additional items in a waterproof container:
• Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
• Antiseptic towelettes
• Baby-dose syringe or eye dropper
• Clean cloth
• Compact emergency “blanket” (available in the camping department of many stores)
• Cotton-tipped swabs
• Diphenhydramine, if approved by your veterinarian
• Elastic cling bandage
• Epsom salts
• Gauze roll, 50mm width
• Gauze sponges (a variety of sizes)
• Glucose paste or syrup
• Grooming clippers or safety razor
• Hydrogen peroxide (3 percent)
• Insect sting stop pads
• Instant cold pack
• Latex (or hypoallergenic material) gloves
• List of emergency phone numbers including those for your pet’s veterinarian, an after-hours emergency
veterinary hospital, and money to make a phone call.
• Magnifying glass
• Material to make a splint
• Muzzle
• Needle-nose pliers
• Non-adherent sterile pads
• Nylon leash
• Penlight with batteries (AA)
• Petroleum jelly
• Plastic card (such as old credit card) to scrape away stingers
• Rubbing alcohol
• Safety pins (medium size)
• Small scissors
• Sterile eye lubricant
• Sterile saline wash
• Styptic powder or pencil
• Tongue depressors
• Topical antibiotic ointment
• Towel
• Tweezers
• Water-based sterile lubricant
For detailed information on how to provide first aid for your pets, consult your veterinarian or a local branch of the
New Zealand SPCA.
Evacuation, sheltering in-place and post emergency safety
. . Learn about your local evacuation arrangements including evacuation zones, routes and shelters
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp4-9)
. . Keep listening to local radio or television stations.
. . If authoristies tell you to evacuate immediately, take your Getaway Kit and go.
. . If you have more time, prepare your home and critical buildings.
. . Prepare to be self-sufficient for at least three days.
. . Stay put until authorities say you can leave.
. . Follow your plan.
. . Stay alert to hazards.
. . Do not use candles.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit.
Awareness messages
At any time of the year, at any time of day or night, an emergency, or threat of an emergency could force people to
leave their homes, offices, and schools or even the community in which they live. People evacuate a dangerous
place to go to a safer place, and they usually need to act in a hurry. Preparing before an emergency by learning
about the community’s warning systems and evacuation routes, and by making evacuation plans and discussing
them with household members, is the best way to be ready in case an evacuation is necessary. Making plans at
the last minute can be upsetting, create confusion, and cost precious time.
Sometimes, an emergency or threat of an emergency mandates that people shelter-in-place in their home or in
whatever building they happen to be. Safe shelter requires having a safe place to go and having the time to get
there. It is important to know which room to shelter in and what to do to stay safe while there. At other times,
people are forced to evacuate the immediate area, or even the entire region, and to shelter at public facilities.
Knowing in advance what to expect and preparing for all sheltering scenarios will make sheltering experiences
safer and more comfortable.
Because evacuation centres generally do not accept pets except for service animals, you must plan ahead to
ensure that your family and pets will have a safe place to stay. Do your research early.
Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets. Ask about any
restrictions on number, size, and species. Ask if “no pet” policies would be waived in an emergency. Make a list of
pet-friendly places and keep it handy. Call ahead for a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave
your home.
Check with friends, relatives, or others outside your immediate area. Ask if they would be able to shelter you and
your animals, or just your animals if necessary. If you have more than one pet, you may have to be prepared to
house them separately.
Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary offices that might be able to shelter animals in emergencies and
include 24-hour numbers.
Ask your local animal shelter if it provides foster care or shelter for pets in an emergency. This should be your last
resort, as shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched to their limits during an emergency.
If you have domestic animals (such as horses, pigs or poultry) or livestock, ensure that you have a plan in place so
that they will be secure, have food, water and shelter. The responsibility for animal welfare remains with the owner.
Action messages
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Keep listening to radio or television stations.
. . If authorities tell you to evacuate immediately, take your Getaway Kit and go.
. . If you have more time, prepare your home and critical buildings.
Consider your transportation options in case you have to evacuate. If you do not own or drive a car, ask your local
emergency management staff about plans for people without private vehicles.
If you are in an area that is being evacuated:
1. Evacuate immediately if told to do so by authorities. Authorities do not ask people to leave unless they conclude
that lives may be in danger.
2. Listen to a radio or television station and follow the instructions of local emergency officials. Local officials know
the most appropriate advice for your particular situation.
3. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. The most common injury following emergencies is cut
feet.
4. Secure your home as you normally would when leaving for an extended period, and if you have time, any critical
buildings.
5. Take your pets with you when you leave, provided you can do so without endangering yourself.
6. Use travel routes specified by local authorities. Since certain areas may be impassable or dangerous, avoid
shortcuts. Do not drive through moving water. Barriers are placed for your safety; if you come upon a barrier,
follow posted detour signs. If you have only moments before leaving, take your Getaway Kit and go. If you have
not prepared a Getaway Kit, at least try to take the following:
7. Cash and personal identification.
8. Torch, radio, and water.
9. A change of clothes and a sleeping bag or blankets for each household member.
10. First aid kit, including prescription medications, dentures, extra eyeglasses, and hearing aid batteries.
11. Car keys and house keys.
12. Any pets that you can get without endangering yourself. You may not be able to come back for them later as it
may be too dangerous to return.
If you have time before leaving and local officials have not advised an immediate evacuation, prepare your home
before evacuating. Quickly take steps to protect your property and belongings. Depending on the threat, you
should:
13. Put your Getaway Kit in your vehicle or by the door if you are being picked up or may be leaving on foot. In
some emergency situations, such as tsunami or wildfire, it is better to leave by foot than wait for transportation.
Carry what you can, selecting the items most essential to your health and safety.
14. Tell your out-of-town contact in your Household Emergency Plan where you are going and when you expect to
get there. Relatives and friends will be concerned about your safety. Letting someone know your travel plans will
help relieve the fear and anxiety of those who care.
15. Look for potential hazards around your property. Bring things indoors. Outdoor furniture, rubbish bins,
children’s toys, garden equipment, clotheslines, hanging plants, and any other objects that may be blown around
or swept away should be brought indoors.
16. Turn off electricity at the main fuse or circuit breaker, turn off water at the main valve.
17. Leave natural gas on, unless local officials advise otherwise, because you will need it for heating and cooking
when you return home. If you turn gas off, a licensed professional is required to turn it back on, and it may take
weeks for a professional to respond.
18. Turn off LPG gas service valves. Propane tanks often become damaged or dislodged in emergencies.
19. If strong winds are expected, cover the outside of all the windows of your home.
20. Use shutters that are rated to provide significant protection from windblown debris, or put pre-fit plywood
coverings over all windows.
21. If flooding is expected, consider using sand bags to keep water away from your home. It takes two people
about one hour to fill and place 100 sandbags, giving you a wall 0.3-meter high and 6-meters long. Make sure you
have enough sand, hessian or plastic bags, shovels, strong helpers, and time to place them properly.
22. Bring all pets into the house and confine them to one room, if you can, and make evacuation arrangements as
needed. Pets may try to run if they feel threatened. Keeping them inside and in one room will allow you to find
them quickly if you need to leave. If you have large, rare or numerous animals, start evacuating them or moving
them to your shelter area (if you are sheltering in place) as soon as you are aware of impending danger.
23. Move livestock to safe paddocks. Ensure they have water, food and shelter and that they are secure if there is
no power. Make arrangements for their ongoing welfare if the evacuation lasts longer than expected.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Prepare to be self-sufficient for at least three days.
Taking shelter, having a safe place to go and having the time to get there, are often a critical element in protecting
yourself and your household in times of emergency. Sheltering can take several forms. Sheltering-in-place is
appropriate when conditions require that you take protection in your home, place of employment or other location
you may be in when an emergency strikes.
How and where to shelter in place depends entirely on the emergency situation. For instance, during a tornado
warning you should go to an underground room or a “wind safe” room, if such a room is available. During a
chemical release, on the other hand, you should take shelter in a room above ground level. Because of these
differences, short-term in-place shelter is described in the chapters dealing with specific hazards. See the chapters
on “Thunderstorms” and “Tornadoes” for more information on short-term sheltering.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Stay put until authorities say you can leave.
Taking shelter may also be necessary for longer periods of time and will require different preparation. Sometimes,
emergencies make it unsafe for people to leave their residences for extended periods. Winter storms, floods, and
landslides may isolate individual households and make it necessary for each household to take care of its own
needs until the emergency abates, such as when snows melt and temperatures rise, or until emergency services
arrive. Your household should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days if cut off from utilities and
from outside supplies of food and water. Being prepared for two weeks is safer.
If you are sheltering at home, you should:
24. Stay in your location until local authorities say it is safe to leave. The length of your stay can range from a few
hours to two weeks.
25. Maintain a 24-hour communications watch. Take turns listening to radio or television stations. Listen to batteryoperated radio or television for local news updates for short periods of time to preserve the batteries.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Follow your plan.
. . Stay alert to hazards.
. . Do not use candles.
After an emergency occurs, you may be in your home, in a public shelter in your community, or far away from your
home. No matter where you are, it is probable that many other people are experiencing what you are going
through. You will be glad that you and the other members of your household made a plan and practiced it. No
matter where you are after an emergency, you should:
26. Remain calm and patient. Staying calm and patient will help you move safely and avoid delays or accidents
caused by irrational behaviour. Many people will be trying to accomplish the same things you are for the safety of
their families. Patience will help everyone get through a difficult situation more easily.
27. Put your Household Emergency Plan into action.
28. Listen to a radio or television station for news and instructions. Local authorities know the most appropriate
advice for your community’s particular situation.
29. Check for injuries. Give first aid and get help for seriously injured people. Taking care of yourself first will allow
you to help others safely until emergency responders arrive.
30. Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation, families who
may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.
31. Use your Emergency Survival Items.
If you are at home, or when you return home, you should:
32. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Emergency areas and debris contain many hazards.
The most common injury following emergencies is cut feet.
33. Check for damage in your home. Emergencies can cause extensive damage, sometimes in places you least
expect. Look carefully for any potential hazards.
34. Use a battery-powered torch when examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest and
does not present a fire hazard for the user, occupants, or building.
35. DO NOT USE CANDLES. Candles can easily cause fires. They are quiet and easily forgotten. They can tip
over during earthquake aftershocks or in a gust of wind. Candles invite fire play by children.
36. Look for fire hazards, such as broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged furnaces or
electrical appliances.
37. Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get everyone
outside quickly. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company from a neighbour’s
home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
38. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning
insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the
fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked and dried
before being returned to service.
39. Do not use the telephone during the emergency period unless it is to report a life-threatening emergency as
telephone lines need to be clear for emergency calls to get through.
40. If you have no electricity, take precautions to keep food safe. (See Emergency Survival and Getaway Kit,
Appendix: Stocking and Storing Food and Water Safety.)
41. Check for damage to sewage/effluent and water lines. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using
the toilets and drains and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using
water from the tap.
42. Make sure you have an adequate water supply in case service is cut off. Water is often contaminated after
major emergencies. (See Emergency Survival and Getaway Kit, Appendix: Stocking and Storing Food and Water
Safety.) If your tap water is not working or is not safe, use your emergency supplies.
43. If you need to dispose of sewage, ensure that you do it properly (See Appendix: Emergency Sanitation). If you
are farming, effluent management regulations still apply.
44. Clean up spills immediately. Especially important to clean up are spilled medicines, bleach, gasoline, and other
flammable liquids.
45. Watch for loose plaster and ceilings that could fall.
46. Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance claims.
47. Watch animals closely. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Animals may become disoriented,
particularly if the emergency has affected scent markers that normally allow them to find their homes. Animals may
be able to escape from your property. Be aware of hazards at nose and paw or hoof level, particularly debris,
spilled chemicals, fertilizers, and other substances that might not seem to be dangerous to humans. In addition,
the behaviour of animals may change dramatically during an emergency, becoming aggressive or defensive, so be
aware of their well-being and take measures to protect them from hazards and to ensure the safety of other
people.
48. Let your out-of-town contact know you have returned home, and then do not use the telephone again during
the emergency period unless it is to report a life-threatening emergency. Telephone lines are frequently
overwhelmed in emergency situations. They need to be clear for emergency calls to get through.
49. Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately. Getting damaged utilities turned off will
prevent further injury or damage. If you see downed power lines, alert emergency services and stay on the scene
to warn others until authorities arrive, if possible.
50. If you are farming, ensure livestock are a safe distance from power lines.
Appendix: Emergency sanitation
In many cases during an emergency, people will need to use improvised emergency toilets if the water supply has
been cut off. These toilets may be made from any watertight container with a snug-fitting cover.
• Use a rubbish container or bucket.
• If the container is small, keep a large container (also with a cover) available for waste disposal.
• If possible, line both containers with plastic bags.
• Every time the emergency toilet is used, pour or sprinkle a small amount of regular household disinfectant such
as chlorine bleach, into the container to reduce odours and germs.
• After each use, replace the lid.
Coastal-storm inundation
. . Learn about your community’s risks from hazards created by coastal storm inundation.
. . Contact your regional council to find out if you live in an area prone to coastal storm inundation.
. . Visit the National Institute of Atmospheric Research (NIWA) website www.niwa.co.nz, and the MetService
website www.metservice.co.nz, to find out about risks from storm surge.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p6)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of coastal storm inundation’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and assemble
and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take coastalstorm inundation specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a coastal storm occurs.
Awareness messages
Coastal inundation can cause substantial damage to public and private property including the contents of flooded
buildings and can cause breakdown of transport and communications. Coastal inundation can be a threat to the
safety of inhabitants of low-lying coastal areas. Some areas of New Zealand have in the past been affected by
coastal inundation, including (but not limited to) Whangarei Harbour, Hauraki/Thames, Whitianga, East Clive to
Clifton, and parts of South Canterbury and Southland.
A high proportion of New Zealand’s urban development has occurred in coastal areas. Some of this development
has been located in areas that are vulnerable to coastal hazards such as coastal inundation and also coastal
erosion. In recent years, coastal development and the growth of associated infrastructure has intensified, and
property values have increased enormously. As development and property values in coastal margins increase, the
potential impacts and consequences of coastal inundation hazards also increase. Climate change will increase the
exposure to coastal inundation in many areas of New Zealand, including many areas that do not currently have a
history of inundation.
Fig. 1: Components that combine to produce elevated storm-tide levels and wave run-up leading to coastal storm
inundation (NIWA, 2008)
Coastal inundation is the flooding of coastal lands by raised ocean waters and can be compounded by flooding in
adjacent lowland rivers. Most coastal inundation problems have arisen from coastal development located in lowlying coastal areas, or areas located too close to the shoreline to accommodate existing natural changes in
shoreline position.
Coastal inundation is an acute natural event arising from extreme weather events (storms), where normally dry,
but low-lying coastal land is flooded occasionally. Coastal inundation can also be caused by a tsunami (See
Tsunami). Storm-related coastal inundation is typically caused by a combination of factors that include high tides
combining with:
• Storm surge – the temporary (hours to a few days) increase in ocean level over and above the predicted tide
height due to a combination of low barometric pressure and strong onshore or adverse alongshore winds 1;
• Wave set-up landward of the surf zone and wave run-up over the upper beach which can overtop low coastal
barriers;
• Elevated water levels from any accompanying rainfall causing river floods or flashfloods
The first two processes are illustrated by the schematic in Fig. 1 on the previous page.
During storm events, the likelihood and magnitude of coastal inundation is highly dependent on the particular
occurrence or timing of high tides and their relative height, storm surge and accompanying wave/swell conditions.
Storm surges in New Zealand can be relatively modest compared to the tidal range of water level (which is
completely independent of meteorological conditions). Extreme wave conditions may not always coincide with the
peak in storm-tide levels. In some cases, extreme waves (particularly long-period swell) can arrive from a storm
centre located well offshore with little storm surge occurring locally, yet still cause overtopping.
Despite our modest storm surge heights up to possibly 1 m (compared with several metres in some parts of the
world), New Zealand has many low lying coastal areas (relative to present mean sea level) that are exposed to
potential coastal inundation. These include wetland and other fringe areas of coastal lagoons, estuaries and rivers,
and the areas behind beach and dune systems or protected by coastal stopbanks.
The extent and magnitude of inundation also depends locally on how storm tide and wave conditions actually
overtops and inundates an area. This depends on the physical characteristics and topography of the upper parts of
the beach or estuarine shoreline and immediate coastal hinterland. In particular, public accessways (walkways,
boat ramps, roads) and low points in the ridge-line along coastal barriers or dunes are prime candidates for
inundation pathways.
1 Besides direct onshore winds, alongshore winds (blowing parallel to the coast) can also cause set-up in sea level when they blow in a
direction over the sea where the land is to the left, e.g. south-westerly on east coast of South Island or north-easterly on west coast of South
Island.
Some of the impacts that will occur during or after a coastal inundation event (in addition to generic flooding
impacts) are:
• Extensive and possible long-lasting ponding of seawater behind coastal barriers, seawalls or dunes with
difficulties providing drainage to the sea for gravity systems which can be exacerbated by backwater effects or
closure of stormwater flap gates from high storm-tide levels;
• High velocities along inundation pathways where wave run-up and run-down occurs (”green water”), which can
cause damage or scour to the foundations of buildings and infrastructure and pose a safety risk to people (even
with shallow water depths);
• Potential safety issues with substantial volumes of wave splash and wind-driven saltwater spray, e.g. pedestrian
safety, impaired vision for drivers, safety of vehicles on coastal roads;
• Damage and possible breaches or failures of coastal-defence structures, stopbanks or revetments;
• Potential damage to shoreline structures and facilities, e.g. marinas, jetty structures, boat ramps, boat sheds, car
parks, surf-club property, toilet and bather changing buildings;
• Potential for strong outrush velocities and associated scour where inundation waters find exit points along the
coast, e.g. creeks, stormwater drains, low accessways;
• Higher chance of electric shocks from downed power lines or damaged underground cables due to the higher
conductivity of saltwater;
• Marine sand/gravel and debris deposits on land. (Note: During the clean-up, sand/gravel should be returned,
where possible, to the coastal sedimentary system it came from rather than a landfill);
• Salt damage to assets containing exposed metal, particularly vehicles and internal house fixtures;
• Long-lasting salt damage to flooded pastures (can be up to a year before recovery of grasses) that will affect
primary productivity;
Climate change will exacerbate existing coastal inundation problems and start to cause problems in many other
lower-lying areas previously not impacted as sea levels continue to rise and storm intensity increases. Impacts on
New Zealand’s coastal margins due to sea-level rise, modification of estuary/harbour tides and climate change
impacts on storms, waves, river floods and sediment supply to the coast will lead to more extensive and frequent
coastal inundation. This may also be compounded by coincident river flooding and generally higher ground-water
levels resulting in increased drainage problems in adjacent low-lying areas.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of coastal storm inundation’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and assemble
and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take coastal
storm inundation specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if the storm inundation happens.
The reality of having your home or business inundated is difficult to understand unless you have been through the
experience – you can face months away from home while it is repaired. Coastal inundation can also mean the
prospect of loosing your possessions (including additional saltwater damage) as well as an immense amount of
disruption to normal life. The emotional impact can be equally devastating. Coping with the unfamiliar tasks of
sorting out the restoration of your home whilst living in temporary accommodation, plus worrying about the
possible impact on house prices and the risk of future flooding, all add to the stress of the situation. Having your
home or business inundated is a devastating experience, but the distress and disruption can be limited if you are
prepared. Having a plan can help – knowing who is going to do what and where to turn for help can really calm the
crisis.
Regardless of how coastal inundation occurs, the rule for being safe is simple: head for higher ground and stay
away from the shoreline. Even a shallow depth of moving water produces more force than most people imagine.
Winds and waves also have enough force to destroy properties and infrastructure or wash away buildings and
even roads. You can protect yourself best by being prepared and having time to act. You can protect your home
best by taking measures to reduce potential inundation damage (called mitigation).
Radio or television stations can be good sources of information in a severe situation for official weather and
weather-related bulletins. MetService is responsible for releasing weather warnings in New Zealand. They will
issue a Severe Weather Warning whenever there is an expectation that the following weather condition will occur
within the next 24 hours:
Widespread severe gales with a minimum mean speed of 90 km/hr or frequent gusts exceeding 110 km/hr.
“Widespread” means over an area of 1000 square kilometres or more [MetService, 2008].
MetService will issue a Severe Weather Watch whenever there is an expectation that conditions may deteriorate
to the thresholds specified for the issue of a Severe Weather Warning, i.e:
After the next 24 hours but within 48–72 hours, or if there is a high level of uncertainty within the next 24 hours.
In addition, there is a Severe Weather Outlook, with the aim to provide a “heads up” of potential severe weather
events in the day three to day six period. Since tides have a major influence whether a storm surge becomes a
threat or not, a wind forecast alone would not provide the necessary information.
There are two useful web resources for tide predictions:
www.hydro.linz.govt.nz/tides/majports/index.asp (tide predictions at standard and secondary ports for the following
12 months);
www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/tides (open-coast tide predictions at any location around New
Zealand out to 2019).
There are also coastal water-level stations around New Zealand that provide near real-time or recent
measurements and are operated by regional councils, some territorial authorities and NIWA. Some of the web
links to these monitoring stations are listed under Useful Links.
Before inundation
1. If you are building in a coastal area, ask your local and regional council about the likelihood of coastal
inundation including the effects of climate change and the history of coastal flooding in the region. You may
choose to exceed council consent requirements by further elevating and reinforcing your house or critical
buildings.
2. If you own a property, check whether it is above or below the projected stormtide water level and learn about the
history of coastal inundation for your region.
3. Promote effective and wise land use planning within your coastal community.
4. Find out from your local emergency management office if you live in a coastal inundation-prone area.
5. Check with the local civil defence emergency management office if there is a community evacuation plan. If yes,
plan and practice an evacuation route. This plan should show you the safest routes away from the coast to high
ground or evacuation centres. All members of the household should know where to meet each other, where to
evacuate to, and what route(s) to take if they have to leave. Making plans well in advance will help you avoid lastminute confusion.
6. If you live in an area prone to coastal inundation you may need to abandon your house and look after yourself.
Keep the following survival supplies:
. . Torch and extra batteries
. . Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries
. . First aid kit and manual
. . Water (three litres per person per day)
. . Food (canned, dried, non-perishable)
. . Nonelectric can opener
. . Essential medicines
. . Cash and credit cards
. . Sturdy shoes
. . Blankets and warm clothing;
. . Alternative cooking method (BBQ or gas cooker)
. . Pet supplies
. . Baby supplies
. . Disposable cleaning cloths, such as “baby wipes” for the whole family to use in case bathing facilities are not
available
. . Personal hygiene supplies, such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, etc.
Make a list of any additional vital items you will need should you be flooded – some warm clothes, essential
toiletries, any medication etc. In the same way as expectant mothers are encouraged to ‘pack a bag’ ready for
going into hospital, consider packing an ‘go bag’; include a torch and a battery operated radio.
7. Make sure that all family members know how to respond during a storm surge.
8. Teach children how and when to call 111 and which radio station gives emergency information.
9. Make a list of useful telephone numbers – insurance, gas, electric, local authority, essential farming contacts,
local Rural Support Trust, landlord if applicable and keep it in a safe place – preferably upstairs.
10. Make sure you and your family members know how to switch off gas, electric and water supplies at the mains
– even in the dark.
11. Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safe-deposit box. You may need quick, easy
access to these documents. Keep them in a safe place less likely to be damaged during a flood.
12. If farming, develop a livestock plan which includes identifying areas likely to be free from inundation, making
prior arrangements with neighbours etc. Responsibility for livestock rests with the owner.
13. Prepare a separate pet plan, most public shelters do not accept pets.
14. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office for more information on mitigation options to
further reduce potential coastal inundation damage. Your local emergency management office may be able to
provide additional resources and information on ways to reduce potential damage.
Before an imminent/during a storm-tide event:
15. Prepare your home prior to leaving by boarding up doors and windows, securing or moving indoors all yard
objects, and turning off all utilities.
16. Turn off utility services if told to do so by authorities. Authorities may ask you to turn off water, electricity or gas
supplies to prevent damage to your home or within the community.
17. Unplug small appliances. Small appliances may be affected by electrical power surges. Unplugging them
reduces potential damage.
18. Move valuable household possessions to the upper floors or to safe ground if time permits. Raising this
equipment will prevent damage. An undamaged water cylinder may be your best source of fresh water after a
flood.
19. Minimise the distance you must travel to reach a safe location; the further you drive the higher the likelihood of
encountering traffic congestion and other problems on the roadways.
20. Select the nearest possible evacuation destination, preferably within your local area, and map out your route.
Do not get on the road without a planned route, or a place to go.
21. Choose the home of the closest friend or relative outside a designated evacuation zone and discuss your plan
with them. You may also choose a hotel/motel outside of the vulnerable area.
22. If neither of these options is available, consider the closest possible evacuation centre, preferably within your
local area.
23. Use the evacuation routes designated by authorities and, if possible, become familiar with your route by driving
it before an evacuation order is issued.
24. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office to register or get information regarding anyone
in your household whom may require special assistance in order to evacuate.
25. Before leaving the area, fill your car with fuel and withdraw extra money from the ATM.
26. Take all prescription medicines and special medical items, such as glasses and nappies.
27. If your family evacuation plan includes a caravan, boat or trailer, leave early. Do not wait until the evacuation
order or exodus is well underway to start your trip.
28. If you live in an evacuation zone and are ordered to evacuate by local emergency management officials, do so
as quickly as possible. Do not wait or delay your departure, to do so will only increase your chances of being stuck
in traffic, or even worse, not being able to get out at all.
29. Expect traffic congestion and delays during evacuations. Expect and plan for significantly longer travel times to
reach your family’s intended destination.
30. Find and listen to a radio station broadcasting civil defence messages. Ensure you have a portable batteryoperated radio in case of power failure or if you need to evacuate.
31. Be ready to act quickly. Coastal inundation can happen relatively quickly and the warning time may be short.
Be ready to act immediately and keep your previously assembled Getaway Kit near. Having supplies ready will
save time.
32. Follow the instructions and advice of civil defence emergency management authorities. Local authorities are
the most informed about affected areas and the most knowledgeable about areas you should avoid.
33. Consider a precautionary evacuation of livestock. Waiting until the last minute could be fatal for them and
dangerous for you. Where possible, move livestock to higher ground.
34. Take your pets with you if you evacuate. Leaving them may endanger you, your pets, and emergency
responders.
35. Dangers do not end when the water begins to recede. Continue to listen to radio or television stations and
don’t return home until authorities indicate it is safe to do so. There may be flood-related hazards within your
community, which you could hear about from radio or television broadcasts.
36. Get medical care at the nearest hospital or clinic, if necessary. Contaminated water can cause infection.
Severe injuries will require medical attention.
37. Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation, families who
may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people who care for them.
38. Stay away from damaged areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations, and
put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated water, crumbled roads, landslides,
mudflows, and other hazards.
39. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. The most common injury following an inundation
disaster is cut feet.
40. Check for sewage and water pipe damage. If you suspect sewage pipes are damaged avoid using the toilets
and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the council’s water-services section or utility company and
avoid using the water from the tap. Contamination of drinking water by sewage can cause dangerous and
contagious disease.
41. Throw away food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including canned goods. It is
impossible to know if containers were damaged and the seals compromised. Food contaminated by floodwater
can cause severe infections.
42. Discard wooden spoons, plastic utensils, and baby bottle teats and dummies if they have been covered by
floodwater. There is no way to safely clean them.
43. Disinfect metal pans and utensils by boiling them in clean or properly treated water.
44. Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated. If water is of
questionable purity, boil the water or add bleach to it. Wells inundated by floodwater should be pumped out and
the water tested for purity before drinking. If in doubt, call your local public health authority. Ill health effects often
occur when people drink water contaminated with bacteria and germs.
45. You can clean and disinfect your property using ordinary household products.
46. A garden hose is useful for washing down to clean silt, salt deposits and fine debris. Do not use high-pressure
hoses as they blast contaminated matter into the air.
47. Flood water can make the air in your home unhealthy. This is because when things get wet for more than two
days they usually get mouldy. There may also be germs and bugs in your home after a flood. Hence, it is important
to clean and dry your house and everything in it.
48. If you are drying your property naturally, keep doors and windows open as much as possible. If using
dehumidifiers, close external doors and windows.
49. Mould may be more likely to make some people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems sick. Talk
to your doctor or another medical professional if you have questions about cleaning or working in a home that has
been flooded.
50. If there is a large amount of mould, you may want to hire professional help to clean up the mould.
51. Fix any leaking pipes and other water problems and then dry things, or the mould will grow again.
52. When cleaning protect yourself by wearing a certified respirator, goggles, gloves, long pants, long-sleeved
shirt, and boots or work shoes.
53. Throw away anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned.
54. If you use a generator because of a power outage, use it OUTSIDE and far away from buildings. Do not use
portable generators inside your house or garage. Do not put portable generators on balconies or near doors,
vents, or windows. Do not use portable generators near where you or your children are sleeping.
55. All farm buildings and facilities will need thorough cleaning – especially if they are used for livestock.
56. If entering buildings, use extreme caution.
57. Wear sturdy shoes and use a battery-powered torch when examining buildings.
58. Stay out of any building if water remains around the building. Floodwater often undermines foundations,
causing sinking. Floors can crack or break and buildings can collapse.
59. Avoid entering any building (home, business, or other) before local officials have said it is safe to do so.
Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe. Gas leaks or damage to electric lines or water lines
can create additional problems.
60. Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities turned
off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury. Watch for chemical spills.
61. Examine walls, floors, doors, and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing.
62. Watch for loose plaster and ceilings that could fall.
63. Look for fire hazards and inspect utilities in a damaged house
64. Check for gas leaks – if you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the
building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbour’s home.
If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
65. Look for electrical system damage – if you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation,
turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or
circuit breaker, call an electrician for advice.
66. Look before you step: after inundation, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken bottles
and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.
67. Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a building
uninhabitable.
68. Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage. If the
water is pumped out completely in a short period of time, pressure from water-saturated soil on the outside could
cause basement walls to collapse.
69. Only pump out water when flood levels outside your property start to be lower than inside. This reduces the
risk of structural damage.
70. Shovel mud away evenly from both sides of a wall. This stops pressure building up on one side.
71. Service damaged septic tanks, manholes, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage
systems are health hazards.
If your property sustains any damage or was inundated:
72. Ring your insurer as soon as possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance
assessor to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered by
your policy. EQC covers land damage.
73. Always make your own record of flood damage
74. Use a permanent ink pen to mark on the wall the maximum height of the flood water. Do this in every room
affected by flooding.
75. Photograph or video record your damaged property.
76. List the damage to your property and belongings.
77. If your insurance policy covers you for loss of perishable goods, make a list of all the foods you throw away.
Include any food touched by flood water and anything in your fridge or freezer ruined by loss of power.
Ask the insurance company:
78. How long it will be before the assessor visits.
79. If you are to clean your property or if they will get a company to do it for you.
80. If they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast, a
static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
81. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
82. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
83. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
84. Keep receipts.
85. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
86. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not replace it.
87. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as possible.
88. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants or
charities that may be able to help you.
Following an inundation, there are a whole range of measures that can be taken to reduce the impact of the next
inundation should it happen and now is the time to think about these. Before you start making changes get advice
from a specialist. Making flood-resistant alterations to your home may cost more than just restoring it to its
previous state, but it is money well spent especially if your property is at high risk of flooding again. In future
coastal-inundation events these measures can speed up the drying out time and get you back home quicker. They
will also reduce the cost of future repairs.
89. Lay ceramic tiles on your ground floor (avoiding the use of particle board flooring) and use rugs instead of fitted
carpets. Rugs can be moved and will suffer less damage in a flood than a fitted carpet.
90. Replace chipboard or particle-board kitchen and bathroom units with plastic
or solid wood. Or raise cupboards up on supports so that water can flow beneath them.
91. Fit water resistant door and window frames.
92. Install non-return valves in drainage pipes to prevent sewage backing up into the house or critical buildings.
93. Replace usual plaster with a more water resistant version such as lime plaster or cement render.
94. Always use waterproof sealant on external walls and water resistant paint on internal walls.
95. Raise the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5 metres above ground floor level.
96. Position any main parts of a heating or ventilation system upstairs or raised well above the ground floor.
97. Take good care of yourself. Recovering from inundation is a big job. It is tough on both the body and the spirit.
The effects a disaster has on you and your family may last a long time. Learn how to recognize and care for
anxiety, stress, and fatigue.
Coastal-storm inundation general information
98. Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
. . Do a series on the dangers of coastal-storm inundation.
. . Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about land use management and building codes in coastal
floodplains.
. . Highlight the importance of staying informed about local weather conditions.
. . Run public service ads about how to protect lives and property in a storm surge.
99. Help the reporters to localise the information by providing them with the local emergency telephone numbers
and hospitals. Also provide the business telephone numbers for the local emergency management office.
100. Work with officials of the local fire, police, and emergency medical services departments; utilities; hospitals;
and civil defence emergency management office to prepare and disseminate guidelines for people with mobility
impairments about what to do if they have to evacuate.
101. Periodically inform your community of local public warning systems. Explain the different warning stages.
102. Help hospitals and other operations that are critically affected by power failures to obtain auxiliary power
supplies.
103. Contact your emergency management office for information on local warning systems. Advanced warning
provided by early detection is critical to saving lives. Automatic flood detection systems are available commercially
for storm surge prone communities.
104. Publish emergency evacuation routes for areas prone to coastal inundation.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Coastal inundation in low-lying areas only happens when a deep depression passes over the area.
Facts: In New Zealand, when large high tides or “king tides” occur, then only a small-to-moderate storm surge is
required to flood some areas, and that could be caused just by strong winds and ocean swell.
Fiction: A storm surge is the same as a tsunami.
Facts: Storm surges are caused by weather systems, such as low pressure system raising the height of the water
higher than ordinary sea level, while tsunami are created when a body of water is displaced by a submarine or
coastal earthquakes, an underwater landslides or underwater volcanic eruptions. Therefore they have different
characteristics and damage potential.
Fiction: The height of the storm surge depends only on wind.
Facts: There are various factors that determine how high a storm surge can get: the local topography – bays,
headlands and offshore islands can funnel and amplify the storm surge. The shape of the sea floor – the surge
builds up more strongly if the slope of the sea bed at the coast is shallow.
Useful links
Coastal inundation preparedness
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.epa.qld.gov.au/ecoaccess/coastal_development/assessment_of_
development_on_coastal_land/coastal_hazards__storm_tide_inundation/
• www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/hazards/naturalhazards/coastal/flooding.htm/
• www.hurricanetrack.com/ncstormsurge/prpmit.html/
• www.coastalhazards.info/~webdev/tsunami/taxonomy/term/53/
• www.sdr.gov/185820_Coastal_FINAL.pdf
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Insurance
• www.ami.co.nz/products/contents/
• www.state.co.nz/
• www.equ.govt.nz
• www.tower.co.nz/Web_Home.asp
• www.vero.co.nz/
• www.icnz.org.nz/
Coastal inundation general
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/tides
• www.niwa.co.nz/news-and-publications/publiations/all/wa/15-3/coastal
• www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/nswmanual/appendixc6.html/
• www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag178.htm/
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Weather and wave forecasts
• www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=weatherwarnings
• www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=mapsandobservations
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/forecast
Tide predictions
• www.hydro.linz.govt.nz/tides/majports/index.asp
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/sea-levels
Storm-tide and wave monitoring
• www.niwascience.co.nz/services/free/sealevels
• www.mulgor.co.nz/MarsPt/
• www.envbop.govt.nz/MonitoredSites/cgi-bin/hydwebserver.cgi/catchments/details?catchment=23
• www.envbop.govt.nz/MonitoredSites/cgi-bin/hydwebserver.cgi/sites/details?site=241&treecatchment=23
•http://map.es.govt.nz/RiverRainfall/measurements.aspx?measurement=River%20Level&layer=River_Level&sm=l
_b
• www.gw.govt.nz/section763.cfm
• www.es.govt.nz/river-rainfall/www.portotago.co.nz/12/2.html
• www.porttaranaki.co.nz/Port/Weather.htm
• www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Coast/Wave-buoy/
Coastal-storm inundation useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your flood kit.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Earthquakes
Everyone, everywhere should know the right actions to take before, during and after an earthquake
Information about earthquake risk is also available on the GNS Science website at www.gns.cri.nz.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp6–15)

Identify safe places in each room.

Practise drop, cover and hold.

At work, preplan a safe, clear area outside as an assembly point.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practise a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take earthquake-specific precautions and plan and practise what to do in the event of an earthquake.

Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundations.

Secure heavy objects both inside and outside the home.

If you are outside, find a clear spot and drop to the ground.

If you are inside when the shaking starts, move no more than a few steps to a safe place and drop, cover
and hold.

Check on those around you (including neighbours) for injuries and identify any immediate hazards caused by
the earthquake.

Expect aftershocks.

Listen to the radio for updated emergency information.

Before leaving a building, identify a safe assembly point away from the building - a clear area away
from potential dangers such as tall buildings, power lines etc.

In the workplace, work as a team to establish a safe route to an assembly area before leaving the
building.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
Why talk about
earthquakes?
Earthquakes happen every day in New Zealand. Instruments record the ground
shaking from over 20,000 earthquakes in and around the country each year. Most are
too small to be noticed, but between 200 and 300 are big enough to be felt. On a
world scale, seismicity (earthquake activity) in New Zealand varies from
moderate to very high. In the past couple of decades, we have seen that damaging
quakes can occur almost anywhere in New Zealand.
Figure 1: Large shallow earthquakes in New Zealand 1840–2013 (GNS Science)
The locations of large shallow earthquakes (M>6.0) that have occurred in New
Zealand since 1840 are shown in Figure 1. The last decade has been punctuated by
several large (M>6.0) earthquakes, some of which were close to populated areas of
the country. The Canterbury earthquake sequence, starting in 2010, was by far the
most devastating of these, with 185 casualties and causing $40 billion dollars in
damage.
An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the breaking and
shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface. For hundreds of millions of years, the
forces of plate tectonics have shaped the earth as the huge plates that make up the
surface move slowly over, under, past, and away from each other. Sometimes the
movement is gradual. At other times, the plates are locked together, unable to release
the accumulating energy. When the forces grow strong enough, the plates suddenly
break free causing the ground to shake. While we know the locations
of many large fault lines in New Zealand, there are many other faults buried
underground that we don’t know about.
What are
earthquakes and
what causes them?
Aftershocks are earthquakes that follow the main shock as the rocks readjust and the
ground settles into position. They can cause damage to buildings. Aftershocks occur
days, weeks, months, and even years after the main shock. While the number of
aftershocks decreases over time following a large earthquake, the magnitude of those
aftershocks can be almost as high as the main shock. Even aftershocks that are
smaller in magnitude than the main shock can cause stronger ground shaking,
depending on the depth and location at which those aftershocks are centred.
Additionally, some earthquakes are actually foreshocks that precede a larger
earthquake.
What damage can
earthquakes do?
Ground shaking from earthquakes (including aftershocks) can cause buildings and
bridges to collapse; items to fall (e.g. chimneys, parapets, items inside a building),
disrupt gas, electricity, telephone/internet services; transport networks; and can
sometimes trigger landslides, liquefaction, flash floods, fires, and tsunami. Buildings
with foundations resting on unconsolidated (loose) landfill or other unstable soils are
at increased risk of damage, as are homes not properly attached to their foundations.
Collapse of buildings is the main cause of casualties, either through crushing or
entrapment. Injuries can be caused by building and infrastructure collapse, falling
objects, and people moving around during and after shaking. Loss of services is the
main cause of people becoming displaced. In general, damage to buildings is the main
cause of financial loss from earthquakes.
Earthquakes can cause damage in the following ways:
Strong ground-shaking will cause buildings close to the epicentre to sustain at least
minor damage.
Fault rupture is a relatively rare cause of damage. However, if a fault ruptures up to the
earth’s surface, anything extending across it, such as buildings, roads or pipelines,
can be severely damaged. This is because the land on either side of the fault moves in
different directions horizontally and vertically by up to a few metres.
Landslides. Strong ground shaking is a major cause of landslides in New Zealand.
Factors affecting slope stability include the slope angle and height, slope
modification, underlying geology, the history of landslides in the area and
groundwater content. Properties above and below unstable slopes are also at risk
from undermining and burial respectively. In the 1929 magnitude 7.8 Murchison
earthquake, 16 of the 17 fatalities were as a result of landslides. Flash floods can
result from landslides that dam waterways, which then give way, releasing the
water. Sediment from landslides in hilly areas (as well as liquefaction silt) can also flow
downstream and build up the level of river beds. This reduces the capacity of rivers,
causing on-going flooding issues.
Liquefaction occurs when saturated, unconsolidated (loose) soil is subjected to
strong shaking. Effects range from ‘sand boils’ that cause silt and water to
accumulate on the ground surface, to serious ground damage, such as subsidence.
Subsidence can lead to increased flooding caused by changes to natural drainage
patterns. Liquefaction can cause substantial damage to buildings and underground
services such as tanks and pipelines, as was seen following the Canterbury earthquakes
in 2010-11. Liquefaction can also cause cracks in the ground that may be a few metres
deep, but are usually only tens of centimetres wide.
Tsunami. Large earthquakes can generate tsunami if they cause significant uplift or
down thrust of the sea floor, or trigger coastal or submarine landslides. Tsunami
generated by local earthquakes are very dangerous as they can arrive at the nearest
shore within minutes. Natural warnings (e.g., if you feel shaking for longer than one
minute, or if it is too strong to stand up in) may be your only cue to head to higher
ground or inland immediately.
Fire. Post-earthquake fire is a highly variable phenomenon. Most earthquakes are not
accompanied by fire, but devastating fires have occurred after earthquakes.
In Napier, following the 1931 earthquake, much of the central business district burned
and the loss due to the fire was about equal to the loss from the ground shaking. The
1906 San Francisco and 1923 Tokyo earthquakes caused fire losses that greatly
exceeded the losses from ground shaking. The fires are often caused by the ignition of
leaking gas from pipes that were ruptured by the ground shaking, and from fallen
power lines.
The critical factors in creating a fire risk are weather (particularly wind), water, and
building stock. If the shaking is strong enough to disrupt the water supply, winds are
strong enough to spread the fire across city streets lined with wooden buildings, and
vegetation is flammable following hot, dry weather, then the scene is set for a high
level of fire risk.
Water quality. The environment can also be damaged by an earthquake, particularly due
to decreased water quality in streams, rivers and estuaries. This is often caused by
ruptured wastewater and stormwater lines, and from an increase in sediment in the
streams. Groundwater levels can also change due to an earthquake.
How can I protect
myself in an
earthquake?
Ground shaking during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury.
Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths result from collapsing walls and roofs,
and falling glass and objects. It is important for a person to move as little as possible
to reach the place of safety he or she has identified in order to drop, cover and hold,
because most injuries occur when people try to move more than a short distance
during the shaking.
Much of the damage caused by earthquakes is predictable and preventable. We
must all work together in our communities to apply our knowledge to enact and
enforce up-to-date building codes, retrofit older unsafe buildings, and avoid building
in hazardous areas, such as those prone to landslides and liquefaction.
We must also look for and eliminate hazards at home, at our children’s preschools and
schools, in our workplace and public areas, and prepare necessary items for an
emergency. And we must learn and practise what to do if an earthquake occurs (“Drop,
cover, hold”).
Be prepared for an
earthquake: protect
yourself
If you are at home, you should:
1.
Discuss with members of your household the possibility of earthquakes and
what to do to stay safe if one occurs. Knowing how to respond will help reduce
fear.
2.
Develop an emergency communication plan in your family (for all hazards) in
case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake,
such as during the day when adults are at work and children at school. Have a
plan for getting back together.
3.
Pick safe places in each room of your home and your office or school. A safe
place could be under a piece of furniture, such as a sturdy table or desk,
or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that
could fall on you. The shorter the distance to your safe place, the less likely it
is that you will be injured by furniture or fixtures that can become flying debris
during the shaking. Injury statistics show that persons moving as little as three
metres during an earthquake’s shaking are more likely to experience injury
than those who don’t move that far.
4.
Practise drop, cover, and hold in each safe place. Drop to the floor, take cover
under a sturdy piece of furniture, and hold on to a leg of the furniture.
If suitable furniture is not nearby, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and
cover your head and neck with your arms. Responding quickly in an
earthquake may help protect you from injury.
5.
Practise drop, cover, and hold at least twice a year.
6.
Keep a torch and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed.
7.
Inform guests, babysitters, and caregivers of earthquake plans. Everyone in
your home should know what to do if an earthquake occurs, even if you are not
there at the time.
If you are at work, you should:
8.
Identify a safe clear area outside as an assembly point. This should be preplanned by your workplace, noting that your normal fire evacuation assembly
point may not be appropriate after an earthquake.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES

Identify safe places in each room.

Practise drop, cover and hold.

At work, preplan a safe, clear area outside as an assembly point.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a
Household Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival
Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take earthquake-specific precautions and plan and practise what to do in the
event of an earthquake.
Protect your
property
How to protect your property:
9.
Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation. Depending on the
type of construction and the materials used in building your home, you may
need to have it bolted or secured in another way to its foundation. If you are not
sure that your home is securely anchored, contact a professional engineer or
professional building contractor. Buildings securely attached to their foundations
are less likely to be severely damaged during earthquakes and become
uninhabitable.
10. Brace hot water cylinders and gas appliances to wall framing. If the water
heater tips over, the gas line could break, causing a fire hazard, and the
water line could rupture. The water cylinder may be your best source of
drinkable water following an earthquake. Consider having a certifying
plumber and gasfitter install flexible fittings for gas and water pipes.
11. Securely fix bookcases, china cabinets, and other tall furniture to wall
framing. Brace or anchor high or top-heavy objects. During an earthquake,
these items can fall over, causing damage or injury.
12. Hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, away from beds, couches,
and anywhere people sleep or sit. Earthquakes can knock things off walls,
causing damage or injury. Close picture hooks to prevent the string or wire
disengaging as the item swings.
13. Brace heavy overhead light fixtures. During earthquakes, overhead light
fixtures may fall, causing damage or injury.
14. Install strong latches on cabinet doors. The contents of cabinets can shift during
the shaking of an earthquake. Latches will prevent cabinets from opening and
spilling their contents. Place heavy objects on shelves near the floor.
15. Secure large ornamental items that might fall and break.
16. Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed,
latched metal cabinets.
17. Evaluate places your pets are kept and like to hide in. Ensure they are as safe
as possible. Consider what might fall in or on that place and if there are
hazardous substances there.
18. Consider having your home evaluated by a Chartered Professional Engineer or
other Licensed Building Practitioner. This is particularly important if there are
signs of structural defects, such as foundation cracks. Earthquakes
can turn cracks into ruptures and make smaller problems bigger. Heavy,
unreinforced chimneys can also collapse, causing damage to the structure and
threatening lives.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES

Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundations.

Secure heavy objects both inside and outside the home.
What to do during
an earthquake
If you are inside when the shaking starts, you should:
19. Drop, cover, and hold.
20. Move only a few steps to the safest nearby place, away from windows that
may shatter and large furniture that could fall.
21. If you are elderly or have limited mobility, remain where you are, bracing
yourself in place against the shaking.
22. If you are in bed, stay there, hold on, and protect your head with a pillow. You
are less likely to be injured if you stay in bed.
23. Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. Most
buildings in New Zealand provide greater safety inside.
If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, you should:
24. Outside: if possible find a clear area away from buildings, trees, streetlights
and power lines, as these may fall causing injuries during an earthquake. Drop
to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops.
25. Coastal area: drop, cover and hold during an earthquake. If the shaking is so
strong that you cannot stand up then move immediately to higher ground when
the shaking stops or, if the area is flat, move as far inland as possible.
Earthquakes off the coast can generate a tsunami and there may be little time
for anything other than to run uphill or inland.
26. Mountainous areas or near unstable slopes or cliffs: be alert for falling rocks and
other debris that could be loosened by the earthquake. Earthquakes can trigger
landslides.
27. Vehicle: if possible, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your
seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Trees, power lines, poles, street signs,
overpasses and other overhead items may fall during earthquakes. Once the
shaking has stopped, proceed with caution. Avoid bridges, tunnels, cliff roads or
ramps that might have been damaged by the quake. Listen to your car radio for
advice from Civil Defence Emergency Management.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES

If you are outside, find a clear spot and drop to the ground.

If you are inside when the shaking starts, move no more than a
few steps to a safe place and drop, cover and hold.
What to do after an
earthquake
When the shaking stops, you should:
28. Look quickly for damage around you, particularly in buildings where furniture and
fittings may have become hazardous. Look for small fires and if practicably
possible, extinguish them.
29. Check yourself for injuries and receive or apply first aid if necessary, before
helping other injured or trapped persons. Check your neighbours.
30. Expect aftershocks. Each time you feel one, drop, cover, and hold.
Aftershocks can occur minutes, days, weeks and even months following an
earthquake.
31. Listen to a portable, battery-operated radio for updated emergency information
and instructions. Civil Defence Emergency Management will provide the most
appropriate advice for your particular situation. Remember this will not be
immediately available. If the electricity is out, this may be your main source of
information.
32. If you are away from home during the earthquake, listen to the radio and
take advice from authorities on conditions, safe routes, public transport
arrangements etc.
33. Telephone and mobile phones are frequently overloaded in disaster situations
and need to be clear for emergency calls to get through. Use your phone only to
make a brief call to your Household Emergency Plan contact and to report lifethreatening emergencies. Mobile texting can be more effective than attempting
phone calls.
34. If available, put on long trousers, a long-sleeved top, sturdy shoes and heavy
duty gloves to protect yourself from injury by broken objects.
35. Help people who require special assistance; infants, elderly people, those
without transportation, families who may need additional help in an
emergency situation, people with disabilities and the people who care for
them.
36. Be alert for and observe official warnings.
If you are at work
37. Care for the injured and select a leader.
38. Look outside if possible, to see what has happened in the surrounding area.
This will help prepare your exit from the building.
39. Work as a team to establish a safe route to an assembly area before leaving the
building.
40. First check for damage to stairways and for fallen/falling debris at your exit
point(s) to determine a safe exit route.
41. Identify a safe clear area outside as an assembly point. This should be preplanned by your workplace, noting that your normal fire evacuation assembly
point may not be appropriate after an earthquake.
42. Ensure all persons inside are aware of the exit route and assembly point.
43. Take bag, phone, wallet, coat, phone charger and any emergency supplies
you have (‘getaway’ or ‘go’ bag)
44. Once outside move quickly away from buildings to the assembly point, being
conscious of the risk of injury from falling debris. Do a roll call to ensure
everyone is accounted for.
45. Keep a register of people present, log when they leave and their intentions
(e.g. walk home). Arrange to travel in groups where possible.
46. If your fire alarm activates, carry out the steps from number 37 above, taking
extra care to:
• Check for and extinguish small fires if safe and able to be done quickly
• Check exit paths for safety before using them - never use lifts, and seek
alternatives if stairs are missing or detached from walls etc.
• Assist injured people to evacuate or note their locations to pass on to
rescuers
If you are in a building
away from home
47. If in a store, unfamiliar commercial building or on public transport, follow the
If you have pets or
livestock
48. Try to keep pets calm and under control so that they don’t try to run away.
instructions of those in charge.
Keep leashes and pet-carrier boxes handy. Make sure they have plenty of water.
Pets may become disoriented, particularly if the disaster has affected scent
markers that normally allow them to find their way home.
49. If farming, check livestock access to fresh water as well as their general
welfare. Check fences to ensure livestock are secure.
50. Be aware also that the behaviour of pets and livestock may change dramatically after
an earthquake and they may become more aggressive or defensive.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES

Check on those around you (including neighbours) for injuries,
and identify any immediate hazards caused by the earthquake.

Expect aftershocks.

Listen to the radio for updated emergency information.

Before leaving a building, identify a safe assembly point away
from the building - a clear area away from potential dangers
such as tall buildings, power lines etc.

In the workplace, work as a team to establish a safe route to
an assembly area before leaving the building.
Building damage
assessment
51. Check for damage outside your home or building. Watch out for fallen power
lines, as they may still be live. Be aware that parts of the building may have
come loose above, and could fall in an aftershock.
52. Then, if the structures appear safe to enter, check for damage inside.
Building damage may have occurred where you least expect it. Carefully watch
every step you take, looking up and down. Get out of the building if you think it is
unsafe.
53. Open doors cautiously, including closet and cabinet doors, as contents may
have shifted during shaking and could fall, creating a risk of further damage or
injury.
54. Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases and windows. Watch for loose plaster,
wall cladding and ceilings that could fall.
55. Hazardous materials: Check for and clean up any spilled medications, bleach,
chemicals or flammable liquids immediately, if safe to do so. Ensure extreme care
and safety precautions are taken while handling any dangerous liquids.
Utility services
56. Electrical system: If you see sparks, smell burning insulation or broken/ frayed
wires are visible, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker.
Do not step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker.
57. Gas leaks: If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window
and get everyone out quickly. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve
if you can. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must ONLY be turned back on
by a registered plumber or gas fitter. Do not smoke or use a naked flame.
58. Water lines: If street water pipes are damaged, avoid using water from the tap.
You can obtain safe water from undamaged hot water cylinders or from your
emergency stored water.
59. Sewage lines: If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the
toilets - check with your local council and follow their advice.
Insurance
Property and contents insurance actions:
60. Residential property and contents damage caused by earthquakes is covered by
Earthquake Commission (EQC) insurance, providing you already have house
and/or contents insurance. If your property has been damaged, lodge a claim by
calling 0800 326 243 or visit www.eqc.govt.nz.
61. If there is significant damage to your property, ring your insurance company as
soon as possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an
insurance assessor to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and
replacements are needed and what is covered by your policy.
62. Photograph or video record your damaged property and list the damage to
your property and belongings.
63. If your insurance policy covers you for loss of perishable goods, make a list of all
the foods you throw away. Include anything in your fridge or freezer ruined by
loss of power.
Ask your insurer:
64. How long it will be before the assessor visits.
65. If they will cover the cost of temporary accommodation. This could be a
nearby motel, bed and breakfast, a caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
66. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you
need.
67. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name of liaison and what was
agreed.
68. Keep copies of all letters and emails you send and receive.
69. Keep receipts.
70. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
71. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance
company as soon as possible.
Media and
community
education ideas
Ask your community to adopt and enforce up-to-date building codes. Modern
building codes are an important risk reduction measure. These codes identify
construction techniques for buildings that help them withstand earthquakes without
collapsing and killing people. Codes are updated regularly to make use of
information learned from recent damaging earthquakes, so adopting and enforcing
up-to-date codes is essential.
Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
72. Present information about how to respond if an earthquake occurs.
73. Do a series on locating hazards in homes, workplaces, day care centres,
schools, etc.
74. Provide tips on how to conduct earthquake drills.
75. Organise interviews with representatives of the gas, electricity, and water
companies about how individuals should prepare for an earthquake.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: During an earthquake, you should get into a doorway for protection.
Fact: In modern homes, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the
structure and usually have doors that will swing and can injure you. During an
earthquake, you should get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on.
Fiction: During an earthquake, the earth cracks open and people, cars, and animals
can fall into the cracks.
Fact: The earth does not crack open like the Grand Canyon. The earth moves and rumbles
and, during that movement, small cracks can form. The usual displacements of the earth
during an earthquake are caused by up-and-down movements, so shifts in the height of the
ground are more likely than chasm-like cracks.
Fiction: Animals can sense earthquakes and give advanced warning.
Fact: Animals may be able to sense the first low-frequency waves of an
earthquake that occurs deep within the earth, but the damage-causing primary and
secondary waves follow just seconds behind. Animals do not make good
earthquake warning devices.
Fiction: Big earthquakes always happen in the early morning.
Fact: Several recent damaging earthquakes have occurred in the early morning, so
many people believe that all big earthquakes happen then. In fact, earthquakes occur
at all times of day.
Fiction: It’s hot and dry – earthquake weather!
Fact: Many people believe that earthquakes are more common in certain kinds of
weather. In fact, no correlation with weather has been found. Earthquakes
begin many kilometres below the region affected by surface weather. People tend to
notice earthquakes that fit the pattern and forget the ones that do not. In all regions of
the world, “earthquake weather” tends to be whatever type of weather prevailed at the
time of the region’s most memorable earthquake.
Fiction: We have good building codes so we must have good buildings.
Fact: New Zealand’s building codes are among the world’s best, and as a result
modern (post-1980) buildings are most unlikely to collapse in even the strongest
earthquake shaking. However, there are no grounds for complacency. The majority of
our buildings were constructed before 1980, and even though these are unlikely to
collapse, many of them, along with essential services, will be so badly damaged in a
large earthquake as to be unusable. For this reason New Zealand’s cities could be
rendered non-functional by earthquake damage to buildings, their contents and to
infrastructure.
Fiction: Scientists can now predict earthquakes.
Fact: Scientists do not know how to predict earthquakes, and they do not expect to
know how to any time in the foreseeable future. However, based on scientific data,
probabilities can be calculated for potential future earthquakes.
Fiction: “Triangle of life” advice has replaced “Drop, cover and hold”.
Fact: Drop, cover and hold is the best advice for New Zealand conditions where
falling objects present a real threat.
Useful links
www.getthru.govt.nz
www.gns.cri.nz
www.geonet.org.nz
www.eqc.govt.nz
www.teara.govt.nz (search for ‘earthquakes’)
www.rural-support.org.nz/
www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/response-and-management/
adverse-events/
Useful numbers
A wide range of local services might be useful to people following an earthquake. People should be
encouraged to have the contacts of the services they might need, depending on their household. These
include:
• Local authority emergency helpline
• Insurance company 24-hour
• Insurance number and policy number
• Local radio station (frequencies)
• School
• Family, neighbours and baby sitters
• Bank phone number and details
• Work phone numbers
• Medical Centre/GP
• Local police station
• Vet/kennel/cattery
• Gas supplier and meter number
• Electricity supplier and meter number
• Water supplier and meter number
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Builder
Floods
Learn about your community’s risks from hazards created by flooding.
Contact your local council to find out if you live in an area prone to flooding.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p9)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of flood’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take flood specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if the flood occurs.
Awareness messages
Floods are New Zealand’s number one hazard in terms of frequency, losses and declared civil defence
emergencies. Of all emergency declarations since 1963, over 70% have been flood-related. The Insurance
Council of New Zealand has recorded 55 major floods since 1968 that caused losses of $626 million,
averaging to $16 million per year (adjusted to 2007). The Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency
Management estimates the total costs of flooding in New Zealand of more than $125 million each year.
Flood risk and flood losses are continuing to rise, largely through the continued intensive use of floodplains
and increasing urbanisation. The risk may also be exacerbated by climate change.
Impacts include loss of life, damage to property and infrastructure, loss of stock, and contamination of water
and land. The bigger the flood, the greater the probability and severity of these impacts.
Floods are usually the result of continuous heavy rain and/or thunderstorms, but may also be caused by
tsunami and coastal-storm inundation.
Flash floods occur rapidly, usually as the result of intense rainfall, and affect relatively small areas such as
parts of a town or city. They are generally the result of a sudden downpour overwhelming the natural and
urban drainage systems. The flash flood often appears as a torrent, can carry rocks, mud, and other debris
and can sweep away most things in its path. The rain causing the flood may fall some distance away – that
is, at the place the flood occurs, it may not have rained at all.
Heavy rain associated with major storms is usually less intense but much more widespread (over an area of
1000 square kilometers or more) than it is with thunderstorms. Therefore, rises/falls in river levels and
onset/recession of flooding brought about by widespread heavy rain tend to be slower but also longerlasting.
Widepsread heavy rain is associated with a strong flow of warm air and is enhanced when that air is driven
up and over hills and ranges. Thus in western parts of New Zealand, heavy rainfall most frequently occurs in
northwesterlies, while in eastern areas it is generally associated with winds from the easterly quarter.
Rainfall over high ground, particularly on the upwind side, can be several times that on the lowlands.
As with flash floods, the flooding brought about by a major storm may occur in a different place from where
the heavy rain fell. Many of New Zealand’s rivers are quite long and heavy rain in the upper part of their
catchments can result in flooding a long way downstream.
The amount of water flowing in a river is measured by a unit called a cumec (the number of cubic metres of
water that flows past a given point in a second). Statistical techniques (a process called frequency analysis)
are used to estimate the probability of the occurrence of a given event. The recurrence interval (sometimes
called the return period) is based on the probability that a flood of a particular size will be equalled or
exceeded in any given year.
Recurrence intervals refer to the past occurrence of random events and describe the average time span
between large floods at a particular site. So, a 1 in 5, 1 in 50, or 1 in 100 year flood, for example, means that
floods of certain sizes are statistically likely to happen once every 5, 50 or 100 years respectively. The term
“100-year flood” is often used instead, which can be misleading. That may sound as though a very big flood
is only going to happen once in 100 years. In reality two big floods can happen soon after each other.
The term “100-year flood” is used in an attempt to simplify the definition of a flood that statistically has a 1%
chance of being reached or exceeded in any given year. With climate change the likelihood of floods
increases and a so-called 100 year flood may increase in likelihood to become a 1 in 30 year event.
In New Zealand, MetService defines broad-scale severe weather as widespread (that is, over an area of
1000 square kilometers or more) and:
• Rainfall greater than 50 millimetres within six hours or 100 millimetres within 24 hours and/or
• Snowfall below 1000 metres on the North Island or 500 metres on the South Island with a snow depth of 10
centimetres within six hours or 25 centimetres within 24 hours and/or
• Severe gales with a minimum mean speed of 90 km/hr or frequent gusts exceeding 110 km/hr.
Every afternoon, MetService publishes a Severe Weather Outlook for all of New Zealand for the upcoming
three days. This can be found at: www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=severeweatheroutlook
The Severe Weather Outlook states, in broad terms, the risk that broad-scale severe weather will occur.
If confidence of broad-scale severe weather remains moderate to high within 48-72 hours of the event
occurring, MetService will issue a Severe Weather Watch. A Severe Weather Watch may also be issued if
there is a high level of uncertainty within the next 24 hours. Severe Weather Watches may be issued at any
time but usually at around 8-9am and 8-9pm. They are updated every 12 hours until cancelled.
MetService will issue a Severe Weather Warning whenever it is expected that weather conditions meeting
the severe weather criteria will occur within the next 24 to 36 hours. Severe Weather Warnings may be
issued at any time but usually at around 8–9AM and 8–9PM. They are updated every 12 hours until
cancelled.
Most often, the risk of a major storm will be first signalled some days ahead in the Severe Weather Outlook
and then carry through to a Severe Weather Watch and finally to a Severe Weather Warning. However, in
situations where the predictability is low this will not be the case and the first advice of likely broad-scale
severe weather may be the Severe Weather Warning.
Severe Weather Watches and Warnings are published on MetService’s web site (www.metservice.com),
available through the broadcast media and by email.
If your region operates a flood warning system, rainfall and river levels will automatically be monitored and if
necessary an alerts system activated. Check your council website for details.
Example: Severe weather outlook
Severe weather threat situation valid from Sunday 09-Nov-2008 to Wednesday
12-Nov-2008
Issued by MetService at 2:15pm Friday 07th November 2008
On Sunday, a ridge should move east across New Zealand. On Monday, a trough should move over the
South Island from the Tasman Sea. Northerlies ahead of the trough should bring a period of heavy rain to
Fiordland and the ranges of Westland with a good chance of rainfall accumulating to warning amounts on
Sunday and Monday. The trough should weaken as it moves north late Monday. An area of low pressure is
expected to lie northeast of New Zealand from Monday to Wednesday. The various computor models differ
on how close to the country the low centre will lie. If the low is close, then strong southeasterlies are likely to
bring heavy rain to Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne and northern Hawkes Bay. At this stage,
MetService forecasters rate this as a low chance to produce enough rain to justify a warning for heavy rain
on Tuesday and Wednesday
Low confidence: a 20% likelihood (or 1 chance in 5) that the event will actually happen.
Moderate confidence: a 40% likelihood (or 2 chances in 5) that the event will actually happen.
High confidence: a 60% likelihood (or 3 chances in 5) that the event will actually happen.
.
Example: Severe weather watch
SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR MOUNTAINS AND HILLS OF THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND FROM
MT TARANAKI TO MT RUAPEHU
ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 0841hrs 01-Nov-2008
SPELL OF HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING
MetService expects a front to move over the central North Island tonight. This front will probably bring a spell
of heavy rain to the mountains and hills of the central North Island late this afternoon and evening, with the
heaviest falls in the area from Mt Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu. The bulk of this rain will fall in a 6 hour period
causing rivers and streams in the area to rise quickly. At this stage it looks like rainfall amounts will probably
not reach warning criteria (e.g. 100mm in 24hours), however forecasters will continue to maintain a watch
for this area. This Watch will be reviewed by 9pm Saturday 1 November 2008
Forecast prepared by: John Crouch
(C) Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd 2008
Example: Severe weather warning
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.
ISSUED BY MetService AT 8:21 am 01-Nov-2008
PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN ON THE SOUTH ISLAND WEST COAST AND THE TARARUA RANGES
TODAY SEVERE NORTHWESTERLY GALES ABOUT EASTERN AREAS FROM WAIRARAPA AND
WELLINGTON DOWN TO EASTERN OTAGO
MetService continues to warn of a period of heavy rain about the South Island west coast and Tararua
ranges today, as well as severe northwesterly gales about eastern areas from Wairarapa and Wellington
down to eastern Otago. Heavy falls are expected about the ranges of Westland, Buller and Northwest
Nelson, as well as the Canterbury headwaters and the Tararua ranges. Up to 100mm of rain is forecast for
these areas, with most of the rain falling in a 6-12 hour period. As this rain is falling in a relatively short time,
river and stream levels in these areas will rise rapidly.
Severe northwesterly gales are also expected about Wellington and Wairarapa today, with gusts up to
140km/hr about exposed hilltops until this evening. In Marlborough, Canterbury and eastern Otago, winds
could gust up to 120km/hr in exposed places places, but these winds should ease from the south by early
afternoon. Winds of this strength can cause damage to trees, powerlines and insecure roofs. Driving
conditions could also become hazardous, especially for motorcyclists and high sided vehicles such as
campervans, buses and trucks.
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO
http://metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=mapsandobservations MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS:
====================
HEAVY RAIN WARNING
====================
AREA/S AFFECTED: THE SOUTH ISLAND WEST COAST FROM MILFORD SOUND TO THE RANGES
OF NORTHWEST NELSON, THE CANTERBURY HEADWATERS, AND THE TARARUA RANGES.
FORECAST:
FIORDLAND NORTH OF MILFORD SOUND:
The heavy rain is easing, however 10-25mm of rain is still possible between 8am and 10am.
WESTLAND NEAR THE RANGES:
In the 5 hours from 8am to 1pm Saturday, 75 to 100mm of rain is expected. Rainfall rates may reach 2535mm/hr at times.
THE RANGES OF BULLER AND NORTHWEST NELSON:
In the 7 hours from 8am to 3pm Saturday, 70 to 100mm of rain is expected,with rainfall rates of 15-25mm
per hour.
THE HEADWATERS OF THE MAIN LAKES AND RIVERS OF CANTERBURY:
In the 4 hours from 8am to midday Saturday, expect 40-60mm of rain near the main divide, and up to 30mm
to spread about 15km east of the divide.
THE TARARUA RANGES:
In the 10 hours from 10am to 8pm Saturday, 75 to 100mm of rain is expected,especially about the higher
slopes.
FREEZING LEVEL: About 2500 metres, lowering to 1200 metres about Fiordland during the day.
====================
STRONG WIND WARNING
====================
AREA/S AFFECTED: EASTERN SOUTHLAND, MID AND NORTH CANTERBURY,
MARLBOROUGH,WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA.
FORECAST:
EASTERN OTAGO:
Northwesterly winds should ease this morning, however between 8am and 11am, wind gusts may still reach
120 km/h in exposed places.
MID AND NORTH CANTERBURY:
In the 6 hours from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, expect northwest winds to reach 70km/h gusting 120 km/h at
times in exposed inland places and about the higher parts of Banks Peninsula.
MARLBOROUGH:
In the 9 hours from 8am to 5pm Saturday, expect northwesterlies of 70 km/h gusting to 120 km/h at times in
exposed places.
WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA:
In the 12 hours from 8am to 8pm Saturday, expect northwesterlies of 80 km/h gusting up to 140 km/h at
times, especially about exposed hilltops such as the Rimutaka Hill Road.
==========================
WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE
==========================
HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: FIORDLAND SOUTH OF MILFORD SOUND NO
FURTHER WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT FOR THE ABOVE AREAS. STRONG WIND
WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: INLAND FIORDLAND AND SOUTHLAND NO FURTHER
WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT FOR THE ABOVE AREAS. NEXT SEVERE WEATHER
WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE
9:00pm Saturday 01-Nov-2008
Forecast prepared by: John Crouch
A service provided through a contract with the Crown
(C) Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd 2008
River flow forecasting
Scientists use a weather forecast model to feed a network of environmental forecasting models. The
weather model provides meteorological inputs to a river runoff forecast model, which in turn provides realtime river flow forecasts.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of flood’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take flood specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if the flood occurs.
The reality of having your home flooded is difficult to understand unless you have been through the
experience – you can face months away from home while it is being repaired. A flood can also mean the
prospect of losing some or all of your possessions as well as an immense amount of disruption to normal
family life. The emotional impact can be equally devastating. Restoring your home whilst living in temporary
accommodation will be stressful. However, the distress and disruption can be limited if you are prepared.
Having a plan can help. Knowing who is going to do what and where to turn for help diffuses the sense of
crisis.
Regardless of how a flood occurs, the rule for being safe is simple: head for higher ground and stay away
from floodwater. Even shallow fast-moving floodwater produces more force than most people imagine. It is
exceedingly dangerous to try to walk, swim, or drive in floodwater. 0.6 metres of water will carry away most
vehicles. You can protect yourself best by being prepared and having time to act. You can protect your
home best by taking measures to reduce potential flood damage (this is called mitigation) and having flood
insurance. These measures will help reduce the amount of structural damage to your home and the financial
loss from building and crop damage should a flood or flash flood occur.
Before a flood
1. Find out from your local civil defence emergency management office if you live or work in a flood-prone
area.
2. Avoid building in a floodplain. If there are no restrictions and you are building in a floodplain, take
precautions to make it less likely the building will be damaged during a flood.
3. Ask if your property is above or below the flood stage water level and learn about the history of flooding
for your region.
4. If you have been flooded before you will know that your home or business is at risk, but with the number
of flood events increasing, it is worth checking whether you are in a ‘high risk’ area.
5. Learn flood warning signs and understand your community’s public alerting system.
6. Have non-return valves installed in building sewer and effluent traps to prevent flood waters from backing
up in drains. As a last resort, try to plug showers, tubs or basins.
7. Check with the local civil defence emergency management office if there is a community flood evacuation
plan. If yes, plan and practice an evacuation route. This plan should show you the safest routes to high
ground or evacuation centres. Individuals living in flash flood areas should have several alternative routes.
All members of the household should know where to meet each other, where to evacuate to, and what
route(s) to take if they have to leave. Making plans well in advance will help you avoid last-minute confusion.
8. In a large flood you may need to look after yourself for at least three days. Maintain Emergency Survival
Items.
9. Develop an emergency communication plan. Family members can be separated from one another during
floods or flash floods, for example, when adults are at work and children are at school.
10. Ensure that all family members know how to respond after a flood or flash flood.
11. Make a list of useful telephone numbers – the contact person of your insurance company, gas, electric,
vet, farm technician, local authority etc, your landlord if applicable and keep it in a safe place – preferably
upstairs.
12. Make sure you and your family members know how to switch off gas, electric and water supplies at the
mains – even in the dark.
13. Check your insurance policy to ensure you have sufficient coverage
14. Keep insurance policies, documents, and other valuables in a safe-deposit box. You may need quick,
easy access to these documents. Keep them in a safe place less likely to be damaged during a flood.
15. Consult with a construction professional for further information about damage-reduction measures.
Check local building codes and ordinances for safety requirements.
16. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office for more information on mitigation
options to further reduce potential flood damage. Your local council may be able to provide additional
resources and information on ways to reduce potential damage.
During a flood or if a flood is imminent:
17. Listen to a battery-operated radio for the latest information.
18. Be ready to act quickly. Floods and flash floods can happen quickly and without warning. Be ready to act
immediately and keep your previously assembled Getaway Kit is near.
19. Be prepared to evacuate.
20. Follow the instructions and advice of emergency services and civil defence emergency management
authorities. Local authorities are the most informed about affected areas you should avoid.
21. Try to enlist some helpful friends to help you move your furniture upstairs.
22. Bring outdoor belongings, such as patio furniture, indoors.
23. Construct barriers such as stopbanks and flood walls to stop floodwater from entering the building.
Check with local authorities about building codes and safety requirements.
24. If flooding is expected, consider using sand bags to keep water away from your home. It normally takes
two people about one hour to fill and place 100 sandbags, giving you a wall 0.3m high and 6m long. Make
sure you have enough sand, or plastic bags, shovels, strong helpers, and time to place them properly.
25. Move valuable household possessions to the upper floors or to safe ground if time permits. Raising this
equipment will prevent damage.
26. If your home is in a flood-prone area, fill plastic bottles with clean water for drinking. Water may become
contaminated or water service may be interrupted. An undamaged water cylinder may be your best source
of fresh water after a flood.
27. Fill bathtubs, sinks, and jugs with clean water in case water becomes contaminated. Use the water also
for flushing the toilet or washing the floor or clothing.
28. Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities. Authorities may ask you to turn off water or electricity
supply to prevent damage to your home or within the community.
29. Unplug small appliances. Small appliances may be affected by electrical power surges. Unplugging them
reduces potential damage.
30. Fill your car’s fuel tank in case an evacuation notice is issued. However, be aware that if electric power
is cut off, fuel stations may not be able to operate pumps.
31. Consider a precautionary evacuation of your animals, especially any large or numerous animals. Waiting
until the last minute could be fatal for them and dangerous for you. Where possible, move livestock to higher
ground.
32. If advised by authorities to evacuate, do so immediately. Move to a safe area before access is cut off by
floodwater. Follow recommended evacuation routes. Shortcuts or alternative, non-recommended routes may
be blocked or damaged by floodwater.
33. Leave early enough to avoid being marooned by flooded roads. Delaying too long may allow all escape
routes to become blocked.
34. Check with your local authorities if you are allowed to take your pets to evacuation centres if you are
evacuated.
35. Climb to high ground and stay there.
36. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through swift water. Many flood fatalities are caused by people
attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. If it is moving swiftly, even water 15
centimeters deep can sweep you off your feet.
37. If you come to a flooded area, turn around and go another way.
38. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground. Many deaths have resulted from
attempts to move stalled vehicles.
39. Avoid already flooded areas, and areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not attempt to cross stream or
river fords, flowing streams or water covered roads. The majority of all flood fatalities are vehicle related. As
little as 30cm of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. The depth of water is not always
obvious. The road may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped. Also,
standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. Rapidly rising water
may stall the engine, engulf the vehicle and its occupants, and sweep them away. Look out for flooding at
highway dips, bridges, and low areas. 0.6 metres of water will carry away most vehicles, including SUVs,
utility vehicles and light trucks.
40. Stay away from underpasses. Underpasses can fill rapidly with water, while the adjacent roadway
remains clear. Driving into an underpass can quickly put you in 1.5 to 1.8 metres of water.
41. Flood dangers do not end when the water begins to recede. Continue to listen to radio or television
stations and don’t return home until authorities indicate it is safe to do so. There may be flood-related
hazards within your community, which you could hear about from local broadcasts.
42. Get medical care at the nearest hospital or clinic, if necessary. Contaminated floodwater can cause
infection. Severe injuries will require medical attention.
43. Help people who require special assistance - infants, elderly people, those without transportation,
families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people
who care for them.
44. Stay away from damaged areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations,
and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated water, crumbled roads,
landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
45. Throw away food and drinking water that has come in contact with floodwater, including canned goods. It
is impossible to know if containers were damaged and the seals compromised. Food contaminated by
floodwater can cause severe infections.
46. Discard wooden spoons, plastic utensils, and baby bottle teats and dummies if they have been covered
by floodwater. There is no way to safely clean them.
47. Disinfect metal pans and utensils by boiling them in clean or properly treated water.
48. Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated. If water is of
questionable purity, boil the water or add unscented bleach to it. Wells inundated by floodwater should be
pumped out and the water tested for purity before drinking. If in doubt, call your local public health authority.
Ill health effects often occur when people drink water contaminated with bacteria and germs.
49. Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, effluent and leaching systems as soon as possible.
Damaged sewage and effluent systems are health hazards.
50. You can clean and disinfect your property using ordinary household products.
51. A garden hose is useful for washing down. Do not use high-pressure hoses as they blast contaminated
matter into the air.
52. If you are drying your property naturally, keep doors and windows open as much as possible. If using
dehumidifiers, close external doors and windows.
53. Flood water can make the air in your home unhealthy. This is because when things get wet for more
than 2 days they usually get mouldy. There may also be germs and bugs in your home after a flood. Hence,
it is important to clean and dry your house and everything in it.
54. Mould may be more likely to make some people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems sick.
So talk to your doctor or another medical professional if you have questions about cleaning or working in a
home that has been flooded.
55. If there is a large amount of mould, you may want to hire professional help to clean up the mould.
56. Fix any leaking pipes and other water problems and then dry things, or the mould will grow again.
57. When cleaning protect yourself by wearing a certified respirator, goggles, gloves, long pants, longsleeved shirt, and boots or work shoes.
58. Throw away anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned.
59. If you use a generator because of a power outage, use it OUTSIDE and far away from buildings. Do not
use portable generators inside your house or garage. Do not put portable generators on balconies or near
doors, vents, or windows. Do not use portable generators near where you or your children are sleeping as
generators emit poisonous gases.
60. Prevent livestock or other animals from accessing pooled water where there is a risk of contamination
from effluent or chemicals.
61. Stay out of any building if floodwater remains around the building. Floodwater often undermines
foundations, causing sinking. Floors can crack or break and buildings can collapse.
62. Avoid entering any building (home, business, or other) before local officials have said it is safe to do so.
Buildings may have hidden damage that makes them unsafe. Gas leaks or damage to electric lines or water
lines can create additional problems.
63. Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities
turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.
64. If entering buildings, use extreme caution.
65. Wear sturdy shoes and use a battery-powered torch when examining buildings.
66. Examine walls, floors, doors, and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing.
67. Watch for loose plaster, wall claddings and ceilings that could fall.
68. Look for fire hazards and inspect utilities in a damaged house
69. Check for gas leaks - if you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave
the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a
neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
70. Look for electrical system damage - if you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot
insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to
the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician for advice.
71. Check for sewage and water pipe damage – if you suspect sewage pipes are damaged avoid using the
toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid the water from
the tap.
72. Watch out for flammable or explosive materials that may be transported onto your property by
floodwaters.
73. Avoid smoking inside buildings. Smoking in confined areas can cause fires.
74. Look Before You Step: after a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris including broken
bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.
75. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. The most common injury following a disaster is
cut feet.
76. Use a battery-powered torch when examining buildings. DO NOT USE CANDLES!
77. Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a
building uninhabitable.
78. Pump out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural
damage. If the water is pumped out completely in a short period of time, pressure from water-saturated soil
on the outside could cause basement walls to collapse.
79. Only pump out water when flood levels outside your property start to be lower than inside. This reduces
the risk of structural damage.
80. Shovel mud away evenly from both sides of a wall. This stops pressure building up on one side.
If your property sustains any damage:
81. Ring your insurer as soon as possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance
assessor to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered
by your policy.
82. Always make your own record of flood damage
83. Use a permanent ink pen to mark on the wall the maximum height of the flood water. Do this in every
room affected by flooding.
84. Photograph or video record your damaged property.
85. List the damage to your property and belongings.
86. If your insurance policy covers you for loss of perishable goods, make a list of all the foods you throw
away. Include any food touched by flood water and anything in your fridge or freezer ruined by loss of
power.
Ask the insurance company:
87. How long it will be before the assessor visits.
88. If you are to clean your property or if they will get a company to do it for you.
89. If they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast,
a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
90. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
91. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
92. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
93. Keep receipts.
94. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
95. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
96. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
97. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
Following a flood, there are a whole range of measures that can be taken to reduce the impact of the next
flood should it happen and now is the time to think about these. Before you start making changes get advice
from a specialist. Making flood resistant alterations to your home may cost more than just restoring it to its
previous state, but it is money well spent – especially if your property is at high risk of flooding again. In
future floods these measures can speed up the drying out time and get you back home quicker. They will
also reduce the cost of future repairs.
98. Lay ceramic tiles on your ground floor and use rugs instead 98. of fitted carpets. Rugs can be moved
and will suffer less damage in a flood than a fitted carpet.
99. Replace chipboard kitchen and bathroom units with plastic or solid wood. Or raise cupboards up on stilts
so that water can flow beneath them.
100. Fit water resistant door and window frames.
101. Install non-return valves in drainage pipes to prevent sewage backing up into the house.
102. Replace usual plaster with a more water resistant version such as lime plaster or cement render.
103. Always use waterproof sealant on external walls and water resistant paint on internal walls.
104. You can also buy a number of ready-made flood defences to minimise damage, e.g. mobile flood
barriers.
105. Raise the height of electrical sockets to at least 1.5 metres above ground floor level.
106. Position any main parts of a heating or ventilation system upstairs or raised well above the ground
floor.
107. Take good care of yourself: recovering from a flood is a big job. It is tough on both the body and the
spirit. The effects a disaster has on you and your family may last a long time. Learn how to recognize and
care for anxiety, stress, and fatigue.
108. Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
. . Do a series on the dangers of floods and flash floods.
. . Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about land use management and building codes in
floodplains.
. . Highlight the importance of staying informed about local weather conditions.
. . Run public service ads about how to protect lives and property in a flood.
109. Help the reporters to localise the information by providing them with the local emergency telephone
numbers and hospitals. Also provide the business telephone numbers for the local emergency management
office.
110. Work with officials of the local fire, police, and emergency medical services; utilities; hospitals; and civil
defence emergency management office to prepare and disseminate guidelines for people with mobility
impairments about what to do if they have to evacuate.
111. Periodically inform your community of local public warning systems. Explain the different warning
stages.
112. Help hospitals and other operations that are critically affected by power failures to obtain auxiliary
power supplies.
113. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office for information on local flood warning
systems. Advanced warning provided by early detection is critical to saving lives. Automatic flood detection
systems are available commercially for flood-prone communities.
114. Publish emergency evacuation routes for areas prone to flooding.
Fiction and fact
Fiction: A 100-year flood occurs only once every 100 years.
Facts: The 100-year flood is a statistical average; the same area could experience, for example, two 100year floods in the same year. There is a 1% chance that a 100-year flood will occur in any given year.
Fiction: Flash floods occur only along flowing streams.
Facts: Flash floods can occur in areas where no streams are present.
Fiction: Flash floods occur mainly in the late afternoon and evening.
Facts: Flash floods occur at any time.
Fiction: Larger vehicles, such as SUVs and utes, are safe to drive through floodwater.
Facts: 0.6 metres of rushing water can carry away most vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks.
Fiction: Water stored in porcelain bathtubs and sinks is a good source of drinking water if flooding interrupts
or contaminates the public water supply.
Facts: Over time, lead can leach from the porcelain glaze in bathtubs and sinks into water stored in them.
Water stored in porcelain bathtubs and sinks should never be used for drinking or for bathing young
children. You can use water stored in bathtubs and sinks for tasks such as flushing the toilet or washing the
floor or clothing.
Useful links
Flood hazards
• www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/NaturalHazardsAndDisasters/Floods/en
Flood preparedness
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.health.state.ny.us/environmental/emergency/flood/
• www.fema.gov/areyouready/flood.shtm
• www.pep.bc.ca/floods/preparedness.html
• www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674/
• www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_240_,00.html
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
Flood insurance
• www.ami.co.nz/products/contents/
• www.state.co.nz/
• www.tower.co.nz/Web_Home.asp
• www.vero.co.nz/
• www.icnz.org.nz/
Flood risk management
• www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/land/natural-hazard-mgmt/flood-protection.html
• www.niwa.co.nz/news-and-publications/publications/all/wa/15-3/flood
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/natural/hazards
Regional flood protection
• www.ecan.govt.nz/Resource+Consents/WaimakFloodProtection/
• www.hbrc.govt.nz/Water/FloodProtection/tabid/119/Default.aspx
• www.gw.govt.nz/section1208.cfm
• www.horizons.govt.nz/default.aspx?pageid=45
Maps and weather
• www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=weatherwarnings
Flood warning/alert schemes:
• www.hbrc.govt.nz/Water/FloodProtection/tabid/119/Default.aspx
• www.gw.govt.nz/story2421.cfm?
• www.wcrc.govt.nz/river_level_rainfall/about/flood_warning.htm
• www.horizons.govt.nz/default.aspx?pageid=18
• www.niwa.co.nz/news-and-publications/publications/all/wa/15-3/forecast
Useful numbers
Your important emergency plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your Emergency
Items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Floods general information
Heat
. . Learn about your community’s risks from a heat wave.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p8)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Reduce heat stress indoors and outdoors.
. . Learn to recognise the symptoms.
. . Act in time.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household
Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a
Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take heat wave-specific
precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a heat wave occurs.
Awareness messages
Severe heat waves have caused catastrophic crop failures, thousands of deaths from hyperthermia, and
widespread power outages due to increased use of air conditioning. For outdoor activities, heat waves
reduce workability dramatically. In addition to physical stress, excessive heat causes psychological stress, to
a degree which affects employee performance. A lack of public recognition of the danger that high
temperatures pose adds to the lethality of heat waves. Heat wave warnings, if any, often do not carry the
weight of other natural disaster alerts.
Heat waves have, for instance, accounted for more deaths in Australia than any other natural hazard, yet
they remain one of the least-studied and most underrated hazards (www.ema.gov.au). A record heat wave
scorched Europe in August 2003, claiming an estimated 35,000 lives. In France alone, 14,802 people died
from the searing temperatures – more than 19 times the death toll from the SARS epidemic worldwide.
In Auckland and Christchurch, an average of 14 heat-related deaths occur per year in people aged over 65,
but this may rise due to climate change to approximately 28, 51 and 88 deaths for warmings of 1, 2 and 3
degrees Celsius, respectively.
Except during major heat waves, heat-related deaths often go unreported because they are often assumed
to be the result of an existing ailment, and few governments systematically keep records of them.
Heat waves take the greatest human toll in cities. Urban centres, where the area of heat-absorbing dark
roofs and pavements exceeds the area covered by cooling vegetation, are like “heat islands” and can be as
much as 5 degrees Celsius warmer than the surrounding countryside. While people in rural areas generally
receive some relief from the heat when temperatures fall at night, urban areas stay warmer over all hours of
the day and night. Air pollution, which usually is worse in cities than in the rural areas, can also exacerbate
the health-damaging effects of high temperatures by further stressing the body’s respiratory and circulatory
systems.
There is no universal definition of a heat wave; the term is relative to the usual weather in the area.
Commonly, a heat wave is described as a prolonged period of excessive heat. The definition recommended
by the World Meteorological Organization is when the daily maximum temperature exceeds the average
maximum temperature by 5 degrees Celsius on more than five consecutive days. Heat waves are rare
events that vary in character and impact. They could become more frequent, intense and longer with climate
change and resulting in more heatrelated deaths.
Heat waves can have severe impacts on human health, and can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion,
heatstroke, sunburn and heat rash. Heat can kill by pushing the human body beyond its limits. Under normal
conditions, the body’s internal thermostat produces perspiration that evaporates and cools the body.
However, in excessive heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to
maintain a normal temperature. Several studies have shown that the elderly and less fit people are
particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death. Low fitness levels lead to a low cardiovascular
reserve and thus to low heat tolerance. Young children and those who are sick or overweight are also more
likely to become victims of excessive heat. In addition, men sweat more than women do, and therefore
become more quickly dehydrated and more susceptible to heat illness.
Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs, caused by heavy
exertion in high heat. Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This
sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles causes painful cramps.
Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. Heat cramps are often the first sign that the body
is having trouble with the heat.
If you have heart problems or are on a low sodium diet, get medical attention for heat cramps. If medical
attention is not necessary, take these steps:
• Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place.
• Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
• Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may
lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat.
Exhaustion can occur when someone strenuously exercises or works in high heat and humidity. In someone
suffering from heat exhaustion, blood flow to the skin increases while blood flow to vital organs decreases,
resulting in a mild form of shock. If not treated, body temperature will continue to rise and the person may
suffer heatstroke. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are the elderly, people with high blood pressure,
and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Warning signs of heat exhaustion include:
• heavy sweating
• paleness
• muscle cramps
• tiredness
• weakness
• dizziness
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• fainting.
The skin may be cool and moist. The victim’s pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and
shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated it may progress to heatstroke. Seek medical attention immediately if:
• symptoms are severe, or
• the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure.
Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1
hour.
Cooling measures that may be effective include:
• cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your doctor
• rest
• cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
• an air-conditioned environment
• lightweight clothing.
Heatstroke (also known as sunstroke) is a life-threatening condition when the body becomes unable to
control its temperature. The body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is
unable to cool down. The body temperature of someone suffering from heatstroke can rise so high that brain
damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
Warning signs of heatstroke vary but may include:
• an extremely high body temperature (above 39.4 degrees Celsius, orally)
• red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• rapid, strong pulse
• throbbing headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• confusion
• unconsciousness.
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life threatening emergency. Have someone call for
immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim:
• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool
water; place in a cool shower; spray with cool water from a garden hose; sponge with cool water; or if the
humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 38.5 degrees
Celsius.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
• Sometimes a victim’s muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heatstroke. If this happens,
keep the victim from injuring themself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If
there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side.
Sunburn should be avoided because it is damaging to the skin. Although the discomfort is usually minor and
healing often occurs in about a week, a more severe sunburn may require medical attention. Symptoms of
sunburn are well known: skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure.
Consult a doctor if the sunburn affects an infant under 1 year of age or if these symptoms are present:
• fever
• fluid-filled blisters
• severe pain
and avoid repeated sun exposure.
• Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in cool water.
• Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter, or ointment.
• Do not break blisters.
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any
age but is most common in young children. Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. It is
more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry.
Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort, but avoid using ointments or creams - they keep the skin
warm and moist and may make the condition worse. Treating heat rash is simple and usually does not
require medical assistance. Other heat-related problems can be much more severe.
Animals are also susceptible to heatstroke, or hyperthermia, which needs to be treated as an emergency, as
it is with people. Signs in animals include excessive panting; increased body temperature, heart rate, or
respiratory rate; unusual salivation; collapse, stupor, seizures, or coma; redder than normal mucous
membrane (gums, for example); or capillary refill that is too fast. Be aware also of signs of dehydration,
which also needs to be treated urgently.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Reduce heat stress indoors and outdoors.
. . Learn to recognise the symptoms.
. . Act in time.
Preventing the effects of heat requires individual measures, emergency planning and reduction of heat
stress in the indoor and outdoor environments.
The best ways to be protected from the ill effects of excessive heat are to dress appropriately, stay indoors,
refrain from strenuous work or exercise during the hottest part of the day, and stay hydrated. Spending at
least two hours a day in air conditioning significantly decreases a person’s risk of heat-related illnesses.
The duration of excessive heat plays an important role in how people are affected by a heat wave. Studies
have shown a significant rise in heat-related illnesses when excessive heat lasts more than two days.
Pets, horses, and farm livestock are also susceptible to difficulties from excessive heat. Animals do not
perspire and rely on panting, wetting down, shade, cool earth, and drinking water for cooling. Animals
cannot explain their needs, so it is up to people to take extra care during heat waves to ensure their animals’
needs are met.
If you are at risk from excessive heat, you should:
1. Discuss with members of your household the precautions they should take to stay safe in excessive heat.
Everyone should know what to do in the places where they spend time. Some places may not be air
conditioned or safe during a heat wave, so plan alternatives.
2. Drink more fluids (non-alcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
During heavy exercise or labour in a hot environment, drink 2-4 glasses of cool fluids each hour. Warning: if
your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask your doctor how
much you should drink while the weather is hot.
3. Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar – these actually cause you to
lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
4. Replace salt and minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are
necessary for your body and must be replaced. The easiest and safest way to replace salt and minerals is
through your diet. Drink fruit juice or a sports beverage during exercise or any work in the heat. Do not take
salt tablets unless directed by your doctor. If you are on a low-salt diet, ask your doctor before changing
what you eat or drink - especially before drinking a sports beverage.
5. Stay cool indoors. The most efficient way to beat the heat is to stay in an airconditioned area. If you do
not have an air conditioner or evaporative cooling unit, consider a visit to a shopping mall or public library for
a few hours.
6. Discuss with a doctor any concerns about members of the household who are taking medications or have
medical conditions that may cause poor blood circulation or reduced ability to tolerate heat. A doctor can
advise you about temporary changes to medication or other activities that can relieve the effects of heat.
7. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is higher than 35 degrees Celsius, fans will
not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a
much better way to cool off. Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose lightweight,
light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing. In the hot sun, a widebrimmed hat will provide shade and keep the head
cool.
8. Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. The sun will also heat the inner
core of your body, resulting in dehydration. Use a sunscreen lotion with a high sun-protection factor (SPF)
rating.
9. Always apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply according to package directions.
10. Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cold or even a cool shower taken immediately after coming
indoors from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly and very young people.
11. Never leave anyone alone in closed vehicles. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle in the sun can reach
more than 60 degrees Celsius within minutes. Exposure to such high temperatures can kill in minutes. Even
on days that feel pleasantly warm outside, temperatures in a closed vehicle can rise high enough to kill
children and pets.
12. Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than
others. Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or
heatstroke. Those at greatest risk of heat-related illness include:
. . Older persons (aged 65 or older);
. . Infants (age under 1);
. . People who are overweight;
. . The homeless;
. . The poor;
. . People who are socially isolated;
. . People with mobility restrictions or mental impairments;
. . People taking certain medications (e.g., for high blood pressure, depression, insomnia);
. . People engaged in vigorous outdoor exercise or work or those under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
13. Pace yourself. If you are unaccustomed to working in a hot environment, start slowly. If you must work
faster, pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for
breath, STOP all activity, get into a cool area, or at least in the shade, and rest, especially if you become
lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
14. Schedule outdoor activities carefully. If you must be out in the heat, try to plan your activities so that you
are outdoors either before noon or in the evening. While outdoors, rest frequently in a shady area. Resting
periodically will give your body’s thermostat a chance to recover.
15. Use a buddy system. When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have
someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose
consciousness.
16. Eat small meals and eat more often. Large, heavy meals are more difficult to digest and cause your body
to increase internal heat to aid digestion, worsening overall conditions. Avoid foods that are high in protein,
such as meats and nuts, which increase metabolic heat.
17. If you are aged 65 years or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat
wave. If you know anyone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
18. Adjust to the environment. Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer
heat wave, will be stressful to your body. You will have a greater tolerance for the heat if you limit your
physical activity until you become accustomed to the heat. If travelling to a hotter climate, allow several days
to become acclimated before attempting any vigorous exercise, and work up to it gradually.
19. Conserve electricity not needed to keep you cool. During periods of excessive heat, people tend to use a
lot more power for air conditioning. Conserve electricity not used to keep you cool so power can remain
available and reduce the chance of a community-wide outage.
20. Use common sense.
21. Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering stress from the heat. Make sure
they are indoors or in the shade. Provide plenty of water for drinking as well as for cooling the animals. If you
see signs of heat stress, call your veterinarian. Very young and older animals, as well as animals with short
snouts, are more susceptible to problems with heat.
22. Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
23. Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each
hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: if you are on a lowsalt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in point 22 above.
24. Try to rest often in shady areas.
25. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and by putting on
sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. The most effective products are labelled “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB
protection”.
To make your home safer during a heat wave, you should:
26. Make sure your home is properly insulated. This will help you to conserve electricity and reduce your
home’s power demands for air conditioning. Put weather stripping around doors and windows to keep cool
air inside.
27. Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation. Insulation around ducts prevents cool air from leaking
and keeps it directed through the vents.
28. Protect windows from the sun. Hang shades, draperies, awnings, or louvers on windows receiving
morning or afternoon sun. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat entering the house by as much
as 80 percent.
29. Use an attic fan. If you have a fan installed to vent warm air out of your attic, use it to help keep your
home cool.
Note: For impact on human health and immediate treatment, see page 4.
30. Ensure they have enough space and shade. Consider temporary shade.
31. When planning to plant vegetation, consider where livestock are likely to gather for long periods of time
and think about planting trees for shade.
32. Increase airflow, especially if animals are held within yards, sheds, kennels, etc.
33. If planning a dairy shed or yards consider not only about shade but also air circulation and sprinkler
systems for cooling. Ensure that livestock have enough space. This will reduce body heat and increase air
circulation.
34. Avoid moving or exercising animals in peak daytime temperatures.
35. Adjust feed schedule in ruminant animals to evenings so that digestion occurs in cooler hours.
36. Ensure animals have enough water – water intake can double in high temperatures and humidity.
37. Provide wet-down facilities. Use a sprinkler or sprayer but do not wet piglets or sheep.
38. If an animal is suffering from heat stroke, cool it as quickly as possible (See also page 4). Use a hose,
sprinkler or fan.
39. If dairy farming, provide cows with more space in the yards whilst waiting to be milked and use a
sprinkler system.
Heat waves are often accompanied by power failures, and failures to the water supply. Heat waves should
be included in emergency planning at local and national levels. It is essential to understand community
vulnerabilities and the level of support that is currently provided.
Note that currently in New Zealand MetService does not provide a heat warning service.
Heat general information
40. Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information about heat waves.
Included contact information for local emergency services and the nearest hospitals.
41. Feature interviews with local doctors about the dangers of sunburn, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and
other conditions caused by excessive heat.
42. Arrange for special programs to provide air conditioners to vulnerable people in their homes.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Beer and other alcoholic beverages satisfy thirst in excessive heat.
Fact: Although beer and alcoholic beverages appear to satisfy thirst, they actually cause further body
dehydration. You should limit your intake of alcoholic beverages in excessive heat. Drink plenty of water.
Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. (People who have
epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention
should consult a doctor before increasing their consumption of fluids.)
Fiction: It’s always good to exercise, no matter how hot it is.
Fact: Many heat emergencies are experienced by people exercising or working during the hottest parts of
the day. Reduce, eliminate, or reschedule strenuous activities. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during
the coolest part of the day which is usually in the morning between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
Fiction: Heatstroke (sunstroke) is not life-threatening.
Fact: Heatstroke or sunstroke is life threatening. If someone has heatstroke, his or her temperature control
system, which produces sweat to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that
brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
Fiction: You will get sunburned only on really hot days.
Fact: Sunburn (and tanning) results from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is distinct from the
light and heat emitted by the sun. You cannot see or feel UV rays. They can, however, be quite damaging.
UV exposure has been linked to skin cancer and other skin disorders, cataracts and other eye damage, and
immune-system suppression. The ozone layer absorbs most of the sun’s harmful UV rays, but this layer has
thinned in recent years as a result of the emission of ozone-depleting chemicals. This thinning can lead to a
greater chance of overexposure to UV radiation.
Useful links
• www.euro.who.int/document/Gch/HEAT-WAVES%20RC3.pdf
• www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/heat.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave
• www.isse.ucar.edu/heat/
• www.floridadisaster.org/bpr/EMTOOLS/Severe/heatwave.htm
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Landslides
. . Learn if landslides, including debris flows, could occur in your area by contacting your local council.
. . Get information on specific locations that are vulnerable to landslides.
. . Request a professional referral for a detailed landslide-vulnerability analysis of your property, and take
corrective measures if necessary.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp7–10)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Prepare members of your household.
. . Consult an expert and mitigate and/or reduce potential problems.
. . Be alert to changes and patterns in the land.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household at risk
from landslides should take specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a landslide occurs.
. . Monitor local news.
. . Consider evacuating.
. . Look and listen for signs of landslides.
. . Get out.
. . Inform your neighbours.
. . Contact local officials.
. . Get out of the landslide’s path.
. . Stay away from the slide area.
. . Help others.
. . Report hazards.
Awareness messages
Landslides are a serious geological hazard throughout much of New Zealand. Few areas are immune to
landslide hazards. Landslides are a normal and natural erosion process, but they can be dangerous.
Landslides which have caused fatalities in New Zealand in the past include the 1846 Waihi landslide, which
claimed 60 lives. In 1923, a rail crash occurred in the King Country when the Auckland to Wellington express
train ran into a huge slip covering the rails at Ongarue, near Taumarunui. Seventeen people were killed and
30 seriously injured. While not resulting in deaths, landslides such as the 1979 Abbotsford event and the
2005 Matata debris flow highlight the destructiveness of landslides.
The term “landslide” describes many types of downhill movements of rock, soil, and vegetation under the
influence of gravity. Some landslides move so rapidly that they destroy property and take lives suddenly and
unexpectedly, whereas others move slowly and gradually, causing damage to property and infrastructure,
but rarely killing people. However, potential can exist for slow landslides to become fast ones, e.g. the 1979
Abbotsford landslide. Landslides come in many sizes, from one or two small falling rocks to immense
landslides many cubic kilometres in volume. Most deaths and damage come from landslides with
displacements (run-out) over a considerable distance, such as rapid debris flows (landslides that are flowlike in character). Debris flows are among the most dangerous and damaging of all landslide phenomena
and their potential for destruction often cannot practically be reduced.
Gravity is the driving force of landslides, but they can be triggered by any of several factors alone or in
combination. Triggering factors include heavy rain, periods of prolonged rainfall (typically associated with
wet seasons), freezing and thawing, snowmelt, erosion, poor construction and excavation practices,
earthquake shaking, and volcanic eruptions. However, some landslides have no triggers. When the
triggering factors are regional in extent, many landslides can be triggered at once, e.g. the Northland 2007
rainstorms which affected an area of approximately 10km2 triggering over 10,000 landslides.
Few areas of New Zealand are completely free of landslide hazards. In general, landslides are most likely to
occur on slopes in weak materials. An indicator of unstable slopes is the presence of existing landslide
scars. As landslides typically form in similar topographic settings to older ones there may be new landslides
occurring in past landslide locations, or adjacent to where landslides have previously fallen, or they can be
reactivations of past landslides. There may be historical records of past landslides or landslide damage, or
the past landslides may have been prehistoric. The evidence of past landslides sometimes can be very
subtle, but generally even subtle evidence can be recognised by appropriately trained specialists
(engineering geologists, engineering geomorphologists and geotechnical engineers). Where there is
evidence that dangerous landslides can reoccur in the future, sites of past landslides are best avoided.
Landslides are most commonly associated with periods of heavy rain, and greatly worsen the effects of
flooding. They also are associated with large earthquakes, and can greatly worsen the effects of them too.
For instance, the Murchison earthquake of 1929 killed 17 people – 16 as a result of landslides it generated.
Current, or recently completed excavations also can cause dangerous landslides, and especially so during
rain or earthquakes.
Although most landslides are associated with heavy rain, earthquakes, or excavations, some can be delayed
from their triggering event, falling minutes, hours, days, or weeks after the initial trigger. This is because
some landslides go through an interval of slowly accelerating creep that at first may be imperceptible.
Most landslides occur without public warning. Public warning generally can be given only after landslides
have started to occur. Anybody seeing a landslide, or suspecting that a landslide might occur, must decide
their own course of action. For their own safety, they must decide whether to remain in their current position
or to evacuate. The most recognisable sign of danger is very heavy rain. There is prospect for regional
forecast warning of rainfall-triggered landslides that might be issued along with heavy-rain warnings, but this
is not yet in place.
Landslides have features that clearly identify them. Recognition of these features makes it possible to
identify landslides from aerial and ground inspections. Important landslide features, their significance, and
some simple ways to recognise both active and inactive landslides, and erosion features are summarised in
Figure 1 and Table 1.
Landslide terms Definition
Active landslides (and recently active or dormant landslides)
Landslide scar Includes the source area and debris trail.
Source area
The area at the head of the landslide (zone of depletion) where the landslide mass (debris)
is derived from.
Landslide debris
Material (rock, soil, vegetation) displaced from the source area and transported
down-slope by gravity.
Main scarp
The main scarp is the steep slope in undisturbed ground at the head of the slide (head
scarp) – the visible part of the failure surface. Minor (secondary) scarps may be present within the displaced
material of the landslide mass
Tension cracks Often located upslope of the landslide main scarp and tend to be aligned in an arc, and can
be continuous or discontinuous, but are essentially linear. These indicate horizontal (pull-apart) movement,
but may also show vertical and shear movement.
Hummocky ground
Ground surface irregular, often formed of low hummocks, resulting from uneven
deformations within the displaced material – a feature of many landslides (active and inactive).
Ponds (un-drained)
Ponds formed in depressions, which are often un-drained, are present within the
displaced material of many landslides, especially at the slide head; they may be filled by seepage from
springs, or by rainfall.
Springs, seepages
ponds.
Give rise to areas of swampy or boggy ground; seepage water may accumulate in
Trees with curved trunks or leaning backwards Wind, steep topography and ground movement can all give
rise to non-vertical tree trunks. Care is required in their interpretation as additional supporting evidence of
landslide movement is required.
Disruption of natural drainage May be seen directly or inferred from seepages. Also, where landslide
debris may have totally/partially blocked a drainage line, or where the drainage line has been forced to alter
its course.
Cracking to structures and paved surfaces and dislocation of drainage structures These can also be related
to local settlement of fill and foundations, so additional supporting evidence is required, e.g. presence of a
source areas/landslide debris, tension cracks, trees leaning backwards.
Relict landslides (inactive old landslides with little potential for reactivation)
Relict landslides typically have eroded, rounded and subdued features, with no sharp features or bare
scarps visible. The main scarp is generally eroded and well vegetated. The displaced landslide mass often
has ponds and hummocky and irregular ground. Generally, no cracks or indications of movement are visible.
Trees and established vegetation show no evidence of tilting, non-vertical trunks, or disturbance.
The most obvious sign of landslide danger is the occurrence of a landslide, no matter how small. When
small, steep streams start to run dirty there is a landslide danger. Bulging, cracked slopes, tilting trees,
cracks in pavements and buildings can all be warning signs that a landslide is moving. After landslides have
started to occur, the danger remains very high as long as the situation that led to the landslides continues.
For example, if a landslide occurs during rain, the danger of further landslides remains high as long as the
rain continues. The danger diminishes, but does not vanish when the rain ceases. At the site of a landslide,
only a technical expert is likely to have the expertise to evaluate whether the danger has passed.
When earthquakes are large enough to trigger landslides, there remains a danger that further landslides
may be triggered by strong earthquake aftershocks, which may occur up to months after the initial
earthquake. Slopes can be weakened by earthquake ground shaking and become more susceptible to
landslides in further shaking, and in rain.
Landslides generally happen where they have occurred in the past, and in identifiable hazard locations.
Areas that are prone to landslides include existing old landslides, steep slopes, drainage channels on steep
slopes, stream/river banks and coastal cliffs.
Areas that are typically considered safe from landslides include areas that have not moved in the past,
relatively flat areas away from sudden changes in slope, and areas at the top of or along ridges, but set back
from the edge of slopes.
People can reduce their personal risk by learning about potential local landslide hazards and taking steps to
reduce those hazards. Landslides are usually isolated events occurring without public warning. If you live in
a landslide-prone area, be alert, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt. If you see signs of
a landslide or suspect a landslide may occur, you must make the decision to evacuate yourself.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Prepare members of your household.
. . Consult an expert and mitigate and/or reduce potential problems.
. . Be alert to changes and patterns in the land.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household at risk
from landslides should take specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a landslide occurs.
If you are at risk from landslides, you should:
1. Develop an evacuation plan. If your home could be damaged in a landslide, you should know where to go
if you have to leave. Making plans at the last minute can be upsetting, create confusion, and waste precious
time. Contact local authorities to learn about the emergency response and evacuation plans for your area
and develop your own emergency plans for your family and business.
2. Familiarise yourself with the land around you. Knowing the land can help you assess your risk.
3. Regularly inspect your property – watch the patterns of storm water drainage on slopes near your home
and especially the places where runoff water converges, increasing flow over soil-covered slopes. Watch the
hillsides around your home for any signs of land movement, such as small landslides or debris flows, or
progressively tilting trees. Noticing small changes could alert you to an increased threat of a landslide.
4. Discuss landslides and debris flows with members of your household – everyone should know what to do
to stay safe if one occurs.
5. Keep the storm water system working effectively by keeping gutters, downpipes and drains free of dirt,
leaves and other blockages. Trim back or remove vegetation blocking drains and gutters.
6. Check retaining wall drainage for blockages and water build-up behind the wall.
7. If you are planning on building and believe the site may be affected by landslide, seek expert advice.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Monitor local news.
. . Consider evacuating.
. . Look and listen for signs of landslides.
During a severe storm, if you are in an area susceptible to landslides, you should:
8. Stay alert and awake. Many landslide fatalities occur when people are asleep.
9. Listen to radio stations for heavy rainfall warnings or check the MetService website
(www.metservice.co.nz). Short bursts of heavy rain may be particularly dangerous, especially after longer
periods of wet weather.
10. Watch for signs of slope movement, such as small slips, rock falls, subsidence or bulges at the bottom of
slopes; cracks in the ground, plaster, brick work, tiles, foundations, retaining walls, driveways and other hard
surfaces; tilting trees, walls or fences; building movement, such as doors or windows that stick or jam, and
outside fixtures such as steps that are pulling away from buildings.
11. Consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Remember that driving during a severe storm can be hazardous. If
you remain at home, move to a second storey if possible. Staying out of the path of a landslide or debris flow
can save your life.
12. Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders
knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede a large landslide. Moving debris
can flow quickly and sometimes without warning.
13. If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and for a
change from clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide activity upstream, so be prepared
to move quickly. Act quickly. Save yourself, not your belongings.
14. Be especially alert when driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to
landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of a possible
debris flow.
15. Bring your pets indoors and maintain direct control of them. Should you need to evacuate take your pets
with you – if it is not safe for you, it is not safe for them.
16. Ensure livestock are in safe paddocks if there is heavy rain. Consider precautionary evacuation of
livestock if you believe there is a risk of landslide.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Get out.
. . Inform your neighbours.
. . Contact local officials.
If you learn or suspect that a landslide is occurring or is about to occur in your area:
17. Evacuate immediately. Getting out of the path of a landslide or debris flow path is your best protection.
Take your pets with you and/or move livestock to safe paddocks if you can do so without endangering
yourself.
18. Inform neighbours. Your neighbours may not be aware of the potential hazard. Advising them of a threat
may save their lives. Help neighbours who need assistance to evacuate.
19. Contact your local council. Local officials are the people best able to assess the potential danger.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Get out of the landslide’s path.
If a landslide occurs, you should:
20. Get out of the way as quickly as you can. Moving away from the path of the landslide or debris flow to a
safe area will reduce your risk.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Stay away from the slide area.
. . Help others.
. . Report hazards.
If a landslide occurs, you should:
21. Stay away from the slide area. Further landslides may occur.
22. Check for injured and trapped persons and animals near the slide, without entering the slide area. Direct
rescuers to their locations.
23. Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation,
families who may need additional help, people with disabilities and the people who care for them.
24. Listen to local radio stations for the latest emergency information.
25. Landslides can occur progressively, often some time (hours/days) after a triggering event (e.g. rainstorm
or earthquake). Be aware of any changes to your property/ground following a landslide or major
rainstorm/earthquake, noting any cracks or ground bulging.
26. Watch for flooding, which may occur after a landslide or debris flow. Floods sometimes follow landslides
and debris flows.
27. Look for and report broken utility lines (power, telephone) to appropriate authorities. Reporting potential
hazards will get the utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.
28. Check your home’s foundation, chimney, and surrounding land for damage.
29. Re-plant damaged ground as soon as possible because erosion caused by the loss of ground cover can
lead to flash flooding.
30. If your property has been damaged contact EQC and your insurance company.
If your property sustains any damage:
31. Be aware that in general, landslide insurance is not available. However, the Earthquake Commission
may pay out on claims lodged by residential property owners for damage caused by landslides to residential
properties and their contents, outbuildings, land within eight metres of buildings and outbuildings, accessway
land and a range of other structures and utilities. Full details and restrictions are available at
www.eqc.govt.nz.
32. Residential property damage caused by landslide is covered by Earthquake Commission (EQC)
insurance providing you already have house and/or contents insurance. If your property has been damaged,
lodge a claim by calling 0800 326 243 or visit www.eqc.govt.nz.
33. If the value of damage to your property exceeds the limit of EQC cover, ring your insurer as soon as
possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance assessor to look at your
property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered by your policy.
34. Photograph or video record your damaged property.
35. List the damage to your property and belongings.
36. If your insurance policy covers you for loss of perishable goods, make a list of all the foods you throw
away. Include anything in your fridge or freezer ruined by loss of power.
Ask the insurance company:
37. How long it will be before the assessor visits.
38. If they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast,
a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
39. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
40. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
41. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
42. Keep receipts.
43. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
44. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
45. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
46. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
General information
If your area is prone to landslides, ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
47. Do a series on the dangers of landslides and debris flows.
48. Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about land use management, zoning regulations, and
building codes for landslide safety.
49. Highlight the importance of staying alert to land and rainfall conditions.
50. Run public service ads about how to protect lives and property in a landslide.
51. Report on what local councils are doing to reduce the possibility of landslides.
Support your local council in efforts to develop and enforce land use and building ordinances that regulate
construction in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows. Buildings should be located away from
steep slopes, streams and rivers, intermittent-stream channels, and the mouths of mountain stream
channels.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Landslides are caused by the earth collapsing into a hole or a void.
Fact: Landslides exhibit vertical and horizontal movement down a slope, and most are triggered by heavy
rain and snowmelt, earthquake shaking, volcanic eruptions, and gravity.
Fiction: Landslides are caused by human activities such as logging, road construction, and farming on steep
slopes.
Fact: Although human activities may cause landslides on unstable slopes, most landslides are caused by
natural forces or events, such as heavy rain and snowmelt, earthquake shaking, volcanic eruptions, and
gravity.
Useful links
• www.gns.cri.nz
• www.eqc.govt.nz
• www.metservice.co.nz
• www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/NaturalHazardsAndDisasters/Landslides/en
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery/animal transporter
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Major storms
. . Learn about your community’s risks from hazards created by major storms.
. . Contact your local council to find out if you live in an area prone to coastal storm inundation or visit the
MetService website www.metservice.co.nz to find out about storms.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p8)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of coastal storm inundation’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take storm specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a storm occurs.
Awareness messages
Major storms affect broad areas, are accompanied by heavy rain and/or heavy snow and/or strong winds,
and last for a few days. Heavy rain associated with major storms is usually less intense, but much more
widespread than it is with thunderstorms. Therefore, rises in river levels and the onset of flooding brought
about by widespread heavy rain tend to be slower but also longer-lasting.
Widespread heavy rain is associated with a strong flow of warm air and is enhanced when that air is driven
up and over hills and ranges. Thus in western parts of New Zealand, heavy rainfall most frequently occurs in
northwesterlies, while in eastern areas it is generally associated with winds from the easterly quarter.
Rainfall over high ground, particularly on the upwind side, can be several times that on the lowlands.
Broad-scale strong winds, on the other hand, occur much more frequently on the downwind side of hills and
ranges or in the gaps between them. For example, in a strong moist northwesterly over the South Island, the
heaviest rainfalls are likely to be on the western side of the Southern Alps, while the strongest winds are to
be expected in eastern districts. They last much longer – many hours – than the strong winds associated
with thunderstorms.
If the winds blowing from the sea to the land (or in some cases, parallel to the shore) are very strong, they
may push the sea onto the land and/or into river mouths and cause coastal flooding. Perhaps surprisingly,
the heaviest snowfalls seldom occur in the coldest outbreaks. Major storms produce a lot of snow high up in
the atmosphere, but most often this melts before reaching the ground. In winter, occasionally conditions
near the ground are cold enough for snow to fall all the way to the land surface.
Major storms are almost invariably associated with lows (depressions). While lows are common in the
Tasman Sea – New Zealand – Southwest Pacific area, only the occasional one has the right characteristics
to significantly affect New Zealand. In short, it has to be the right storm in the right place at the right time.
In New Zealand, MetService defines broad-scale severe weather as widespread (that is, over an area of
1000 square kilometers or more):
• Rainfall greater than 50 millimetres within six hours or 100 millimetres within 24 hours; and/or
• Snowfall below 1000 metres on the North Island or 500 metres on the South Island with a snow depth of 10
centimetres within six hours or 25 centimetres within 24 hours; and/or
• Severe gales with a minimum mean speed of 90 km/hr or frequent gusts exceeding 110 km/hr.
Every afternoon, MetService publishes a three-day Severe Weather Outlook for all of New Zealand at:
www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=severeweatheroutlook.
For example, a Severe Weather Outlook issued on Monday is effective for Wednesday – Friday. The Severe
Weather Outlook states, in broad terms, the risk that broad-scale severe weather will occur.
Low confidence: a 20% likelihood (or 1 chance in 5) that the event will actually happen.
Moderate confidence: a 40% likelihood (or 2 chances in 5) that the event will actually happen.
High confidence: a 60% likelihood (or 3 chances in 5) that the event will actually happen.
Example: Severe weather watch
SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR MOUNTAINS AND HILLS OF THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND FROM
MT TARANAKI TO MT RUAPEHU
ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 0841hrs 01-Nov-2008
SPELL OF HEAVY RAIN ABOUT THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING
MetService expects a front to move over the central North Island tonight. This front will probably bring a spell
of heavy rain to the mountains and hills of the central North Island late this afternoon and evening, with the
heaviest falls in the area from Mt Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu. The bulk of this rain will fall in a 6 hour period
causing rivers and streams in the area to rise quickly. At this stage it looks like rainfall amounts will probably
not reach warning criteria (e.g. 100mm in 24hours), however forecasters will continue to maintain a watch
for this area. This Watch will be reviewed by 9pm Saturday 1 November 2008
Forecast prepared by: John Crouch
(C) Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd 2008
Example: Severe weather warning
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING.
ISSUED BY MetService AT 8:21 am 01-Nov-2008
PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN ON THE SOUTH ISLAND WEST COAST AND THE TARARUA RANGES
TODAY SEVERE NORTHWESTERLY GALES ABOUT EASTERN AREAS FROM WAIRARAPA AND
WELLINGTON DOWN TO EASTERN OTAGO
MetService continues to warn of a period of heavy rain about the South Island west coast and Tararua
ranges today, as well as severe northwesterly gales about eastern areas from Wairarapa and Wellington
down to eastern Otago. Heavy falls are expected about the ranges of Westland, Buller and Northwest
Nelson, as well as the Canterbury headwaters and the Tararua ranges. Up to 100mm of rain is forecast for
these areas, with most of the rain falling in a 6-12 hour period. As this rain is falling in a relatively short time,
river and stream levels in these areas will rise rapidly.
Severe northwesterly gales are also expected about Wellington and Wairarapa today, with gusts up to
140km/hr about exposed hilltops until this evening. In Marlborough, Canterbury and eastern Otago, winds
could gust up to 120km/hr in exposed places places, but these winds should ease from the south by early
afternoon. Winds of this strength can cause damage to trees, powerlines and insecure roofs. Driving
conditions could also become hazardous, especially for motorcyclists and high sided vehicles such as
campervans, buses and trucks.
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO
http://metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=mapsandobservations MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS:
====================
HEAVY RAIN WARNING
====================
AREA/S AFFECTED: THE SOUTH ISLAND WEST COAST FROM MILFORD SOUND TO THE RANGES
OF NORTHWEST NELSON, THE CANTERBURY HEADWATERS, AND THE TARARUA RANGES.
FORECAST:
FIORDLAND NORTH OF MILFORD SOUND:
The heavy rain is easing, however 10-25mm of rain is still possible between 8am and 10am.
WESTLAND NEAR THE RANGES:
In the 5 hours from 8am to 1pm Saturday, 75 to 100mm of rain is expected. Rainfall rates may reach 2535mm/hr at times.
THE RANGES OF BULLER AND NORTHWEST NELSON:
In the 7 hours from 8am to 3pm Saturday, 70 to 100mm of rain is expected,with rainfall rates of 15-25mm
per hour.
THE HEADWATERS OF THE MAIN LAKES AND RIVERS OF CANTERBURY:
In the 4 hours from 8am to midday Saturday, expect 40-60mm of rain near the main divide, and up to 30mm
to spread about 15km east of the divide.
THE TARARUA RANGES:
In the 10 hours from 10am to 8pm Saturday, 75 to 100mm of rain is expected,especially about the higher
slopes.
FREEZING LEVEL: About 2500 metres, lowering to 1200 metres about Fiordland during the day.
====================
STRONG WIND WARNING
====================
AREA/S AFFECTED: EASTERN SOUTHLAND, MID AND NORTH CANTERBURY,
MARLBOROUGH,WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA.
FORECAST:
EASTERN OTAGO:
Northwesterly winds should ease this morning, however between 8am and 11am, wind gusts may still reach
120 km/h in exposed places.
MID AND NORTH CANTERBURY:
In the 6 hours from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, expect northwest winds to reach 70km/h gusting 120 km/h at
times in exposed inland places and about the higher parts of Banks Peninsula.
MARLBOROUGH:
In the 9 hours from 8am to 5pm Saturday, expect northwesterlies of 70 km/h gusting to 120 km/h at times in
exposed places.
WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA:
In the 12 hours from 8am to 8pm Saturday, expect northwesterlies of 80 km/h gusting up to 140 km/h at
times, especially about exposed hilltops such as the Rimutaka Hill Road.
==========================
WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE
==========================
HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: FIORDLAND SOUTH OF MILFORD SOUND NO
FURTHER WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT FOR THE ABOVE AREAS. STRONG WIND
WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: INLAND FIORDLAND AND SOUTHLAND NO FURTHER
WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT FOR THE ABOVE AREAS. NEXT SEVERE WEATHER
WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE
9:00pm Saturday 01-Nov-2008
Forecast prepared by: John Crouch
A service provided through a contract with the Crown
(C) Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd 2008
Most often, the risk of a major storm will be first signalled some days ahead in the Severe Weather Outlook
and then carry through to a Severe Weather Watch and finally to a Severe Weather Warning. However, in
situations where the predictability is low this will not be the case and the first advice of likely broad-scale
severe weather may be the Severe Weather Warning.
Severe Weather Watches and Warnings are published on MetService’s web site (www.metservice.com),
available through the broadcast media and by email.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of coastal storm inundation’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take storm specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a storm occurs.
Most people will take no special measures for a mid-latitude storm other than being sensible. However, it is
recommended to:
1. Develop an emergency communication plan in your family (for all hazards) in case family members are
separated from one another during a storm; likely during the day when adults are at work and children at
school. Have a plan for getting back together.
2. Discuss where and how to shelter in your home.
3. Get familiar with your Household Emergency Plan.
4. Have an Emergency Survival Items on hand (see Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit section):
5. Make a list of emergency services telephone numbers (fire, police, council/ civil defence emergency
management office, ambulance, etc.). Farmers should also include emergency numbers for vets, local
livestock transport companies, alternative powers supply equipment, Local Rural Support Trust etc. You
may not have time in an emergency to look up critical numbers.
6. Check your household insurance policy for sufficient coverage and amount.
7. Make sure you and members of your household know how to switch off gas, electricity and water supplies
at the mains – even in the dark.
8. For people with special needs, write down your specific needs, limitations and medication.
9. Keep insurance policies, important documents (birth certificates, ownership certificates, passport, etc.)
and other valuables in a waterproof container. You may need quick, easy access to these documents.
10. Prepare a list of important information concerning medical information, bank account number, etc.
11. Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a storm. A list will help you remember anything that
can be broken or picked up by strong winds.
12. If farming, secure vehicles, tools and livestock feed that could be dangerous and/or become damaged in
a storm.
13. Remove any debris or loose items in your yard. Branches and firewood may become missiles in strong
winds.
14. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged
limbs, then strategically remove branches so that wind can blow through. Strong winds frequently break
weak tree limbs and hurl them at great speed, causing damage or injury when they hit. Debris collection
services may not be operating just before a storm, so it is best to do this well in advance of approaching
storms.
15. Consider installing permanent shutters to cover windows. Shutters can be closed quickly and provide the
safest protection for windows.
16. Strengthen garage doors. Garage doors are often damaged or destroyed by flying debris, allowing
strong winds to enter. As winds apply pressure to the walls, the roof can be lifted off, and the rest of the
house can easily follow.
17. Discuss storms with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not
together. Discussing emergency preparedness ahead of time helps reduce fear and lets everyone know
what to do in a storm situation.
18. Protect your animals. Ensure that outbuildings that house animals are protected in the same way as your
home. When installing or changing fence lines, consider placing them in such a way that your animals are
able to move to higher ground in the event of flooding. Get rid of debris around your home and any
outbuildings as well as in pastures.
19. If farming, know in advance which paddocks are secure (those which allow livestock to move away from
floodwaters, are not at risk from landslides and are not close to power lines). Do this research well before a
storm strikes.
20. Prepare your property for high winds. Strong winds can lift large, heavy objects and send them crashing
into homes. Anything not secured may become a deadly or damaging projectile.
21. Bring inside outdoor furniture, decorations or ornaments, rubbish cans, hanging plants, or anything else
that can be picked up by the wind.
22. Secure your home and critical buildings by closing the windows and doors and, if installed, close the
shutters.
23. Pull curtains and drapes over unprotected glass areas. This could prevent injury from flying glass if the
window is broken.
24. Moor your boat securely or move it to a designated safe place. Use rope or chain to secure your boat to
a trailer. Use tie-downs to anchor a trailer to the ground or to a building.
25. Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Open them only when absolutely necessary, then
close them quickly. Keeping the coldest air in will help perishables last much longer in the event of a power
failure.
26. Store valuables and personal papers in a safe-deposit box or in a waterproof container on the highest
level of your home. Extreme winds could also cause water damage inside homes. Protecting valuables in
this manner will provide the best security.
27. Unplug small appliances. Small appliances may be affected by electrical power surges that may occur
as the storm approaches. Unplugging them reduces potential damage.
28. If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce the power surge when electricity is restored. When
electricity is restored, the surge from many major appliances starting at the same time may cause damage
or destroy the appliances. Turning off or unplugging major appliances will allow you to decide when it is best
to turn them back on.
29. Listen to a local radio station on a portable, battery-powered radio or television for weather updates.
30. If it should be necessary to evacuate take your Getaway Kit and go to a shelter or to the out-of-town
contact identified in your Household Emergency Plan. Local officials will advise you to evacuate only if they
think that you are in danger. It is important to follow their instructions as soon as possible. Roads may
become blocked and the storm can worsen, preventing safe escape.
31. If you evacuate, take your pets with you. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for them. Be sure to take
your pet emergency kit with you. Leaving pets will endanger not only them, but also yourself and emergency
responders who may have to rescue them later.
32. If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows, skylights, and doors.
33. Close all interior doors. Secure external doors. Closed doors will help prevent damaging winds from
entering rooms.
34. Have a supply of torches and extra batteries handy. Torches provide the safest emergency lighting
source. DO NOT USE CANDLES. Do not use kerosene lamps, which require a great deal of ventilation and
are not designed for indoor use.
35. Store drinking water in clean plastic bottles and cooking utensils. Electric pumps may be inoperative if
power is lost. Often, a person’s greatest need following a major storm is water.
36. Fill bathtubs and sinks with water to use for flushing the toilet and washing floors and clothing. Do not
use water that has been stored in glazed tubs or sinks for drinking or to bathe young children because over
time lead can leach from the glaze into the water.
37. Watch out for flooding. Storms often drop large amounts of rain and cause severe flooding, even when
they are weakening or are no longer a named storm.
38. Turn on the radio or television to get the latest weather information.
39. Check for injuries. Give first aid and get help for injured or trapped persons. Taking care of yourself first
will allow you to help others safely until emergency responders arrive.
40. Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation, large
families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people
who care for them.
41. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves, and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.
42. Use the telephone for emergency calls only.
43. If you are evacuated, only return home when local officials tell you that it is safe. Local officials on the
scene are your best source of information about accessible areas and passable roads.
44. Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding.
45. Stay away from floodwater. Drive only if absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out
bridges. Continue to follow all flood safety messages.
46. If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to help. Many people have
been killed or injured trying to rescue others in flooded areas.
47. Stay away from damaged areas. Your presence might hamper rescue and other emergency operations,
and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated water, crumbled roads,
landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
48. If you are farming check your livestock if it is safe to do so.
49. Be careful when entering any structure that has been damaged. Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases,
and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of collapsing.
50. Be aware of hazards from exposed nails and broken glass.
51. Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed lines.
52. Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities
turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further hazard and injury.
53. Stay out of any building that has water around it. Floodwater often undermines foundations, causing
buildings to sink, floors to crack, or walls to collapse.
54. Use battery-powered lanterns or torches when examining buildings. DO NOT USE CANDLES.
55. Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged
furnaces or electrical appliances.
56. Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get
everyone outside quickly. Turn off the gas, using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas
company from a neighbour’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a
professional.
57. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning
insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to
the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked
and dried before being returned to service.
58. Check for sewage/effluent and water system damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid
using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company, and avoid
using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters or by melting ice cubes
made before the hurricane struck. Turn off the main water valve before using water from these sources.
If your property suffered any damage ring your insurer as soon as possible. In almost all cases the
insurance company will send a loss adjuster to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and
replacements are needed and covered by your policy.
Ask the insurance company:
59. How long it will be before the insurance assessor visits.
60. If you are to clean your property or if they will get a company to do it for you.
61. Always make your own record of your damaged property using photographs or video.
62. List the damage to your property and belongings.
63. Ask your insurance company or landlord if they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This
could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast, a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim
64. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
65. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
66. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
67. Keep receipts.
68. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
69. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
70. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
71. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
General information
72. Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to do a series on the dangers of storms.
73. Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about land-use management and building codes for
coastal areas.
74. Highlight the importance of staying informed about local weather conditions.
75. Run ads about how to protect yourself and your property during severe winds.
76. Encourage schools to talk about major storms and invite experts to discuss preparedness.
77. Periodically inform your community of local hazards, warning systems and the importance of emergency
plans and survival items.
78. Publish emergency evacuation routes.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Lunar cycles can be used to predict major storms.
Fact: The moon has a negligible impact on the development of major storms or any other weather system.
Fiction: A “100-year storm” happens only once every 100 years.
Fact: The term “100-year flood” is misleading. The truth is that an uncommonly big storm can happen any
year. The term “100-year storm” is a statistical designation meaning there is a 1-in-100 chance that a storm
this size or larger will happen during any year.
Fiction: New Zealand can’t be hit by tropical cyclones.
Fact: Tropical cyclones have their origin in the tropics. By the time they reach New Zealand they have lost
specific characteristics used by meteorologists to classify a storm as being a tropical cyclone (or hurricane) .
However, they can still be very strong and dangerous and occasionally one of these ex-tropical cyclone
systems has passed over New Zealand bringing some of the most destructive weather ever experienced in
the country (e.g., ex-cyclone Bola in 1988). The worst cyclones tend to occur from December to April.
Useful links
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm
• www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/index.shtm
• www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/students/storms
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/natural-hazards
Insurance companies
• www.ami.co.nz/products/contents/
• www.state.co.nz/
• www.tower.co.nz/Web_Home.asp
• www.vero.co.nz/
• www.icnz.org.nz/
Maps and weather
• www.metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/warningMap.html
Preparedness
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/index.shtm
• www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm
Useful numbers
Your important emergency plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your emergency
kit.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery/livestock transporter
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Major storms general information
Useful numbers
Snow storms
. . Learn about your community’s risks from hazards created by snow.
. . Contact your local council to find out if you live in an area prone to snow-related hazards or visit the
MetService website, www.metservice.co.nz to find out about risks from snow.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p5)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household
Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a
Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take snow-specific precautions
and plan for and practice what to do if the prolonged, high snowfall happens.
Awareness messages
Even in small quantities, snow can be hazardous. It only takes a few centimetres on a road to make driving
dangerous. In large quantities, snow can immobilise regions by disrupting communications, transport and
supply lines, hampering the operation of emergency services, isolating communities, causing the death of
large numbers of livestock, damaging forests, and causing buildings to collapse under its weight. In the
depths of winter, heavy snow can lie on the ground for weeks, denying livestock the ability to graze, keeping
temperatures low and increasing risks to the most vulnerable members of the community.
While the coldest winter outbreaks tend not to bring very large quantities of snow, the combination of very
low air temperatures and strong winds results in extreme wind chill. Because this can occur even on sunny
days, one of the dangers it poses – hypothermia – may not be all that apparent. Strong cold winds together
with rain or snow make for cold conditions inside many New Zealand houses because of their poor
insulation. Those winds occasionally cause the death of large numbers of young livestock.
Perhaps surprisingly, the heaviest snowfalls seldom occur in the coldest outbreaks. Major storms produce a
lot of snow high up in the atmosphere but most often this melts before reaching the ground. In winter,
conditions near the ground are cold enough for snow to fall all the way to the land surface.
Heavy snow in the mountains often increases the incidence of avalanche. Avalanches are a major hazard
on the road from Te Anau to Milford Sound, for example, and it is only the operation of an active and worldleading avalanche management programme that has kept the road free from fatalities for many years. There
is a risk of avalanches in some ski areas, as well.
Whenever there is a likelihood of snow settling on one or more of the Desert Road, the Porter’s Pass Road,
the Lindis Pass Road, the Rimutaka Hill Road, the Milford Road, Arthur’s Pass, or Lewis Pass, MetService
will issue a Road Snowfall Warning. Road Snowfall Warnings may be issued at any time but usually at
around 8–9am and 8–9pm. They are updated every 12 hours until cancelled.
The combination of strong winds, low temperatures and rain/snow (where the snow is not expected to be
heavy) is often described in forecasts using terms like “bitterly cold”. The most notable cases will be covered
by a Special Weather Advisory. Special Weather Advisories may be issued at any time, but usually around
the middle of the day. They are updated every 24 hours until cancelled.
The likelihood of heavy snow is described in the Severe Weather Outlooks, Watches and Warnings issued
by MetService. In New Zealand, MetService defines broad-scale severe weather as widespread (that is,
over an area of 1000 square kilometers or more):
• Rainfall greater than 50 millimetres within six hours or 100 millimetres within 24 hours; and/or
• Snowfall below 1000 metres on the North Island or 500 metres on the South Island with a snow depth of 10
centimetres within six hours or 25 centimetres within 24 hours; and/or
• Severe gales with a minimum mean speed of 90 km/hr or frequent gusts exceeding 110 km/hr.
Every afternoon, MetService publishes a Severe Weather Outlook for all of New Zealand for the three days
after tomorrow at www.metservice.co.nz/default/index.php?alias=severeweatheroutlook.
The Severe Weather Outlook states, in broad terms, the risk that broad-scale severe weather will occur.
If confidence of broad-scale severe weather remains moderate to high within 48–72 hours of the event
occurring, MetService will issue a Severe Weather Watch. A Severe Weather Watch may also be issued if
there is a high level of uncertainty within the next 24 hours. Severe Weather Watches may be issued at any
time but usually at around 8–9am and 8–9pm. They are updated every 12 hours until cancelled.
MetService will issue a Severe Weather Warning whenever it is expected that weather conditions meeting
the severe weather criteria will occur within the next 24 to 36 hours. Severe Weather Warnings may be
issued at any time but usually at around 8–9am and 8–9pm. They are updated every 12 hours until
cancelled.
Most often, the risk of heavy snowfall will be first signalled some days ahead in the Severe Weather Outlook
and then carry through to a Severe Weather Watch and finally to a Severe Weather Warning. However, in
situations where the predictability is low this will not be the case and the first advice of likely broad-scale
severe weather may be the Severe Weather Warning.
Road Snowfall Warnings, Special Weather Advisories, Severe Weather Outlooks, Watches and Warnings
are published on MetService’s web site (www.metservice.com), available through the broadcast media and
by email.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items. In addition, every household should take snow-specific
precautions and plan for and practice what to do if the prolonged, high snowfall happens.
At home and at work:
1. Primary concerns are the potential loss of heat, power, telephone service, and a shortage of supplies if
storm conditions continue for more than a day. Therefore, have Emergency Survival Items on hand (see
Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit section).
2. Ensure you drink enough water. Bodies exposed to extreme temperatures – hot or cold– use more water
to maintain normal temperatures.
3. Listen to your radio, or television, for weather reports and emergency information.
4. Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
5. Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities,
such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help
immediately.
6. Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation,
incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are
detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the centre of the body first, and give
warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible.
7. Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to
some rooms.
8. Maintain ventilation when using gas or kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes.
9. Have chimneys and wood stoves inspected annually and cleaned if necessary. Chimneys and wood
stoves build up creosote, which is the residue left behind by burning wood. Creosote is flammable and
needs to be professionally removed periodically. Store ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid.
10. Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive, consider the following:
. . Travel in the day, don’t travel alone, and keep others informed of your schedule
. . Stay on main roads; avoid back road shortcuts
. . Take or fit tyre chains if the roads are not cleared and the snow is deep or the roads are icy.
Getting your household ready:
11. Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary, insulate the walls and attic to reduce your
home’s power demands for heat. Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.
12. Protect pipes from freezing by wrapping pipes in insulation or layers of newspaper and then covering
them with plastic to keep out moisture.
13. Know how to shut off the main water valve.
14. Install heat tape on water pipes. Put the tape on all exterior water pipes and interior pipes located on
outside walls or anywhere else that temperatures could go below freezing.
15. If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or newspaper and wrap the pipes in rags. Completely open all
taps and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold or where the cold
most likely penetrated. A hand-held hair dryer, used with caution to prevent overheating, also works well.
16. Consider buying emergency heating equipment, such as a wood- or coalburning stove or an electric, gas
or kerosene heater.
17. If you have a fireplace, consider keeping a supply of firewood or coal.
18. If you are farming, ensure you have arrangements in place to provide electricity (e.g. a generator) in
case of power outage.
19. Ensure you have surplus livestock feed.
In cars and trucks:
20. Plan your travel and check the latest weather reports to avoid the storm;
21. Fully check and prepare your vehicle before the winter season begins.
22. If driving in bad conditions carry Emergency Survival Items (see Emergency Survival Items and Getaway
Kit section).
23. Keep your fuel tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
24. Try not to travel alone.
25. Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.
26. Your car’s battery and ignition system should be in top condition, and battery terminals clean.
27. Ensure antifreeze levels are sufficient to avoid freezing.
28. Ensure the heater works properly.
On the farm:
29. Move animals to sheltered areas. Shelter belts, properly laid out and oriented, are better protection for
cattle than confining shelters, such as sheds.
30. Have a water supply available. Most animal deaths in winter storms are from dehydration.
31. Make sure your livestock are secure if there is no power.
Note: Cold weather puts a strain on your heart, even without exercise. Be careful when shovelling snow,
pushing a car, or performing other tasks. Regardless of your age or physical condition, avoid overexertion in
the winter.
32. Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing.
The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
33. Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
34. Ensure your head is well covered.
35. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
If you are outside:
36. Find shelter.
37. Try to stay dry.
38. Cover all exposed parts of the body.
39. If no shelter is available:
. . prepare a lean-to, wind-break, or snow cave for protection from the wind.
. . build a fire for heat and to attract attention.
. . place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
. . do not eat snow: it will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.
If you are in a car or truck:
40. Stay in your car or truck. Disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow.
41. Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm.
42. Open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
43. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
44. Make yourself visible to rescuers:
. . Tie a coloured cloth (preferably red) to your radio aerial or door.
. . Raise the vehicle hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling.
45. Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating
and to keep warm. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, and floor mats for insulation. Huddle with
passengers and use your coat for a blanket.
46. Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.
47. Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.
48. Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance electrical energy needs – the use of lights, heat, and
radio – with supply.
49. Turn on the inside light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.
50. If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling out HELP or SOS and
line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area from
the air.
If you are at home or in a building:
51. Stay inside.
52. When using alternative heat from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc. use fire safeguards and
ventilate properly.
53. If no heating is available:
. . Close off unneeded rooms.
. . Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
. . Cover windows at night.
. . Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished
with fluids to prevent dehydration.
. . Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration,
and subsequent chill.
54. During a power failure, cooking and eating habits must change to fit the situation. You may have no
heat, no refrigeration and limited water. In addition, there are greater health risks from eating contaminated
or spoiled food. When preparing food during a power outage, conserve fuel, conserve water and take health
precautions.
55. Consider the amount of cooking time needed for each food. If you have limited heat for cooking, choose
foods that cook quickly. Alternate cooking methods include:
. . LPG camp stoves or grills (for outside cooking only). These can be used any time of the year. Use foil to
wrap a variety of foods, including vegetables, for easy cooking and cleanup. Grill and toast other foods as
you would for a barbeque. Make sure you close the LPG tank when you’re done cooking to prevent gas from
escaping during cold weather.
. . Fireplace. Many foods can be skewered, grilled or wrapped in foil and cooked in a fireplace.
. . Candle warmers and fondue pots. These may be used if no other heat sources are available. Use safety
precautions with these devices.
. . Wood stove. Cooking on top of the wood stove may be an option. Depending on the amount of heat you
have available, preparing one-dish meals, breads and soups may be possible.
56. Do not cook frozen foods unless you have ample heat for cooking. Most frozen foods need a lot more
cooking time than fresh or canned foods. Also, if power is off, it is best to leave the freezer door closed to
keep food from thawing.
57. Conserve water.
58. Save liquids from canned vegetables. Substitute these for water in cooked dishes. Drain and save
liquids from canned fruits, too. Use these for water in salads and vegetables.
59. Take health precautions:
. . Boil all water used in food preparation for at least 10 minutes.
. . If you are without refrigeration, open only enough food for one meal. Some foods can be kept a short time
without refrigeration. In an emergency, cooked vegetables, cooked meats and meat dishes can be kept
unrefrigerated for two hours. Do not keep these dishes overnight without refrigeration.
. . Do not serve foods that spoil easily, such as ground meats, creamed foods, hash, custards, meat pies
and any food containing mayonnaise. These are potential sources of botulism poisoning and other food
borne pathogens.
. . When feeding babies and toddlers, open fresh foods for each meal. There may be waste, but safety is
important.
. . If necessary, substitute canned and powdered milk for fresh milk. Canned milk will keep safely for a few
hours after you open the can. Use only boiled or disinfected water to mix powdered milk. Use powdered milk
immediately after it is mixed. If you are using canned formula to feed your baby, use ready-to-use or mix
only enough for one feeding. Never use formula that is not stored cooled and refrigerated.
. . If safe water or water disinfecting materials are not available, use canned or bottled fruit juices instead of
water.
. . Prepare and eat foods in their original containers, if possible. This will help if dishwashing is not possible.
60. Keep listening to a radio or television station for updated information and instructions. Access to some
parts of the community may be limited or roads may be blocked.
61. Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation,
families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people
who care for them.
62. Avoid driving and other travel until conditions have improved. Roads may be blocked by snow or
emergency vehicles.
63. If farming, check on your animals and ensure that their access to food and water is unimpeded by drifted
snow, ice, or other obstacles. Clear driveways and tracks for service vehicles.
Ring your insurer as soon as possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance
assessor to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered
by your policy.
Ask the insurance company:
64. How long it will be before an insurance assessor visits.
65. If you are to clean your property or if they will get a company to do it for you.
66. Always make your own record of your damaged property using photographs or video.
67. List the damage to your property and belongings.
68. Ask your insurance company or landlord if they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This
could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast, a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
69. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
70. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
71. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
72. Keep receipts.
73. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
74. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
75. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
76. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
General information
77. Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information about snow storms.
Included contact information for local emergency services and the nearest hospitals.
78. Conduct a series on how to protect yourself during a snow storm in case you are at home, in a car, at
the office, or outside.
79. Teach children about snow hazards in your area.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: If you are stuck in a car in a snowstorm, the best thing to do is to get out and look for help.
Fact: You should stay in your vehicle and wait for rescuers. If you leave your vehicle in wind-driven snow,
you could quickly become disoriented. Make the vehicle visible to rescuers (tie a coloured cloth to the aerial
or door, turn on the dome light when running the engine for heat, raise the hood when the snow stops
falling). If you have a cell phone, call a towing company or 111.
Fiction: In severe cold, it is best to stay warm by wearing a very heavy coat.
Fact: You should wear loose, lightweight, warm clothes in layers. Trapped air insulates. Remove layers to
avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and
hooded. Ensure your head is well covered as half your body-heat loss can be from the head. Cover your
mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Try to stay
dry.
Useful links
Facts about snow
• www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/wntrstm.htm
• www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/winter/
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/natural-hazards
Insurance companies
• www.ami.co.nz/products/contents/
• www.state.co.nz/
• www.tower.co.nz/Web_Home.asp
• www.vero.co.nz/
• www.icnz.org.nz/
Maps and weather
• www.metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/warningMap.html
• www.niwa.co.nz/news-and-publications/publications/all/wa/16-3/news1
Preparedness
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.fema.gov/areyouready/winter.shtm
• www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/wntrstm.htm
• www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/winter/
• web.extension.uiuc.edu/disaster/winter/ws_cont.html
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/snow/index.htm
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Your important Household Emergency Plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery/livestock transporter
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Useful numbers
Snow storms general information
Thunderstorms
. . Learn about your community’s risks from hazards created by thunderstorms.
. . Visit the MetService website www.metservice.co.nz to find out about risks from thunderstorms.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p7)
. . Learn about thunderstorm risks.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Keep an ‘in case of thunderstorm’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household
Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a
Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take thunderstorm specific
precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a thunderstorm happens.
Awareness messages
Thunderstorms are short-lived, existing for no more than one or two hours, and dangerous. With each
thunderstorm comes lightning (thunder is just the sound of lightning) along with very heavy rain and
sometimes hail, strong straight-line winds and tornadoes.
Rain associated with a single thunderstorm falls over a small area. Thus, while no single thunderstorm will
produce widespread flooding, the suddenness and sheer intensity of the rainfall over a localised area can be
hazardous. In urban areas, the result is often an overloading of the stormwater system and surface flooding.
The same amount of rainfall in the catchment of a small stream can rapidly transform it into a raging torrent.
In New Zealand, the hail associated with thunderstorms is generally small by international standards.
Nevertheless, it can be large enough to devastate crops, damage roofs and break glass. When it falls in
large quantities, small hail can be centimetres deep and a significant driving hazard.
Thunderstorms commonly have strong winds associated with them. Irrespective of whether these are
straight-line or tornadic (rotating), these winds are sudden, violent and short-lived, and can cause large
amounts of damage to the built and natural environment. As with the rain or hail from a single thunderstorm,
the strong winds are confined to a small area. If the thunderstorm is moving, the extent of rain, hail or strong
winds is typically no more than a few hundred metres wide and a few kilometres long.
There are more than 50,000 lightning strikes per year in New Zealand, with one death reported every five to
ten years.
A thunderstorm is a local storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud. In the photograph on the front page, the
tall cloud in the middle of the frame with an anvil-shaped top is a cumulonimbus cloud. Thunderstorms are
the result of the strong updraught of air throughout a considerable depth of the atmosphere over a small
area.
In New Zealand, thunderstorms tend to be associated with:
• Vigorous, fast-moving cold fronts moving from west to east across New Zealand. These occur at any time
of the year, night or day.
• Southerly changes along the east coast, especially Canterbury, and especially during the warmer part of
the year.
In these situations, the thunderstorms are commonly arranged in lines along or near the front/southerly
change. In New Zealand, thunderstorms are also associated with:
• Afternoon and evening “build-ups” inland during the warmer part of the year.
• Humid north or northwest windflows driven up over high ground.
In these situations, the thunderstorms occur more randomly.
Every morning and evening, MetService publishes a Severe Thunderstorm Outlook for all of New Zealand
for the current and following day at www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=thunderstormoutlook.
The Severe Thunderstorm Outlook states, in broad terms, the likelihood that severe weather – including
tornadoes – associated with thunderstorms will occur. The current day part of the Severe Thunderstorm
Outlook is published around 8.30am, with the following day information published later, at about 11.00am.
In New Zealand, MetService defines Severe Thunderstorms as those which produce:
• Heavy rain (from thunderstorms): Rainfall of 25 millimetres per hour, or more; and/or
• Large hail: Hailstones 20 millimetres in diameter, or larger; and/or
• Strong wind gusts (from thunderstorms): Gusts of 110 kilometres per hour (60 knots) or stronger; and/or
• Damaging tornadoes: Fujita F1 (wind speeds greater than 116 kilometres per hour (63 knots)) or stronger.
Example: severe thunderstorm outlook
Situation Statement:
The atmosphere is expected to be very unstable today with thunderstorms expected in many areas. A band
of rain and thunderstorms will move onto western parts of the North Island late morning, bringing a high risk
of thunderstorms to western areas from the Kaipara Harbour to Awakino, with localised heavy rain and hail.
This band will weaken as it moves eastwards across the North Island, however scattered heavy showers
and thunderstorms are expected to develop from afternoon cloud build-ups in many areas from Coromandel
Peninsula to Taihape and Hawkes Bay. Localised heavy rain and hail will accompany these storms.
In inland parts of Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, eastern Bay of Plenty and possibly Taupo, the afternoon and
evening thunderstorms are expected to be slow-moving and therefore have the potential be severe with
rainfall rates as high as 35mm/hr.
Rainfall rates of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such
as valleys, streams and drains. There is also a much lower risk of afternoon thunderstorms about inland
Taranaki, the Wanganui hill country and Wairarapa as indicated on the chart.
If there is a high likelihood of severe thunderstorms within the next 6 to 12 hours, MetService will issue a
Severe Thunderstorm Watch. If tornadoes are expected to be associated with the severe thunderstorms,
they will be mentioned in the Severe Thunderstorm Watch. As with the Severe Thunderstorm Outlook this is
for all New Zealand, is usually valid for no more than six hours and describes the likelihood of tornadoes in
fairly general terms. The Severe Thunderstorm Watch is available at
www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=thunderstormwatch . A text version is also available by email:
to receive it, follow the instructions at www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=warningemail .
Example: Severe thunderstorm watch
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
Issued by MetService at 11:05 am Tuesday 12 February 2008
Valid until: 08:00 pm Tuesday 12 Feb 2008
Daytime cloud build-ups are expected to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms about Gisborne,
Hawkes Bay (from about Hastings northwards), and near the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty and eastern
Taupo this afternoon and evening. A few of these thunderstorms are likely to be severe, especially about the
inland hills and ranges where rainfall rates may reach 35mm/hr.
Rainfall rates of this intensity can cause surfaceand/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such
as drains, streams and rivers.
Issued by: John Crouch
This watch will be updated by: 03:00 pm Tuesday 12 February 2008
In New Zealand, weather radars are located at or near Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch
and Invercargill. By mid 2011, additional weather radars will be installed near Mahia, in Northland, in the Bay
of Plenty and on the South Island’s West Coast.
MetService provides Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Because weather radar is required to accurately
detect and track thunderstorms, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are only available within 180km of a
weather radar, and are issued once severe thunderstorms have been identified and are valid for a maximum
of two hours. As shown in the example below, they are much more specific about the location and timing of
expected severe weather. Because tornadoes in New Zealand are too small and too short-lived to be
reliably tracked by weather radar, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings do not contain forecast tornado paths.
Severe Thunderstorm warnings are published on MetService’s web site (www.metservice.com), available
through the broadcast media and by email. The very short lead time for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
means you will have to be prepared to act quickly.
Example: Severe thunderstorm warning
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR TORNADOES, LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN
Issued by MetService at 2:11 pm Monday 32nd December 2008
Valid until 3:00 pm today
This warning affects people in:
HOROWHENUA, RANGITIKEI and WANGANUI districts.
At 2:00pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms offshore Kapiti. Severe thunderstorms
are forecast to move northeast and lie near Levin, Foxton and Sanson at 03:00pm. Tornadoes, large
hailstones and very heavy rainfall are possible with these storms.
As storms approach people should:
• take shelter
• put vehicles under cover
During and after the storm people should:
• beware of fallen trees and power lines
• avoid creeks and drains as you may be swept away
This Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be updated by 3:00 pm
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Learn about thunderstorm risks.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Keep an ‘in case of thunderstorm’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take thunderstorm specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a thunderstorm happens.
1. Discuss thunderstorm safety with members of your household. Be aware that a thunderstorm could
produce a tornado. Tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms along, and ahead of, cold fronts.
2. Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be a
place where there are no windows, skylights, or glass doors, which could be broken by strong winds or hail
and cause damage or injury.
3. Learn how to crouch low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees and your
head between your knees. Minimise your body’s surface area, and minimize your contact with the ground.
Lightning currents often enters a victim through the ground rather than by a direct overhead strike.
4. Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe thunderstorm. Having a list will help you
remember things that may be broken or blown away in strong winds.
5. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged
limbs, then strategically remove branches so that wind can blow through. Strong winds frequently break
weak limbs and hurl them at great speed.
6. Remove any debris or loose items from around your home and outbuildings and from pastures. Branches
and firewood may become missiles in strong winds.
7. Protect your animals. Ensure that household animals are protected in the same way as your home. When
installing or changing fence lines, consider placing them in such a way that your animals are able to move to
higher ground in the event of flooding.
8. Move livestock to secure paddocks that are sheltered, away from buildings, single trees and power lines.
Ensure adaquate food and water and that there is no risk of flooding or landslide.
9. Consider installing permanent shutters to cover windows. Shutters can be closed quickly and provide the
safest protection for windows.
10. Install lightning rods on your home and on sizeable sheds or any other buildings that house animals.
Lightning rods will carry the electrical charge of lightning strikes safely to the ground, greatly reducing the
chance of a lightning-induced fire.
11. Fit surge protectors.
12. Listen to the radio or television to keep you informed of weather warnings issued in your area.
13. If planning a trip or extended period of time outdoors, be aware of the weather forecast. Knowing what
the weather could be will help you to be prepared to respond if necessary. Having a raincoat, umbrella, and
Emergency Survival Items available will make it easier to deal with severe weather if it occurs.
14. Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent.
15. Keep an eye on the sky. Pay attention to weather clues around you that may warn of imminent danger.
Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightning, or increasing wind, which may be signs of an approaching
thunderstorm.
16. Be aware of your surroundings. Look for places you could go if severe weather threatens.
17. Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck
by lightning. Go to safe shelter immediately.
18. Even if there is no official weather warning, if you see signs of a thunderstorm, take precautions.
19. GO INSIDE! If you hear distant thunder or see a flash of light, get indoors immediately. A sturdy building
is the safest place to be during a severe thunderstorm. Avoid gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, golf carts, and
other isolated structures in otherwise open areas because such places are often struck by lightning. In
addition, gazebos and picnic shelters are often poorly anchored and subject to being uprooted and blown
around in strong thunderstorm winds. They also offer little protection from large hail.
20. Listen to a radio or television station. Local authorities will provide you with the best information for your
particular situation.
21. Avoid natural lightning rods, such as golf clubs, fishing poles, tractors, bicycles, and camping equipment.
Lightning is attracted to metal and poles or rods.
22. If time, secure outdoor objects such as outdoor furniture that could blow away or cause damage or
injury.
23. Bring your companion animals and pets indoors and maintain direct control of them. Many animals are
unsettled by thunderstorms and it is more comforting and safe for them to be with you.
24. Do not allow horses or livestock to gather under an isolated tree or anything that otherwise presents a
risk from a lightning strike.
25. Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. This will help protect your home from damaging
winds or flying debris.
26. Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Lightning could follow the wire. Television sets are
particularly dangerous at this time. Use a battery-powered radio or television.
27. Avoid bathtubs, water taps, and sinks because metal pipes and plumbing can conduct electricity if struck
by lightning.
28. Draw the blinds and curtains over windows. If windows break because objects are blown by the wind or
large hail, the curtains will help prevent glass from shattering into your home.
29. Unplug appliances and avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances. If lightning strikes,
telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Leaving electric lights on, however, does not
increase the chances of your home being struck by lightning.
30. Turn off any air conditioners or heat pumps. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressor,
resulting in a costly repair job.
If you are outdoors:
31. Find shelter immediately. If you are boating or swimming, get to land, get off the beach, and find shelter
immediately. Stay away from rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Water is an excellent conductor of
electricity. When lightning strikes nearby, the electrical charge can travel through the water. People are killed
by nearby lightning strikes while in or on the water.
32. Take shelter in a substantial, permanent, enclosed structure, such as a reinforced building. A sturdy
building is the safest place to be. Avoid gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, golf carts, and other isolated
structures in otherwise open areas because such places are often struck by lightning. In addition, picnic
shelters are often poorly anchored and subject to being uprooted and blown around in strong thunderstorm
winds. They also offer little protection from large hail.
33. If there is no reinforced building in sight, take shelter in a vehicle. Keep the windows closed and avoid
convertibles. Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tyres provide no protection from lightning. However, the steel
frame of a hardtopped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may
be injured if lightning strikes your vehicle, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
34. If you are in the bush, find an area protected by a low clump of trees. Never stand beneath a single large
tree in the open. Be aware of the potential for flooding in low-lying areas.
35. As a last resort, and if no suitable structure or vehicle is available, go to a low-lying, open place away
from trees, poles, or metal objects. Make sure the place you pick is not subject to flooding. Crouch low to the
ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees and your head between your knees.
Minimize your body’s surface area, and minimize your contact with the ground. Lightning current often
enters a victim through the ground rather than by a direct overhead strike.
36. Avoid tall structures, such as towers, tall trees, fences, telephone lines, and power lines. Lightning
normally strikes the tallest objects in an area.
37. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the centre of the boat, away from metal hardware. Avoid standing in
puddles of water. Rubber boots offer little protection.
38. Avoid hilltops, open spaces, wire fences, metal clothes lines, exposed sheds, and any electrically
conductive, elevated objects.
39. Stop tractor work, especially when pulling metal equipment, and dismount. Do not seek shelter under the
equipment. Tractors and other implements in metallic contact with the ground are often struck by lightning.
40. At construction sites, move to a location beneath a solid roof. Avoid openings such as windows or doors.
If you are in a car:
41. Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road and stop, making sure you are away from any trees or other tall
objects that could fall on the vehicle.
42. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the hazard lights until the heavy rain subsides. Heavy rain produced by
thunderstorms can greatly reduce visibility. Hazard lights will alert other drivers that you have stopped. Keep
the windows closed. You are safer from lightning in a vehicle than out in the open.
43. Avoid contact with metal or other conducting surfaces outside or inside the vehicle. Avoid contact with
potential conductors to reduce your chance of being shocked.
44. Avoid flooded roads. Many flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water or
people playing in high water.
45. Continue listening to a radio or television station for updated information and instructions. Access may
be limited to some parts of the community or roads may be blocked.
46. Help people who require special assistance - infants, elderly people, those without transportation, large
families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people
who care for them.
47. Stay away from storm-damaged areas to avoid putting yourself at further risk from the residual effects of
severe thunderstorms. Sightseers cause additional problems and hamper local responders assisting those
in need.
48. Watch out for fallen power lines and report them immediately. Reporting potential hazards will get the
utilities turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further damage and injury. If assistance is needed in
your area and telephone communications are disrupted, go to your nearest fire or police station to request
assistance.
49. Watch animals closely. Keep all of your animals under your direct control. Animals may become
disoriented before, during, and after severe thunderstorms. If there has been wind damage, animals may be
able to escape from your home or your fence may be broken. In addition, the behaviour of animals may
change dramatically after a severe storm, becoming aggressive or defensive, so be aware of their well-being
and take measures to protect them from hazards and to ensure the safety of other people and animals.
What to do if someone is struck by lightning
50. Call for help. Get someone to dial 111. Medical attention is needed as quickly as possible.
51. Give first aid. If the person has stopped breathing, begin rescue breathing. If the person’s heart has
stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR. If the person has a pulse and is breathing, look for other
possible injuries and care for them if necessary.
52. Check the person for burns in two places. The injured person has received an electrical shock and may
be burned both where the current entered and where it exited his or her body. Being struck by lightning can
also cause nervous system damage, broken bones, and loss of hearing or eyesight.
Note: People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge that can shock other people, and they can be
attended to safely.
If your property suffered any damage ring your insurer as soon as possible. In almost all cases the
insurance company will send an insurance assessor to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs
and replacements are needed and covered by your policy.
Ask the insurance company:
53. How long it will be before the insurance assessor visits.
54. If you are to clean your property or if they will get a company to do it for you.
55. Always make your own record of your damaged property using photographs or video.
56. List the damage to your property and belongings.
57. Ask your insurance company or landlord if they will provide you with temporary accommodation, if
required. This could be a nearby bed and breakfast, a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
58. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
59. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
60. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
61. Keep receipts.
62. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
63. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
64. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
65. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
Thunderstorms general information
66. Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to do a series on the dangers of thunderstorms
67. Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about thunderstorms.
68. Highlight the importance of staying informed about local weather conditions.
69. Run public service ads about how to protect yourself and your property during severe weather.
70. Encourage schools to talk about hazards and invite experts.
71. Periodically inform your community of local hazards, warning systems and the importance of emergency
plans and survival items.
72. Interview agents from various insurance companies about what kinds of severe thunderstorm and
lightning damage homeowners’ insurance does and does not cover.
73. Ask a local meteorologist to speak to school and youth groups about the dangers of thunderstorms,
lightning, and hail.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning has “favourite” sites that it may hit many times during one storm.
Fiction: If it is not raining, then there is no danger from lightning.
Fact: Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur far away from any rainfall.
Fiction: The rubber soles of shoes or rubber tyres on a car will protect you from being struck by lightning.
Fact: Rubber-soled shoes and rubber tyres provide NO protection from lightning. However, the steel frame
of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal. Although you may be
injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
Fiction: People struck by lightning carry an electrical charge and should not be touched.
Fact: Lightning-strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.
Fiction: “Heat lightning” occurs after very hot summer days and poses no threat.
Fact: What is referred to as “heat lightning” is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder
to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction!
Useful links
Facts about thunderstorms
• www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/ClimateAndAtmosphere/Weather/5/en
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderstorm
• www.fema.gov/hazard/thunderstorm/index.shtm
• www.usatoday.com/weather/resources/basics/thunderstorms.htm
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/natural-hazards
Insurance companies
• www.ami.co.nz/products/contents/
• www.state.co.nz/
• www.tower.co.nz/Web_Home.asp
• www.vero.co.nz/
• www.icnz.org.nz/
Maps and weather
• www.metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/warningMap.html
Preparedness
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.fema.gov/hazard/thunderstorm/index.shtm
• www.weather.gov/om/brochures/ttl.pdf
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Tornadoes
. . Learn about your community’s risks from hazards created by tornadoes.
. . Contact your local council to find out if you live in an area prone to tornadoes.
. . Visit the MetService website www.metservice.co.nz to find out about tornado risks.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (p9)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of tornado’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household
Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a
Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take tornado specific precautions
and plan for and practice what to do if a tornado happens.
Awareness messages
Each year, a few tornadoes are observed in New Zealand. More often than not, the damage resulting from
these is minor because they existed for only a very short time. However, once in a while there is significant
damage – and threat to public safety – when one or more tornadoes passes through a built-up area.
The most notable tornado in New Zealand occurred in the Hamilton suburb of Frankton on 25 August 1948.
It carved a 100–200 m swath through the suburb, causing three deaths and 12 injuries, damaging 150
houses and 50 businesses.
More recently, at least 12 tornadoes were observed in Taranaki on 4 and 5 July 2007 and caused
widespread damage in the region. Oakura, a town 12 km southwest of New Plymouth was most affected.
Approximately 50 houses suffered major damage, some of it beyond repair, when two tornadoes ripped
through the town.
A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air extending downwards to the ground from the base of a
thunderstorm.
Only thunderstorms that have a particular sort of rotating air column produce tornadoes and it is only when
this rotating air column touches down to the ground, or gets very close to the ground, does it become a
hazard to land- (or sea-) based activity. A waterspout is simply a tornado that occurs over a body of water.
Compared with the tornadoes that occur over the Earth’s major continents, those observed in New Zealand
are generally small and weak. They are usually around a few tens of metres wide, have tracks a few
kilometres long and lifetimes of just a few minutes. Like all tornadoes, their damage paths are extremely
localised.
Over major continents, thunderstorms – and therefore tornadoes – tend to be more common in the afternoon
and evening of the summer months. In the west of the North and South Islands, where most of New
Zealand’s tornadoes are observed, this is not the case: they occur just as frequently in the winter as in the
summer – and at any time of day or night.
The Fujita Scale (see Fig. 1 on the next page) relates tornado strength according to the amount of damage
observed. Tornadoes in New Zealand are seldom stronger than F2.
F-Scale
Winds Potential damage
Category F0
64–116 km/h Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees;
shallow-rooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.
Category F1
117–180 km/h Moderate damage. The lower limit is the beginning of tropical cyclone wind
speed; peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos pushed off
the roads; attached garages may be destroyed.
Category F2
181–253 km/h Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes
demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated.
Category F3
254–332 km/h Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses;
trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown.
Category F4
333–418 km/h Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with
weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
Category F5
419–512 km/h Incredible damage. Strong frame houses lifted off foundations and carried
considerable distances to disintegrate; automobile sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 m (109
yd); trees debarked; steel reinforced concrete structures badly damaged; incredible phenomena will occur.
Fig. 1 Fujita scale (MetService)
A tornado is a wind storm with a strong rotation component which means that all obstacles in its path will
experience variations in both wind speed and direction. As construction methods vary, the ability of a
building to withstand a tornado depends on the direction and magnitude of the force applied.
A major contribution to tornado damage is the strong acceleration of the upward motion near the surface,
often described as suction by eyewitnesses. Buildings are typically designed to hold structures down, but not
to withstand large lifting forces. It only takes one point of weakness to initiate structural failure. In addition to
the lift forces, horizontal wind creates dynamic inward acting pressure. This horizontal flow interacts with the
building and can increase lifting forces.
Projectile impacts and internal pressurization are also frequent causes of severe building damage.
Openings, such as doors or windows, are the weak points of the building envelope and might not resist wind
loads or can be damaged by debris. Once damaged, the wind can enter the building and amplify forces on
the ceiling and roof and can combine with outward acting pressure. It’s like a house blowing up like a balloon
and could result in what people often describe as an explosion, but is actually it’s the result of the dynamic
pressure not the pressure deficit.
Tornadoes can move quickly, are generally small in diameter and interact with a given structure for only a
few seconds, but they can also be slow-moving, with a wide path and therefore can act on a building for a
longer duration. The level of damage a building sustains is not directly correlated to the duration of
interaction with a tornado. Some failures occur if the forces increase rapidly while other damages are more
likely if the forces increase slowly. However, in general the probability of a failure will increase the longer the
wind interacts with the building.
The rapid variation in wind speed and duration, together with differences in structural strength can result in
the destruction of some structures, whereas other structures in the near vicinity are almost untouched. And
unlike other strong wind events, not only the windward side of a building is vulnerable; the fluctuation in the
wind field can trigger damage to every corner of the building. The variation in wind speed and direction, in
combination with debris impact often causes buildings to fail at relatively low wind speeds.
Every morning and evening, MetService publishes a Severe Thunderstorm Outlook for all of New Zealand
for the current and following day at www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=thunderstormoutlook.
The Severe Thunderstorm Outlook states, in broad terms, the likelihood that severe weather – including
tornadoes – associated with thunderstorms will occur. The “today” part of the Severe Thunderstorm Outlook
is published around 8.30am, with the “tomorrow” parts following later at about 11.00am.
In New Zealand, MetService defines Severe Thunderstorms as those which produce:
• Heavy rain (from thunderstorms): Rainfall of 25 millimetres per hour, or more; and/or
• Large hail: Hailstones 20 millimetres in diameter, or larger; and/or
• Strong wind gusts (from thunderstorms): Gusts of 110 kilometres per hour (60 knots) or stronger; and/or
• Damaging tornadoes: Fujita F1 (wind speeds greater than 116 kilometres per hour (63 knots)) or stronger.
Example: severe thunderstorm outlook
Situation Statement:
The atmosphere is expected to be very unstable today with thunderstorms expected in many areas. A band
of rain and thunderstorms will move onto western parts of the North Island late morning, bringing a high risk
of thunderstorms to western areas from the Kaipara Harbour to Awakino, with localised heavy rain and hail.
This band will weaken as it moves eastwards across the North Island, however scattered heavy showers
and thunderstorms are expected to develop from afternoon cloud build-ups in many areas from Coromandel
Peninsula to Taihape and Hawkes Bay. Localised heavy rain and hail will accompany these storms.
In inland parts of Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, eastern Bay of Plenty and possibly Taupo, the afternoon and
evening thunderstorms are expected to be slow-moving and therefore have the potential be severe with
rainfall rates as high as 35mm/hr.
Rainfall rates of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such
as valleys, streams and drains.
There is also a much lower risk of afternoon thunderstorms about inland Taranaki, the Wanganui hill country
and Wairarapa as indicated on the chart.
If there is a high risk of severe thunderstorms within the next 6 to 12 hours, MetService will issue a Severe
Thunderstorm Watch. If tornadoes are expected to be associated with the severe thunderstorms, they will be
mentioned in the Severe Thunderstorm Watch. As with the Severe Thunderstorm Outlook this is for all of
New Zealand, is usually valid for no more than six hours and describes the risk of tornadoes in fairly general
terms.
The Severe Thunderstorm Watch is available at
www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=thunderstormwatch .
A text version is also available by email: to receive it, follow the instructions at
www.metservice.com/default/index.php?alias=warningemail .
Example: Severe thunderstorm watch
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
Issued by MetService at 11:05 am Tuesday 12 February 2008
Valid until: 08:00 pm Tuesday 12 Feb 2008
Daytime cloud build-ups are expected to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms about Gisborne,
Hawkes Bay (from about Hastings northwards), and near the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty and eastern
Taupo this afternoon and evening.
A few of these thunderstorms are likely to be severe, especially about the inland hills and ranges where
rainfall rates may reach 35mm/hr.
Rainfall rates of this intensity can cause surfaceand/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such
as drains, streams and rivers.
Issued by: John Crouch
This watch will be updated by: 03:00 pm Tuesday 12 February 2008
In New Zealand, weather radars are located at or near Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Christchurch
and Invercargill. By mid 2011, additional weather radars will be installed near Mahia, in Northland, in the Bay
of Plenty and on the South Island’s West Coast.
MetService provides Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Because weather radar is required to accurately
detect and track thunderstorms, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are only available within 180km of a
weather radar, and are issued once severe thunderstorms have been identified and are valid for a maximum
of two hours. As shown in the example below, they are much more specific about the location and timing of
expected severe weather. Because tornadoes in New Zealand are too small and too short-lived to be
reliably tracked by weather radar, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings do not contain forecast tornado paths.
Severe Thunderstorm warnings are published on MetService’s web site (wwwmetservice.com), available
through the broadcast media and by email. The very short lead time for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning
means you will have to be prepared to act quickly.
Example: Severe thunderstorm warning
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR TORNADOES, LARGE HAIL AND HEAVY RAIN
Issued by MetService at 2:11 pm Monday 32nd December 2008
Valid until 3:00 pm today
This warning affects people in:
HOROWHENUA, RANGITIKEI and WANGANUI districts.
At 2:00pm, MetService weather radar detected severe thunderstorms offshore Kapiti. Severe thunderstorms
are forecast to move northeast and lie near Levin, Foxton and Sanson at 03:00pm. Tornadoes, large
hailstones and very heavy rainfall are possible with these storms.
As storms approach people should:
• take shelter
• put vehicles under cover
During and after the storm people should:
• beware of fallen trees and power lines
• avoid creeks and drains as you may be swept away
This Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be updated by 3:00 pm
What are the warning signs of a tornado?
• Hail or heavy rain followed by dead calm or a fast, intense wind shift
• Hailstone size can indicate storm intensity
• Long continuous roar or rumble, much like the sound of an approaching freight train
• At night, small, bright, blue-green to white flashes at ground level near a thunderstorm
• A large, dark, low-lying cloud
• Dark, often greenish sky
• Cloud of debris - an approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel is not
visible.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Make an evacuation plan.
. . Keep an ‘in case of tornado’ to-do list.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take tornado specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a tornado happens.
Develop an emergency communication plan in your family (for all hazards) in case family members are
separated from one another during a tornado, such as during the day when adults are at work and children
at school. Have a plan for getting back together.
1. Discuss where and how to shelter in your home.
2. Get familiar with your Household Emergency Plan.
3. Have Emergency Survival Items on hand (see Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit section).
4. Make list of emergency services telephone numbers (fire, police, council/ civil defence emergency
management office, ambulance, etc.). Farmers should also include emergency numbers for vets, local
livestock transport companies, alternative powers supply equipment, Local Rural Support Trust etc. You
may not have time in an emergency to look up critical numbers.
5. Check your household insurance policy for coverage.
6. Know where your utility switches or valves are located and how to turn them off.
7. For people with special needs, write down your specific needs, limitations and medication.
8. Keep insurance policies, important family documents (birth certificates, ownership certificates, passport,
etc.), and other valuables in a waterproof container. You may need quick, easy access to these documents.
9. Prepare a list of important medical information, bank account number, etc.
10. Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged
limbs, then strategically remove branches so that wind can blow through. Strong winds frequently break
weak limbs and hurl them at great speed, causing damage or injury when they hit. Debris collection services
may not be operating just before a storm, so it is best to do this well in advance of approaching storms.
11. Remove any debris or loose items in your yard. Branches and firewood may become missiles in strong
winds.
12. Consider installing permanent shutters to cover windows. Shutters can be closed quickly and provide the
safest protection for windows.
13. Strengthen garage doors. Garage doors are often damaged or destroyed by flying debris, allowing
strong winds to enter. As winds apply pressure to the walls, the roof can be lifted off, and the rest of the
house can easily follow.
14. Conduct periodic tornado drills, so everyone remembers what to do if a tornado approaches. Practice
having everyone in the household go to your designated safe place.
15. Discuss tornadoes with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are
not together. Discussing disaster preparedness ahead of time helps reduce fear and lets everyone know
what to do in a tornado situation.
16. If you see a funnel nearby, take shelter immediately. If you spot a tornado that is far away, help alert
others.
17. In a home, the basement offers the greatest safety. If underground shelter is not available, move to an
interior room or hallway without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a centre hallway, bathroom or
closet. Putting as many walls as you can between you and the outside will provide additional protection.
Less than two percent of all tornadoes have winds over 330 kilometers per hour and are powerful enough to
completely destroy a sturdy building. Make sure there are no windows or glass doors in your safe place and
keep this place uncluttered.
18. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If possible cover
your body with a blanket, mattress or sleeping bag, and protect your head even with your hands.
19. Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
20. Evacuate any rooms that are on the top floor.
21. Long-span buildings, such as auditoriums, gymnasiums or shopping malls can be especially dangerous
because the roof structure is solely supported by the outside walls. Roof collapse in such buildings is likely.
If you are in such a building, stay away from windows and get to the lowest level, the basement if possible.
22. If there is no time to get to a lower level, try to get under a door frame or get up against something that
will support or deflect falling debris.
23. Do not use lifts during or after tornadoes.
24. If caught outside, avoid areas with many trees.
25. Lie down flat in a nearby gully, ditch or low spot on the ground. Tornadoes cause a lot of debris to be
blown at very high speeds. Dangerous flying debris can be blown under overpasses and bridges, and the
structures themselves could be destroyed. You will be safer lying flat in a low-lying area where the wind and
debris will blow over you. Tornadoes come from severe thunderstorms, which can produce a lot of rain. If
you see quickly rising water or floodwater coming toward you, move to another spot.
26. Protect your head with an object or with your arms
27. Get out of your car.
28. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately and do not get under your
vehicle.
29. Check for injuries. Give first aid and get help for injured or trapped persons. Taking care of yourself first
will allow you to help others safely until emergency responders arrive.
30. Help people who require special assistance—infants, elderly people, those without transportation,
families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people
who care for them.
31. Turn on the radio or television or call your local emergency services to get the latest emergency
information.
32. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long sleeves, and gloves when handling or walking on or near debris.
33. Be aware of hazards from exposed nails and broken glass.
34. Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
35. Do not touch downed power lines or objects in contact with downed power lines.
36. Report broken utility lines to the appropriate authorities. Reporting potential hazards will get the utilities
turned off as quickly as possible, preventing further damage and injury.
37. Look for fire hazards and inspect utilities in a damaged house
38. Be careful when entering any structure that has been damaged.
39. Check for gas leaks - if you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly
leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a
neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
40. Look for electrical system damage - if you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot
insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to
the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician for advice.
41. If farming, check that livestock are secure and not injured. Their behaviour may be unpredictable so take
care when approaching.
Ring your insurer as soon as possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance
assessor to look at your property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and are
covered by your policy.
Ask the insurance company:
42. How long it will be before the insurance assessor visits.
43. If you are to clean your property or if they will get a company to do it for you.
44. Always make your own record of your damaged property using photographs or video.
45. List the damage to your property and belongings.
46. Ask your insurance company or landlord if they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This
could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast, a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
47. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
48. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
49. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
50. Keep receipts.
51. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
52. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
53. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
54. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
Tornadoes general information
55. Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information about tornadoes. Included
contact information for local emergency services and the nearest hospitals.
56. Conduct a series on how to protect yourself during a tornado in case you are at home, in a car, at the
office, or outside.
57. Teach children about hazards in your area
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Areas near rivers, lakes and mountains are safe from tornadoes.
Facts: Tornadoes can occur wherever thunderstorms occur.
Fiction: The low pressure associated with a tornado causes buildings to “explode” as the tornado passes
overhead.
Facts: When openings (windows, doors) are damaged, wind can enter the building and amplify forces on the
ceiling and roof and combine with outward acting pressure. It’s like a house blowing up like a balloon and
could result in what people often describe as an explosion, but in reality it’s the result of the dynamic
pressure not the pressure deficit.
Fiction: Windows should be opened before a tornado approaches to equalise pressure and minimise
damage.
Facts: Opening windows will allow damaging winds to enter the structure and enhance the outward
pressure. Leave the windows CLOSED and stay away from doors and windows.
Fiction: If you are driving and a tornado is sighted, you should turn and drive at right angles to the tornado.
Facts: Many people are injured or killed when they remain in their vehicles during a tornado. If you are in a
vehicle during a tornado, the safest thing to do is go to a nearby sturdy building and go inside to an area on
the lowest level without windows. If a sturdy building is not available, then get out of and move away from
the vehicle, lie down in a low spot on the ground not subject to flooding, and protect your head and neck.
Driving at right angles to a tornado will not protect you for many reasons, including the fact that tornadoes do
not necessarily travel in straight lines; you cannot always tell where a tornado is coming from; the road may
not be straight; and there may be more than one tornado.
Fiction: People caught in the open should take shelter under overpasses or bridges.
Facts: Do not take shelter under overpasses or bridges. If at all possible, take shelter in a sturdy, reinforced
building. Dangerous flying debris can be blown under overpasses and bridges, and the structures
themselves could be destroyed. If a building is not available, you will be safer lying flat in a low-lying area
where the wind and debris will blow over you. Use your arms and hands to cover your head and neck.
Useful links
Facts about tornadoes
• www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/ClimateAndAtmosphere/Weather/6/en
• www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado
• www.noaawatch.gov/themes/severe.php
• www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm
• www.weatherwizkids.com/tornado.htm
• www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/natural-hazards
Insurance companies
• www.ami.co.nz/products/contents/
• www.state.co.nz/
• www.tower.co.nz/Web_Home.asp
• www.vero.co.nz/
• www.icnz.org.nz/
Weather warnings
www.metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/warningMap.html
Preparedness:
• www.getthru.govt.nz
• www.nssl.noaa.gov/edu/safety/tornadoguide.html
• www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm
• www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_591_,00.html
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Tsunami
. . Learn whether tsunami have previously occurred in your area by contacting your local council or visiting
the GNS Science website www.gns.cri.nz.
. . Find out about tsunami risk in your area.
. . Check the flooding elevation for your house.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp8-11)
. . If you are at the coast move quickly to higher ground, or if the surrounding area is flat, as far inland as
possible
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take tsunami specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a tsunami occurs.
. . Determine your risk
. . Prepare members of your household
. . Learn and practice evacuation routes
. . Actively protect your home
. . Stay informed and follow instructions
. . Climb to higher ground
. . Take care of yourself and help others
. . Watch for hazards
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of
the text in this chapter.
Awareness messages
On a world scale, New Zealand’s exposure to tsunami hazards is considered high. The risk of damage and
financial loss is becoming greater with increasing coastal development and use.
There is abundant evidence that large, destructive tsunami have affected the New Zealand coast in the past.
In the last 6000 years, the geological record suggests that at least one very large tsunami with a run-up, i.e.
vertical height that the tsunami reaches on land (see Fig. 1), of 30 metres or more has reached the New
Zealand coast. In the last two hundred years, at least three tsunami with run-up heights of 10 metres or
more have occurred.
In 1855, a large earthquake on the Wairarapa Fault generated a tsunami with runup heights of up to 10
metres in eastern Palliser Bay. In 1947, a 10-metre run-up high tsunami reached the coast north of Gisborne
following a local earthquake. In 1960, a massive magnitude 9.5 earthquake off the coast of Chile generated
a Pacific-wide tsunami that caused thousands of deaths in Chile, and hundreds of deaths in Hawai’i, Japan
and the Philippines. It also caused widespread damage on the east coast of New Zealand. Run-up heights
of 4 metres occurred – even though the tsunami arrived at low tide. The tsunami would have been far more
destructive if it had struck at high tide.
Even though more recent events like the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 or the Solomon Islands Tsunami in
April 2007 didn’t cause any damage in New Zealand, significant rises in water level were recorded. The
largest wave height recorded in New Zealand from the Boxing Day tsunami was at Timaru where an
individual wave reached nearly 1 m (peak to trough) and 1.10m in Charleston during the Solomon Islands
tsunami. New Zealand can expect tsunami with similar, and greater, runup heights in the future. Some
coasts are more at risk from tsunami than others because of their proximity to local offshore areas of high
seismic (earthquake) activity, or may be more exposed to tsunami arriving from distant sources. No part of
the New Zealand coast is free from tsunami hazards, and some of our larger lakes may also be at risk from
tsunami – for instance, caused by landslides.
Tsunami waves are described by both their height and their run-up (see Fig. 1 on the previous page).
Tsunami height is a measure of the vertical trough-to-crest height of a tsunami wave. Tsunami height is not
constant – it increases substantially as the waves approach the shore and it depends on the near shore sea
bottom configuration.
Tsunami run-up is the maximum vertical height that the tsunami reaches on land above normal sea level at
the time. Run-up is dependent on the type and size of the tsunami, as well as coastal topography and land
use. Tsunami run-up is a more useful measure than tsunami height as it relates more closely to the onshore
effects of a tsunami.
A tsunami is a natural phenomenon consisting of a series of waves generated when a large volume of water
in the sea, or in a lake, is rapidly displaced. Tsunami are known for their capacity to violently flood
coastlines, causing devastating property damage, injuries, and loss of life. The principal sources of tsunami
are:
• Large submarine or coastal earthquakes, in which there is significant displacement of the seafloor or coast;
• Underwater landslides (which may be triggered by an earthquake or volcanic activity);
• Large coastal cliff or lakeside landslides;
• Underwater volcanic eruptions.
Tsunami waves differ from ordinary coastal waves (see Fig. 2) in that the entire column of water, from the
ocean floor to the surface is affected. Tsunami waves contain considerable energy. This means tsunami
waves travel much further, both in coastal surges and retreats, compared to ordinary coastal waves.
Tsunami also create phenomena not characteristic of ordinary waves such as strong currents.
Fig. 2 Wave energy in ordinary coastal waves is limited to the surface of the ocean. This energy rapidly
dissipates as the wave breaks on the shoreline (left). Energy in tsunami waves however, affects the entire
column of water from the ocean floor to the surface (right). This energy does not readily dissipate. Instead,
as the ocean floor rises, water is pushed upwards and much further inland releasing considerable energy
and resulting in coastal inundation. A one metre tsunami wave cannot be likened to a one metre ordinary
coastal wave.
A tsunami can occur at any season of the year and at any time, day or night. On the open ocean tsunami
waves are small and barely noticeable but when the waves enter shallow water they will rise in height. Some
tsunami can be very large and can rapidly and violently inundate coastlines, causing loss of life and property
damage. Others can be small but still dangerous to those near or in the coastal water.
It is important to remember that not all earthquakes will generate a tsunami, and that earthquakes are not
the only sign of an impending tsunami so it is critical to know what to do as a precaution if you are in a
vulnerable area.
New Zealand’s entire coast is at risk of tsunami.
• The biggest tsunami in New Zealand are likely to be caused by events close to our shore and can arrive
within just a few minutes.
• People on the beach or in low coastal areas need to be aware that a tsunami could arrive within minutes
after a severe earthquake, without an official warning being issued.
• In some cases, a relatively weak, rolling earthquake with a long duration can be followed by a large
tsunami.
• The tsunami danger period can continue for many hours after a major earthquake.
• Tsunami also may be generated by very large earthquakes far away. Tsunami waves can travel thousands
of kilometres and still be big enough when they arrive here to cause loss of life and damage.
• A tsunami consists of a series of waves, and the first wave may not be the largest.
• There may be many waves separated by up to an hour, or more.
• Tsunami can travel around corners and inundate what appear to be sheltered areas.
• All areas of the coastline will not be impacted equally. There can be a large variation in run-up and impact
over short distances along the coast.
• Tsunami waves can travel up streams and rivers with damaging waves extending farther inland than the
immediate coast.
• Once they travel over land, tsunami pick up debris, can knock down buildings and have enormous
destructive force.
• Harbours, bays and inlets often amplify tsunami waves.
Prior to and particularly since 2005 it has become practice to distinguish between distant-, regional-, and
local-source tsunami. These terms were defined in the scientific reports developed principally for emergency
management purposes, to reflect the availability of time for warning notifications to be issued at the national
level by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management and the appropriate response to be
initiated and implemented at the regional level.
Definitions for the different sources of tsunami are:
NZ local sources: less than 1 hour tsunami travel time to the nearest New Zealand coastline, noting that
many travel times are less than 30 minutes and some travel times are as short as a few minutes.
NZ regional sources: 1–3 hours tsunami travel time to the nearest New Zealand coastline.
NZ distant sources: more than 3 hours of tsunami travel time to the nearest New Zealand coastline.
Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, their member local authorities and partner agencies are
now using similar terms preceded by a district or place name to refer to response times specific to their
district or place. For example, a “Mercury Bay area regional source tsunami” refers to those events that are
1–3 hours tsunami travel time from the Mercury Bay area. These may be local source events somewhere
else, e.g. a local source tsunami as far as Gisborne is concerned and as far as response at national level is
concerned. Prefixes should be used consistently to prevent confusion.
In the case of an impending tsunami, warning messages and signals to the public can come from several
sources – natural, official or unofficial.
Natural warnings
Natural warning signals are of key importance in response to local source tsunami and they may be the only
warnings possible for local or regional source tsunami. • Strong earthquake shaking (i.e. it is hard to stand
up)
• Weak, rolling earthquake shaking of unusually long duration (i.e. a minute or more)
• Out of ordinary sea behaviour, such as unusual and sudden sea level fall or rise
• The sea making loud and unusual noises, especially roaring like a jet engine
When experiencing any of the above go immediately to high ground or, if the surrounding area is flat, go as
far inland as possible, evacuating all coastal areas or, where present, all evacuation zones. The first wave
may arrive within minutes. Once away from the water, listen to a radio station for information from local civil
defence about further action you should take. Even if you do not feel shaking, if you learn that an area has
experienced a large earthquake that could send a tsunami in your direction, listen to a radio or television
station for information from local civil defence about action you should take. Depending on the location of the
earthquake, you may have a number of hours in which to take appropriate action.
Official warnings
Official warnings are normally disseminated via the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
National Warning System to the national media, local authorities and other key national organisations that
might be involved in response. As a consequence of receiving a national warning message or
independently, local authorities issue official warnings to the public.
At present, official warning messages are:
• expected for NZ distant source tsunami
• not expected for the nearest coast affected by NZ local source tsunami
• possible for NZ regional source tsunami and for areas 1-3 hours travel time from the source of local source
tsunami
An official warning from your local authority (civil defence emergency management) may be issued through
radio or television broadcasts and emergency services. Warning may also be through siren, telephone, txt,
loud hailer or other local arrangements. Official warnings are currently expected to come for sources that are
more than three hours of tsunami travel time away from you. You may receive warnings from one, or several
sources. Respond to the first source; do not wait for more messages before you act.
Unofficial/informal warnings
There are several ways by which people may receive unofficial (which have also been called informal)
warnings of an impending tsunami, for example:
• media coverage, following release of a watch/warning bulletin from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
(PTWC). People may receive unofficial warnings either directly through local or international media, or from
friends in New Zealand or overseas that have heard their broadcasts;
• from people (e.g. by phone) who have already experienced the arrival of the tsunami on coastline closer to
the source, or observed a natural warning sign.
Warnings from friends, other members of the public, international media, internet, etc. may be correct;
informal communication may be your only warning, especially for tsunami sourced from less than three
hours tsunami travel time away from you.
Note:
• If you are in an evacuation zone and you feel the threat is imminent, evacuate to high ground and/or inland
immediately, or as directed by officials.
• Verify the warning only if you can do so quickly (via New Zealand radio or television broadcasts, internet,
Civil Defence Emergency Management, or Emergency Services).
• The first or largest wave may not arrive for many hours after the forecast arrival time.
• If New Zealand Civil Defence Emergency Management warnings are available, trust their message over
informal warnings.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Move quickly to higher ground, or if the surrounding area is flat, as far inland as possible.
For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take tsunami specific precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a tsunami occurs.
1. Drop, cover, and hold on during the shaking. You should first protect yourself from the earthquake.
2. When the shaking stops, gather members of your household and move quickly to higher ground away
from the coast, or inland. A tsunami may arrive within minutes.
3. While evacuating, avoid hazards caused by earthquake damage, especially fallen power lines.
4. If you cannot escape the tsunami go to an upper story of a sturdy building or climb onto a roof or up a
tree, or grab a floating object and hang on until help arrives. Concrete buildings are the safest.
5. Never go to the shore to watch for a tsunami. Remember, you cannot outrun a tsunami, it moves faster
than a person can run.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Stay informed and follow instructions.
. . Climb to higher ground.
If you receive an official warning respond to the first message; do not wait for more messages before you
act.
6. Official warnings are currently expected to come for sources that are more than three hours of tsunami
travel time away from you.
7. Listen carefully to official instructions and follow them.
8. Evacuate from the areas or zone(s) stated in the warning.
9. Stay out until the official ‘all-clear’ is given.
10. Take your Getaway Kit with you if possible (but do not travel into the evacuation zone to collect your kit
or other belongings).
11. Continue listening for further messages while you respond.
12. Get to higher ground or as far inland as possible. Officials cannot reliably predict either the height or
local effects of the impending tsunami. Watching tsunami from the beach or cliffs could put you in grave
danger. If you can see the wave, you may be too close to escape it.
13. Do not assume that after one wave the danger is over. The next wave may be larger than the first one.
In several cases, people survived the first wave and returned to homes and businesses only to be trapped
and killed by later waves in the series which were sometimes larger than the first wave.
14. If you evacuate, take your animals with you. Do not spend time looking for them and if you are not at
home, do not return to get them.
15. Move quickly to higher ground, or if the surrounding area is flat, inland, as far from the coastline as
possible.
16. Evacuate via the routes drawn on evacuation maps if maps are present.
17. Walk or bike quickly if possible, drive only if essential. If driving, keep going once you are well outside of
all evacuation zones, to allow room for others behind you.
18. If your are farming along the coast or river estuary, evacuate your family and staff to higher ground first.
If you have time, move livestock and domestic animals to higher ground.
19. Stay out of the evacuated area until given the official “all-clear”. Continue to listen to your radio.
20. Stay away from coastal water, tidal estuaries, rivers and streams for at least 24 hours after any tsunami
warning, as even small waves create dangerous currents.
21. Boats are generally safer in water deeper than 20 metres than if they are close to the shore. It is not safe
to try to move a boat if a tsunami is imminent.
22. Take your Getaway Kit with you.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Prepare members of your household.
. . Learn and practice evacuation routes.
Be aware of natural signs that can mean that a tsunami may be approaching:
23. Strong earthquake shaking (i.e. it is hard to stand up);
24. Prolonged, weak earthquake shaking (i.e. a minute or more);
25. A noticeable rapid rise or fall in coastal waters;
26. Water making unusual noise.
27. If you live in, or are visiting, an area at risk from tsunami, be aware of tsunami evacuation zones and
routes and warning methods and signage:
28. Find out if your home, farm, school, workplace or other frequently visited locations are in tsunami hazard
areas.
29. If you are visiting an area at risk from tsunami, check with the hotel, motel or campground operators for
tsunami evacuation information and find out what the local warning system is for tsunami. It is important to
know the designated escape routes before any warning is issued.
30. Know the tsunami evacuation zone, if present, for your area. Consider developing zone maps if they are
not already present – contact local civil defence emergency management.
31. Plan evacuation routes from your home, farm, school, workplace, or any other place you could be where
tsunami present a risk. Go as high or as far inland as you can; every metre inland or upward may make a
difference. You should be able to reach your safe location on foot as soon as possible.
32. Plan to evacuate on foot or bike wherever possible to avoid congestion. After a disaster, roads may
become impassable or blocked. Follow posted tsunami evacuation routes where present; these will lead to
safety. Local emergency management officials can advise you on the best route to safety and likely shelter
locations.
33. If your children’s school is in an identified evacuation zone, find out what the school evacuation plan is.
Find out if the plan requires you to pick up your children from a safe location after the “all-clear” is given.
Work with your school to make sure arrangements are in place for the school to evacuate children.
Telephone lines during a tsunami or other emergency may be overloaded, and routes to and from schools
are likely to be jammed.
34. Practice your evacuation routes. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape route at
night and during inclement weather. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a
reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency situation.
35. Stay tuned to a radio station to keep informed of local warnings and instructions.
36. Discuss tsunami with your family. Everyone should know what to do in a tsunami situation. Discussing
tsunami ahead of time will help reduce fear and save precious time in an emergency.
37. Be prepared to be on your own, without outside assistance, for at least three days. Prepare a three-day
Emergency Survival Items.
38. Assemble and make copies of important documents such as wills, insurance papers, medical records,
etc. Keep original documents in a fireproof / waterproof container.
39. Arrange an out-of-area contact person.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
Actively protect your home.
If you are at risk from tsunami, you should:
40. Check with your Council about the level of risk a tsunami may pose.
41. Ideally you should avoid building or living in buildings close to the coastline, as these areas are more
likely to experience damage from tsunami, strong winds, or coastal storms.
42. Take precautions to prevent flooding (See: ‘Floods’ and ‘Coastal Storm Inundation’).
43. Have an engineer check your home and advise about ways to make it more resistant to tsunami water.
44. If risks are high consider elevation of coastal homes. Elevating your house will help reduce damage to
your property from most tsunami and other coastal hazards.
45. Ensure that any critcal buildings such as milking sheds or packing houses, or stockyards are protected in
the same way as your home. When installing or changing fence lines, consider placing them in such a way
that your animals are able to move to higher ground in the event of a tsunami.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Stay informed.
. . Take care of yourself and help others.
. . Watch for hazards.
After a tsunami, you should:
46. Stay tuned to a radio station for updated emergency information. The tsunami may have damaged
roads, bridges, or other places that may be unsafe.
47. Check yourself for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons.
48. If someone needs to be rescued, call professionals with the right equipment to help. Many people have
been killed or injured trying to rescue others in flooded areas.
49. Help people who require special assistance – infants, elderly people, those without transportation,
families who may need additional help in an emergency situation, people with disabilities, and the people
who care for them.
50. Avoid areas impacted in a tsunami emergency. Your presence might hamper rescue and other
emergency operations and put you at further risk from the residual effects of floods, such as contaminated
water, crumbled roads, landslides, mudflows, and other hazards.
51. Use the telephone for emergency calls only. Telephone lines are frequently overwhelmed in disaster
situations. They need to be clear for emergency calls.
52. Stay out of a building if water remains around it. Tsunami water, like floodwater, can undermine
foundations, causing buildings to sink, floors to crack, or walls to collapse.
53. When re-entering buildings or homes, use extreme caution. Tsunami-driven floodwater may have
damaged buildings where you least expect it. Carefully watch every step you take.
54. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes. Sturdy shoes protect against injuries or cut
feet.
55. Use a battery-powered torch when examining buildings. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and
easiest to use. DO NOT USE CANDLES.
56. Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases, and windows to make sure that the building is not in danger of
collapsing.
57. Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage. Cracks and damage to a foundation can render a
building uninhabitable.
58. Look for fire hazards. There may be broken or leaking gas lines, flooded electrical circuits, or submerged
furnaces or electrical appliances. Flammable or explosive materials may have come from upstream. Fire is
the most frequent hazard following floods.
59. Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise, open a window and get
everyone outside quickly. Turn off the gas using the outside main valve if you can, and call the gas company
from a neighbour’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
60. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell burning
insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to
the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice. Electrical equipment should be checked
and dried before being returned to service.
61. Check for damage to sewage, effluent and water systems. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged,
avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid
using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from undamaged water heaters or by melting ice cubes
that were made before the tsunami hit. Turn off the main water valve before draining water from these
sources. Use tap water only if local health officials advise it is safe.
62. Watch for loose plaster and wall and ceiling linings that could fall.
63. Open the windows and doors to help dry the building.
64. Shovel mud out before it solidifies.
65. Check food supplies. Any food that has come in contact with floodwater may be contaminated and
should be thrown out.
66. Expect aftershocks if the earthquake was very large (magnitude 8 to 9+ on the Richter scale) and
located nearby. Some aftershocks could be as large as magnitude 7+ and capable of generating another
tsunami. The number of aftershocks will decrease over the course of several days, weeks, or months
depending on how large the main shock was.
67. Keep all your animals under your direct control. Hazardous materials abound in flooded areas. Your pets
may be able to escape from your home or through a broken fence. Pets may become disoriented,
particularly because flooding usually affects scent markers that normally allow them to find their homes. The
behaviour of pets may change dramatically after any disruption, becoming aggressive or defensive. Be
aware of their well-being and take measures to protect them from hazards, and to ensure the safety of other
people and animals.
68. The behaviour of livestock may change dramatically after a disruption. Be aware of their well-being and
ensure they are secure, have food, water and are safe.
I
f your property sustains any damage:
69. Residential property damage caused by tsunami is covered by Earthquake Commission (EQC)
insurance providing you already have house and/or contents insurance. If your property has been damaged,
lodge a claim by calling 0800 326 243 or visit www.eqc.govt.nz.
70. If the value of damage to your property exceeds the limit of EQC cover, ring your insurer as soon as
possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance assessor to look at your
property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered by your policy.
71. Photograph or video record your damaged property.
72. List the damage to your property and belongings.
73. If your insurance policy covers you for loss of perishable goods, make a list of all the foods you throw
away. Include anything in your fridge or freezer ruined by loss of power.
Ask the insurance company:
74. How long it will be before the assessor visits.
75. If they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast,
a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
76. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
77. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
78. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
79. Keep receipts.
80. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
81. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
82. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
83. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
Tsunami general information
If your community is at risk, build tsunami evacuation routes and publicise their locations. Post signs
directing people to higher ground away from the coast. Review land use in tsunami hazard areas so no new
critical facilities, such as hospitals and police stations; high-occupancy buildings, such as auditoriums or
schools; or fuel storage tank farms are built where there is a tsunami hazard.
Consider relocating existing critical facilities outside the tsunami hazard area when opportunities arise, or at
least explore ways to reinforce facilities and structures, such as critical bridges needed for evacuation.
Tsunami damage can be minimised through land use planning, preparation, and evacuation.
Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
84. Do a series on the dangers of tsunami, coastal inundation and floods.
85. Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about land use management and building codes in
floodplains.
86. Highlight the importance of staying informed about local conditions.
87. Run public service ads about how to protect lives and property in a tsunami.
88. Work with officials of the local fire, police, and emergency medical services departments; utilities;
hospitals; emergency management office to prepare and disseminate guidelines for people with mobility
impairments about what to do if they have to evacuate.
89. Periodically inform your community about local public warning systems.
90. Interview local officials and insurance companies about the types of insurance that cover flood-related
losses. Include information on the economic effects of tsunami impacts.
Fiction and facts
Fiction Tsunami are giant walls of water.
Fact Tsunami normally have the appearance of a fast-rising and fast-receding flood. They can be similar to a
tide cycle occurring over 10 to 60 minutes instead of 12 hours. Occasionally, tsunami can form walls of
water, known as tsunami bores, when the waves are high enough and the shoreline configuration is
appropriate.
Fiction A tsunami is a single wave.
Fact A tsunami is a series of waves. Often the initial wave is not the largest. The largest wave may occur
several hours after the initial activity starts at a coastal location. There may also be more than one series of
tsunami waves if a very large earthquake triggers local landslides.
Fiction A tsunami is the same thing as a tidal wave.
Fact Tidal waves are regular ocean waves, and are caused by the tides. These waves are caused by the
interaction of the pull of the moon’s gravity on the earth. A “tidal wave” is a term used in common folklore to
mean the same thing as a tsunami, but is not the same thing.
Fiction Boats should move to the protection of a bay or harbour during a tsunami.
Fact Tsunami are often most destructive in bays and harbours, not just because of the waves but because
of the violent currents they generate in local waterways. Tsunami are least destructive in deep, open ocean
waters.
Useful links
• www.gns.cri.nz
• www.geonet.org.nz
• www.teara.govt.nz (search for ‘tsunamis’)
• www.niwa.co.nz
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Volcanoes
. . Learn about your community’s risk from hazards created by volcanic eruptions.
. . While you may be located far from a volcano, the ash from an explosive eruption could affect your area.
. . Contact your local council or visit GNS Science’s website www.gns.cri.nz to find out about the type of
volcanic hazards that could affect your area and what you can do to prepare.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp6–12)
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Keep goggles and dust masks handy.
. . Evacuate or take shelter.
. . Stay inside.
. . Protect your lungs and eyes.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household
Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a
Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take precautions and plan for and
practice what to do if a volcanic eruption occurs.
Awareness messages
A volcano is a landform that results from magma (molten rock within the earth) erupting at the surface. The
size and shape of a volcano reflect how often it erupts, the size and type of eruptions, and the composition
of the magma it produces. When pressure from gases within the molten rock becomes too great, gases
drive the molten rock to the surface and an eruption occurs.
Volcanoes produce a wide variety of hazards that can kill people and destroy property. Volcanic eruptions
fall into two broad types: explosive and quiet. Hazards from large explosive eruptions include widespread
ashfall (sand and dust-sized pieces of fractured rock and glass), pyroclastic flows (very fast flowing mixtures
of hot gases and volcanic rock) and massive lahars (volcanic mud flows - fast flowing mixtures of muddy
water and volcanic rock) that can endanger people and property nearby as well as tens to hundreds of
kilometres away. Eruptions can even affect the global climate. Hazards from quiet lava flows include fires,
building and other structural collapse, and acidic gas clouds.
New Zealand has a high density of active volcanoes and a high frequency of eruptions. There are three
major types of volcanoes in New Zealand:
Volcanic fields such as the Auckland Volcanic Field, which form when small eruptions occur over a wide
area and are spaced over long time intervals. Each eruption builds a single small volcano, which usually
does not erupt again. Thus, each succeeding eruption in the field occurs in a different place. This site cannot
be predicted until the eruption is imminent.
Cone volcanoes such as Mt Ruapehu and Mt Taranaki, which are characterised by a series of small to large
eruptions from roughly the same point on the earth’s surface. The products of successive eruptions
accumulate close to the vents to form a large cone, which is the volcano itself. Over a long period of time,
several cones may form which overlap and build up. The cone shape can be modified by partial collapse
due to oversteepening (Mt Taranaki is a good example) or by collapse of the summit area to form a caldera.
Because the magma tends to follow the same route to the surface each time, sites of future eruptions can
largely be predicted.
Caldera volcanoes such as Mayor Island, Okataina and Taupo, which have a history of infrequent moderate
to very large eruptions. Eruptions at these volcanoes are occasionally so large that the ground surface
collapses into the hole left behind by the emptying of the underground magma chamber. Lake Taupo
occupies a caldera basin. The eruption of Taupo volcano around 1800 years ago was the biggest on Earth
in the past 5000 years.
Typically, a number of different types of hazards will result from a single volcanic eruption. These hazards
can be divided into two categories:
Near-vent destructive hazards:
• pyroclastic falls (ashfall),
• pyroclastic flows
• lava flows
• lahars (volcanic mudflows) and flooding
• debris avalanches (volcanic landslides)
• volcanic gases.
And distant hazards (which may be damaging and/or disruptive):
• pyroclastic falls (ashfall),
• lahars
Volcanic eruptions can also cause other natural hazards, including earthquakes, wildfires, and (given certain
conditions) tsunamis. You need to know the hazards associated with active and potentially active volcanoes
where you live and visit. You must determine the varying degrees of your own risk and take actions to stay
safe and protect your property.
Learning your community’s warning system, developing and practicing a household evacuation plan and
being prepared to shelter-in-place should be important parts of your plan.
In New Zealand a system of volcanic alert levels is used to define the current status of each volcano. The
alert levels range from 0 to 5. There are two tables, one for the frequently active volcanoes like Ruapehu
and White Island, and one that deals with the reawakening of dormant volcanoes like Mayor Island,
Tarawera or Taupo. The alert levels are used by the public and responding agencies to set their response.
GNS Science is responsible for setting volcanic alert levels. When there is a change in volcanic activity,
such as observation of geophysical signals which indicate a volcano may erupt, GNS Science will issue a
‘Scientific Alert Bulletin’ and may change the volcanic alert level. The bulletins are released to the media,
civil defence emergency management organisations, and posted on the GeoNet website available for public
viewing (www.geonet.org.nz). If an eruption has occurred, the GeoNet website will also contain information
on the likely dispersal of ashfall. In a volcanic emergency information will be broadcasted on radio and other
media.
Frequently active cone volcanoes (White Island, Tongariro-Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, Kermadecs )
VOLCANIC ALERT LEVEL
Reawakening volcanoes (Northland, Auckland, Mayor Island,
Rotorua, Okataina, Taupo, Egmont/Taranaki )
Volcano status Indicative phenomena
Indicative phenomena
Volcano status
Usual dormant, or quiescent state
Typical background surface activity, seismicity, deformation and
heat flow at low levels. 0
Typical background surface activity; deformation, seismicity, and heat flow
at low levels.
Usual dormant, or quiescent state.
Signs of volcano unrest Departure from typical background surface activity.
1
Apparent seismic,
geodetic, thermal or other unrest indicators.
Initial signs of possible volcano unrest. No eruption threat.
Minor eruptive activity Onset of eruptive activity, accompanied by changes to monitored indicators.
2
Increase in number or intensity of unrest indicators (seismicity, deformation, heat flow and so on).
Confirmation of volcano unrest. Eruption threat.
Significant local eruption in progress
Increased vigour of ongoing activity and monitored indicators.
Significant effects on volcano, possible effects beyond. 3
Minor steam eruptions. High increasing
trends of unrest indicators, significant effects on volcano, possible beyond.
Minor eruptions
commenced. Real possibility of hazardous eruptions.
Hazardous local eruption in progress
Significant change to ongoing activity and monitoring indicators.
Effects beyond volcano. 4
Eruption of new magma. Sustained high levels of unrest indicators,
significant effects beyond volcano.
Hazardous local eruption in progress. Largescale eruption now
possible.
Large hazardous eruption in progress Destruction with major damage beyond volcano. Significant risk
over wider areas.
5
Destruction with major damage beyond active volcano. Significant risk over
wider areas.
Large hazardous volcanic eruption in progress.
Fig. 1 Different levels of volcanic activity (GNS Science)
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Determine your risk.
. . Get your household ready.
. . Keep goggles and dust masks handy.
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household Emergency Plan and
assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should
take precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a volcanic eruption occurs.
If you are at risk from volcanic activity, you should:
1. Learn about your community’s warning systems and emergency plans. Different communities have
different ways of providing warnings and different response plans.
2. Discuss volcanoes with members of your household ahead of time to reduce fear and to build a common
understanding of how to respond.
3. Develop an evacuation plan for volcanic eruptions and make sure all members of your household know
and practice it. Making plans at the last minute can be upsetting and wastes precious time.
4. Be sure to include your animals in your evacuation plan.
5. Have Emergency Survival Items on hand (see Emergency Survival Items and Getaway Kit section). In
addition to these, essential items to stock before an ashfall include:
. . Dust masks and eye protection (see IVHHN Recommended Masks document at www.ivhhn.org).
. . Plastic wrap (to keep ash out of electronics).
. . Cleaning supplies such as a broom, vacuum cleaner with spare bags and filters, and a shovel.
. . Consider that you could be stuck in your vehicle, so store emergency supplies in your vehicle too.
Actions to be taken in readiness:
6. Close doors and windows.
7. Place damp towels at door thresholds and other sources of draughts. Tape draughty windows.
8. Protect sensitive electronics and do not uncover until the environment is totally ash-free.
9. Disconnect drainpipes/downspouts from gutters to stop drains clogging, and to allow ash and water to
empty from gutters onto the ground.
10. If you use a rainwater collection system for your water supply, disconnect the tank prior to ash falling.
11. Put all machinery inside a garage or barn to protect it from volcanic ash. If buildings are not available,
cover machinery with large tarps.
12. Bring animals and livestock into closed shelters to protect them from breathing volcanic ash, particularly
sheep as their fleece can become contaminated with ash and weigh them down, increasing their stress.
Cover stock feed to avoid consumption of ash. This can cause blockages in their gut.
13. Evacuate livestock early to paddocks that are elevated and up wind from the volcano. Ensure they have
clean food and water.
14. If you have children, know your school’s emergency plan and have indoor games and activities ready.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Evacuate or take shelter.
During an eruption:
15. Don’t panic – stay calm.
16. Stay indoors.
17. If you are caught in an ashfall:
. . Wear a dust mask designed to protect against lung irritation from small particles. If masks are unavailable
use a handkerchief or cloth over your nose and mouth
. . Protect your eyes by wearing goggles. Wear eyeglasses, not contact lenses as these will result in corneal
abrasion.
. . Keep as much of your skin covered as possible.
. . If you have chronic bronchitis, emphysema or asthma, stay inside and avoid unnecessary exposure to the
ash.
. . If outside, seek shelter (e.g. in a car or building).
18. Listen to a local radio station on a portable, battery-operated radio for updated emergency information
and instructions. If the electricity is out, this may be your main source of information. Local officials will
provide the most appropriate advice for your particular situation using local media outlets.
19. Follow any evacuation orders issued by authorities, and put your Household Emergency Plan into action.
Although it may seem safe to stay at home and wait out an eruption, if you are in a hazard zone, doing so
could be very dangerous. The best way to stay safe is to take the advice of local authorities.
20. If warning is given before ashfall starts, go home from work.
21. If at work when ashfall starts, stay indoors until the ash has settled.
22. Do not tie up phone lines with non-emergency calls.
23. If there is ash in your water, let it settle and then use the clear water. If there is a lot of ash in the water
supply, do not use your dishwasher or washing machine.
24. Water contaminated by ash will usually make drinking water unpalatable before it presents a health risk.
25. If indoors, close all window, doors, and dampers to limit the entry of volcanic ash.
26. Stay out of designated restricted zones. Effects of a volcanic eruption can be experienced many miles
from a volcano.
27. Avoid low-lying areas, areas downwind of the volcano, and river valleys downstream of the volcano.
Debris and ash will be carried by wind and gravity. Stay in areas where you will not be further exposed to
volcanic eruption hazards. Trying to watch an erupting volcano up close is a deadly idea.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
. . Stay inside.
. . Protect your lungs and eyes.
You should:
28. Stay indoors and away from volcanic ashfall areas if possible. The fine, glassy pieces of volcanic ash
can increase the health risks for children and people with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic
bronchitis, or emphysema.
29. Follow the same precautions as given for “What to Do During a Volcanic Eruption” (previous section).
30. When it is safe to go outside:
. . Clear roofs of ashfall. Ash is very heavy and can cause buildings to collapse, especially if made wet by
rain. Exercise great caution when working on a roof.
. . Avoid driving in heavy ashfall. Driving will stir up volcanic ash that can clog engines and stall vehicles.
Abrasion can damage moving parts, including bearings, brakes, and transmissions.
31. Keep animals indoors where possible. Wash animals’ paws and fur or skin to prevent their ingesting or
inhaling ash while grooming themselves, and provide clean drinking water.
32. You may eat vegetables from the garden, but wash them first.
Volcanic ash is a great nuisance and gets everywhere in the house and office, including inside televisions,
computers, cameras and other valuable equipment where it can cause irreparable damage. Ash is different
from ordinary house dust. It’s sharp, and angular structure causes it to scratch and abrade surfaces when it
is removed by wiping or brushing. In wet weather the ash deposits are dampened down and the air can be
clear, but in drier weather ash can easily be stirred up and remobilised by wind and traffic. As a result,
suspended dust levels become much higher and can reach levels potentially harmful to health. Rainfall and
wind are effective in removing the ash and grass and other plants will eventually bind it to the soil. However,
with large ashfalls this process is very slow and the ash must be cleaned up and taken away from populated
areas. In addition, wind may also bring ash into areas which were previously clean so ash may be present in
the environment for months or even years following an eruption.
Those undertaking clean up operations should always wear effective dust masks (see IVHHN
Recommended Masks document at www.ivhhn.org). In fine-ash environments, wear goggles or corrective
eyeglasses instead of contact lenses to protect eyes from irritation. Lightly water down the ash deposits
before they are removed by shovelling, being careful not to excessively wet the deposits on roofs, causing
excess loading and danger of collapse. Dry brushing can produce very high exposure levels and should be
avoided. Use extra precaution on ladders and roofs, and use a harness if possible. The ash makes surfaces
much more slippery, consequently many people have died from falls while cleaning ash from their roofs. Be
aware of the extra load caused by standing on an already overloaded roof - tread carefully. It is preferable to
clean roofs before more than a few centimetres of ash have accumulated.
Keep ash out of buildings, machinery, vehicles, downspouts, water supplies, and wastewater systems (for
example, storm drains) as much as possible. The most effective method to prevent ash-induced damage to
machinery is to shut down, close off or seal equipment until ash is removed from the immediate
environment, though this may not be practical in all cases. Coordinate clean-up activities with your
neighbours and community-wide operations. After an ashfall, remove ash from roofs prior to street cleaning
if possible, in order to avoid having to clear streets numerous times.
DO:
33. Put on a recommended mask before starting to clean. If you don’t have one, use a wet cloth. In dry
conditions, wear eye protection (such as goggles) during clean-up.
34. Moisten the ash with a sprinkler first. This will help to stop the wind remobilizing it.
35. Use shovels for removing the bulk of thick deposits of ash (over 1 cm or so). Stiff brooms will be required
to remove lesser amounts.
36. Place the ash into heavy duty plastic bags, or onto trucks if available.
37. Since most roofs cannot support more than four inches (10 cm) of wet ash, keep roofs free of thick
accumulation.
38. Volcanic ash is slippery. Use caution when climbing on ladders and roofs.
39. Guttering systems clog very easily so sweep away from the gutters, especially those fitted under roofs.
Cut grass and hedges only after rain or light sprinkling, and bag clippings.
40. Seek advice from public officials regarding disposal of volcanic ash in your community. In most cases,
ash should be separated from normal rubbish for collection for disposal at a designated location – mixing
ash with normal rubbish can result in damage to collection vehicles and take up space in landfills.
41. Dampen ash in yards and streets to reduce suspension of ash, however try to use water sparingly – do
not soak the ash. Widespread use of water for clean-up may deplete public water supplies. Follow requests
from public officials regarding water use during clean-up operations.
42. Remove outdoor clothing before entering a building.
DON’T:
43. Do not soak the ash as it will cake into a hard mass, making clean-up more difficult. On roofs the added
weight of the water will increase the risk of roof collapse.
44. Do not dump the ash in gardens or on the roadside.
45. Do not wash the ash into the guttering, sewers, effluent ponds or storm drains. It can damage waste
water treatment systems and clog pipes.
46. Do not drive unless absolutely necessary – driving stirs up the ash. Furthermore, ash is harmful to
vehicles.
In general, surfaces should be vacuumed to remove as much ash as possible from carpets, furniture, office
equipment, appliances, and other items. Portable vacuum systems equipped with high-efficiency particulate
filtering systems are recommended whenever possible. The severity of ash intrusion depends on the
integrity of windows and entrances, the air intake features, and the care exercised to control the transport of
ash into a building or home via shoes and clothing. Care should also be taken to avoid further contamination
during the emptying, cleaning, and maintenance of vacuum equipment. In hot climates, where there may be
permanent openings in buildings, houses may need to be cleaned several times per day. Inside cleaning
should only be undertaken after the outside areas have been well cleared.
DO:
47. Clean your house when public-works crews are cleaning the areas outside your house as a co-ordinated
approach.
48. Put on your mask before starting to clean. If you don’t have one, use a wet cloth.
49. Ensure good ventilation by opening all doors and windows before you start to clean.
50. Only use one entrance to the building while cleaning to ensure occupants do not bring ash into clean
areas.
51. Use a dustless method of cleaning such as washing with water and an effective detergent/wetting agent.
Damp rag techniques or vacuuming should be used whenever possible. After vacuuming, carpets and
upholstery may be cleaned with a detergent shampoo. Avoid excess rubbing action because the sharp ash
particles may cut textile fibres.
52. Glass, porcelain enamel and acrylic surfaces may be scratched if wiped too vigorously. Use a detergentsoaked cloth or sponge, and dab rather than wipe.
53. High-shine wood finishes will be dulled by the fine grit. Vacuum surfaces and then blot with a wet cloth.
A tack cloth used by furniture refinishers should also work well.
54. Ash-coated fabrics should either be rinsed under running water and then washed carefully, or they can
be taken outside and beaten to remove the ash.
55. Moisten thick ash deposits on hard floors and place in bags (avoid sweeping dry ash).
56. Use a damp mop or wet cloth to clean hard floors.
57. Clean your computer, TV and radio equipment using a vacuum cleaner. Switch off the main power
supply to the machine before carrying out this operation.
58. For several months after an ashfall, filters may need replacing often. Air conditioner and furnace filters
need careful attention. Clean refrigerator air intakes. Clean any surface that may blow air and recirculate the
ash. Stove fans and vents should be cleaned thoroughly.
59. Keep children indoors and discourage play in dusty settings.
60. Keep pets indoors. If pets go out, brush them before letting them indoors.
DON’T:
61. Do not use floor sweepers with side brushes to clear aisles and floors because they may reintroduce
dust particles into the air.
62. Do not clean by blowing with compressed air or dry sweeping as ash will be remobilised into the air.
63. Do not use fans or electric clothes dryers which might remobilise ash.
64. If possible, avoid driving until streets are totally cleaned. Ash is harmful to vehicles, the roads may be
slippery and driving suspends ash into the air which causes low visibility and may be harmful or irritating to
others.
65. If driving is crucial, drive slowly, use headlights and ample windscreen fluid. Using wipers on dry ash
may scratch the windscreen. In heavier ashfall, driving should only be undertaken in an emergency. Use
water bottles and a cloth to clean the windscreen as required. This may be every few tens of metres.
66. Change oil, oil filters and air filters frequently (every 80-160 kilometres in heavy dust; every 800-1600
kilometres in light dust.)
67. Cleaning your car - clean ash from inside your engine, boot/trunk and spare tyre storage area as well as
the seating area. Brushing ash off the car can cause scratching.
68. Have a service garage clean wheel brake assemblies every 80-160 kms for very severe road conditions,
or every 320-800 kms for heavy dust conditions. The brake assemblies should be cleaned with compressed
air (800-1600 kms) after ashfall.
69. Have a service garage clean alternators with compressed air after heavy accumulation, every 750 to
1500 kms, or after severe dust exposure.
70. Clean the vehicle, including the engine, radiator, and other essential parts daily, if necessary, using
water to flush the ash.
71. Wash the engine compartment with a garden hose or steam cleaner. Be sure to seal off air intakes and
electrical components before cleaning.
For further information on the health effects of volcanic emissions, visit the International Volcanic Health
Hazard Network (IVHHN) website (www.ivhhn.org). Many resources, such as a guide to recommended dust
masks, are available on the website.
If your property sustains any damage:
72. Residential property damage caused by volcanic activity is covered by Earthquake Commission (EQC)
insurance providing you already have house and/or contents insurance. If your property has been damaged,
lodge a claim by calling 0800 326 243 or visit www.eqc.govt.nz.
73. If the value of damage to your property exceeds the limit of EQC cover, ring your insurer as soon as
possible. In almost all cases the insurance company will send an insurance assessor to look at your
property. They will confirm what repairs and replacements are needed and covered by your policy.
74. Photograph or video record your damaged property.
75. List the damage to your property and belongings.
76. If your insurance policy covers you for loss of perishable goods, make a list of all the foods you throw
away. Include anything in your fridge or freezer ruined by loss of power.
Ask the insurance company:
77. How long it will be before the assessor visits.
78. If they will provide you with temporary accommodation. This could be a nearby motel, bed and breakfast,
a static caravan or a rented house.
Things to help with your insurance claim:
79. Confirm the insurance company will pay for any service or equipment you need.
80. Make a note of all telephone calls. Record the date, name and what was agreed.
81. Keep copies of all letters, emails and faxes you send and receive.
82. Keep receipts.
83. Don’t throw anything away until told (except ruined food).
84. Depending on your policy, the insurance company may only offer to clean and repair something, not
replace it.
85. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company as soon as
possible.
86. If you do not have insurance, your local council should be able to provide information on hardship grants
or charities that may be able to help you.
Volcano general information
Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
87. Do a series on volcanic hazards.
88. Highlight the importance of staying informed about local conditions.
89. Run public information advertisements about how to protect lives in the event of a volcanic eruption.
90. Feature an interview with a local volcanologist, talking about how volcanoes are studied and monitored.
91. Work with local civil defence emergency management officials to prepare and disseminate guidelines for
people with mobility impairments about what to do if they have to evacuate.
Fiction and facts
Fiction: Volcanoes erupt with regularity.
Facts: Volcanoes generally experience a period of closely spaced eruptions followed by long periods of
quiet. Most volcanoes show no regularity and thus on the basis of past history alone cannot be considered
‘overdue’ for an eruption.
Fiction: Volcanoes are unpredictable, erupting at any time without warning.
Facts: Volcanoes usually give warning signs that they are going to erupt weeks to months or more in
advance. Although we cannot predict when a volcano will start to be restless, once activity begins, scientists
can make general forecasts about how soon an eruption will occur. More difficult challenges for
volcanologists are forecasting the size of an impending eruption, and determining when activity will stop.
Fiction: Earthquakes cause volcanic eruptions.
Fact: Earthquakes indicate a geologically active landscape, but they are not the cause of volcanic eruptions.
In rare cases, large tectonic earthquakes have triggered eruptions of nearby volcanoes that have been
poised to erupt anyway.
Useful links
• www.gns.cri.nz
• www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/NaturalHazardsAndDisasters/Volcanoes/en
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/volcanoes/index.htm
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery/livestock transporter
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Volcano general information
Pandemic influenza
. . Learn about your community’s risks from pandemic influenza.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp 7-10)
. . Learn about pandemic influenza and how you can protect yourself
. . Get your household ready
. . Be informed about influenza pandemic: learn how to recognise the symptoms, where to get help and what
to do in a pandemic
For general readiness, every household should create and practice a Household
Emergency Plan and assemble and maintain Emergency Survival Items and a
Getaway Kit. In addition, every household should take pandemic-specific
precautions and plan for and practice what to do if a pandemic occurs.
Awareness messages
A human influenza pandemic occurs when a new strain of influenza virus emerges, spreading around the
world and infecting many people at once. An influenza virus capable of causing a pandemic is one that
people have no natural immunity to, that can easily spread from person to person, and that is capable of
causing severe disease. The new influenza virus could spread rapidly around the world, infecting many
people. This would be a human influenza pandemic.
A pandemic can occur at any time. On average influenza pandemics occur three times each century. The
most serious pandemic in the twentieth century was in 1918 when around 8000 New Zealanders died.
We all need to be prepared for a pandemic in order to help prevent spread and look after ourselves as best
as we can. The Ministry of Health is working with the health sector and other Government agencies to
ensure New Zealand is as prepared as possible for a potential pandemic.
The World Health Organization (WHO) will determine when a virus is spreading from person to person in
sufficient numbers to constitute a pandemic.
WHO and many countries have intensive surveillance programmes to track the spread of influenza. These
programmes will provide global early warning of human infections so governments can begin implementing
“pandemic alert” phases designed to track the progress of the disease spread nationally.
For more information, see the WHO website, www.who.int
The New Zealand Government will ensure there is an appropriate response from all agencies involved. The
Ministry of Health will take the lead in a national health emergency.
The details of how New Zealand will manage an influenza pandemic are laid out in the National Health
Emergency Plan: New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Action Plan 2010 available from
www.moh.govt.nz/influenza-h1n1.
In an effort to prevent or slow the entry of pandemic influenza into New Zealand, it may be necessary to
restrict passenger travel from affected areas into New Zealand. New Zealand, as an island country, can
control travel into and out of the country more easily than most other countries. This means that New
Zealand may be able to prevent or delay the entry of pandemic influenza into the country, an important
advantage.
On the other hand if we are badly affected it may be necessary to restrict passenger travel out of New
Zealand to other countries.
Transport of goods by sea or by airfreight need not be restricted, but it is anticipated that the amount of
international trade may fall at the height of a pandemic because production and transport will be reduced
due to sickness. This may impact on both imports and exports. Businesses need to consider this issue as
part of their business continuity planning.
In some circumstances if one part of the country is badly affected by pandemic influenza but other areas are
unaffected then it may be necessary to restrict travel into and out of that area. Arrangements will be made
for critical goods and services to be provided.
The Government will make any final decisions on border management with input from a range of
government departments.
There will be public announcements on TV, the radio and through other media channels that there is an
influenza pandemic and providing information about what to do and where to go for help.
General, pre-recorded, information about pandemic influenza will be available at 0800 FLU LINE (0800 358
5463). Information on 0800 FLU LINE will be updated regularly.
The New Zealand Government will consider taking action to stop or limit the spread of pandemic influenza
through a range of potential measures, including:
• border management
• isolation of sick people
• quarantine of contacts
• restriction of public gatherings
• closure of education facilities.
Decisions on the types of controls that will be implemented will depend at the time on a number of factors
concerning the pandemic virus, including the death rate, the age groups most affected, and the localities
concerned.
How will New Zealanders get treatment or health advice in an influenza pandemic?
This will depend on the severity of the pandemic and how many people it affects. If you have health
concerns, you will be able to ring the national free 24-hour health advice number, Healthline (0800 611 116).
There will also be public announcements on national and local TV, the radio and through other media
channels providing information about what to do and where to go for help.
There is no doubt that in a severe pandemic, hospitals and primary care practitioners such as GPs will find it
difficult to deal with large numbers of people with influenza. Normal health services may not be available for
weeks.
If you are sick you may be asked to phone your local doctor or nurse for advice, rather than visiting a waiting
room and potentially spreading influenza. District Health Boards are planning to set-up special Community
Based Assessment Centres (CBACs), where people with influenza-like symptoms can go to be assessed.
In a pandemic people may also be asked to look after each other at home and information will be provided
through a variety of media channels about how best to do so.
How many people could get sick or die if a pandemic virus reaches New Zealand?
Until a pandemic develops and the nature of any disease in New Zealand becomes known there is no way
to know how many people may get ill or die. For planning purposes the New Zealand Government has
developed a planning model based on the impact that a 1918-size influenza pandemic could have today.
This model indicates that up to about 1.6 million people could become ill over an 8-week period, with about
33,000 deaths over that time. It is very important to emphasise that this is not a prediction or a forecast of
what will happen.
The planning model was developed from historical data to provide a consistent set of figures around which
to develop response and contingency plans, and it is important that our planning considers the possibility of
such a very severe future pandemic. As noted above, there is no way to predict what will happen ahead of
time, and it is entirely possible that a future pandemic could be very different.
Will I be able to get essential supplies and access other services?
In a large scale pandemic the production and transportation of supplies internationally and within New
Zealand will be affected. This may restrict the range of groceries and other supplies that are available.
Other services may differ from what you are used to. Phone and Internet services may become overloaded
sometimes, and there will be fewer people available to repair faults in services, resulting in a reduction in
some services.
Central, regional, and local government agencies will work together with businesses to help ensure basic
essential supplies are available so that communities can look after themselves.
Family, friends and neighbours should look out for one another in order to provide support.
Special arrangements will be put in place to offer welfare assistance for those in need, so you need to look
out for public announcements on TV, national and local radio, web-sites and through other media channels.
Action messages
Here are a few simple things you can do now to prepare for a pandemic. Follow the basic health rules.
C-H-I-R-P to make yourself and you family safe:
• Cover your coughs and sneezes – use tissues, dispose of them properly, then wash your hands.
• Hygienic hands – wash hands often and dry them well.
• Isolate yourself – keep at least one metre away from others and stay home if you become ill.
• Reduce germs in your home and workplace – regularly disinfect common surfaces like phones, handles,
remote controls, taps, toys.
• Prepare – put together an emergency plan and kit.
Make a plan with family and friends, which includes:
1. Who could help with food and supplies if you and your household are ill.
2. The telephone numbers of people who live near you, as well as your doctor’s phone number (keep this in
a place that is easy to see, like on the fridge door – you can use the resource Preparing your household for
flu pandemic available from www.moh.govt.nz). If farming, who can help with stock management.
3. Have a supply of food and drinks to last for at least a week. Choose long lasting foods in cans and
packets and dried foods.
4. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are good for bringing down a fever and reducing aches and pains. Do not use
anything else for children unless you talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.
5. Masks worn by sick people can help stop the spread of germs. You can buy masks from a pharmacy (or
from a hardware store). If there is a pandemic, people will be told how and when to use their masks. A mask
can be worn only for a short time, and needs changing when wet from sneezing and coughing.
6. Have tissues (or toilet paper) and plastic bags – supermarket bags are good – to put used tissues into.
7. Think about things to do if you and your family have to stay home for a week or so (e.g., books, games
and videos).
If you have prescription medicines (e.g., for blood pressure), always renew your prescription well before you
run out.
For further information on emergency preparedness see the inside back cover of the Yellow Pages, and
check the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management website: www.getthru.govt.nz. (See
Emergency Survival Items)
One of the best ways to be prepared for any emergency is to make contact with other people to discuss the
event before it happens. Get in touch with the people who live on each side of you and on opposite sides of
the street – this will create a circle of support.
Swap phone numbers so you can check-in with each other without having to visit. Agree on a signal, like
tying a towel to the door handle, to let people know when you really need help.
If everyone in your community makes arrangements like this, no one will be left out.
Ask your doctor for an influenza vaccination each year. The usual yearly flu jabs will not protect you against
a new pandemic virus, but they will help stop you getting ill with other influenza viruses. Because these
viruses change all the time, you need to get vaccinated every year.
Vaccination is free for people aged 65 years and over, and adults and children with certain long-term
(chronic) conditions.
There are many resources to help your planning:
8. Business continuity planning guide (available from www.med.govt.nz). This document contains a range of
information designed for general use in pandemic planning by businesses and other organisations in New
Zealand.
9. Minimising the risk and impact of an influenza pandemic on your business (available from
www.dol.govt.nz). This practical guide is designed to help employers prepare and respond to the health and
business risks created by an influenza pandemic.
10. Pandemic planning information kit (available from www.med.govt.nz). The kit is tailored for infrastructure
providers in the energy, communications, transport, water and waste sectors. It contains a version of the
Planning Guide and some associated documents to assist in planning.
11. Preventing the spread of infection poster (available from www.dol.govt.nz) provides information on how
businesses can prevent the spread of infection during a pandemic using a visual summary of the range of
controls recommended.
12. Advice for workplaces on air conditioning and influenza (available from www.moh.govt.nz). The Ministry
of Health and the Department of Labour recommend that all enclosed spaces be adequately ventilated to
reduce the risk of droplet spread in enclosed spaces. If air-conditioning units are used to provide such
ventilation, rather than open windows, then these units must be properly designed and maintained to the
appropriate standards.
How will I know what to do in a pandemic?
Stay informed.
There will be public announcements, and regular updates using a variety of communications channels. Look
and listen out for both national and local announcements, as circumstances may vary from one part of the
country to another. The announcements will deal with a range of issues covering health, welfare and travel.
What should people do at home to deal with an influenza pandemic?
Implement your plan (see above), and make sure you:
13. Stay home if you are sick and keep away from other people – avoid visitors and visiting others.
14. Wash and dry your hands before handling food, after coughing, sneezing, using the bathroom, wiping or
nose-blowing (whether your nose or your child’s), and when looking after sick people.
15. Keep coughs and sneezes covered. Tissues are best. Put the tissue in a covered, lined rubbish bin or
plastic bag.
16. Give people who have a fever and/or diarrhoea plenty to drink.
17. Use paracetamol or ibuprofen for reducing fever.
What can I do to protect others and myself in an influenza pandemic?
Infected people coughing and sneezing very easily spread influenza. To reduce the chances of getting
influenza there are things you can do, such as ensuring good health hygiene habits. Washing and drying
your hands well is one of the best ways of protecting yourself against the spread of influenza.
18. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and dry hands well, or use an alcohol-based rub.
19. Wash and dry hands:
. . before preparing food and eating
. . after coughing or sneezing, blowing noses, wiping children’s noses, visiting the toilet or looking after sick
people.
20. Keep your coughs and sneezes covered. Put tissues straight into a covered, lined rubbish bin or a
plastic bag.
21. Try to stay a metre away from people to reduce the spread of influenza.
During a pandemic everyone in your community needs to work together to help one another. However, you
can only help others effectively when you know that you and your family and flatmates are safe.
Once you have planned to take care of yourselves and your neighbours, consider how you can support your
wider community.
Who in your community is likely to need help? Are there people who are new to the area, from another
country, live on their own or have specific needs due to a disability, or age-related issue? Are there solo
parents, or institutions that may struggle such as rest homes?
There will be some groups of people or networks which already exist in your community, such as your local
civil defence emergency management, neighbourhood support, church or sports groups, schools, marae,
local voluntary groups and service organisations. Make contact with them. Find out what they are doing.
Local government civil defence emergency management offices are also making plans to support the
community in a pandemic. They will have a role in ensuring the continuity of basic supplies and in
coordination of support efforts. Contact your local council for more information.
Pandemic influenza general information
Useful links
• www.who.int
• www.moh.govt.nz
• www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/nz-influenza-pandemic-action-plan-2006
• www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/5196/$File/prepare-your-housegold.pdf
• www.dol.govt.nz/PDFs/pandemic-practical-guide.pdf
• www.rural-support.org.nz/
• www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/adverse-events/
Useful numbers
Your important emergency household plan telephone numbers. Fill this out and keep this leaflet with your
emergency items.
Contact
Details
Local authority emergency helpline
Insurance company 24-hour
Insurance number and policy number
Local radio station (Frequency )
School
Family and neighbours
Bank phone number and details
Work phone numbers
Medical Center/GP
Local police station
Vet/kennel/cattery
Local hotel or B&B
Gas supplier and meter number
Electricity supplier and meter number
Water supplier and meter number
Electrician
Plumber
Builder