Source: Waikato District Health Board
Kia rite, kia mataara, kia haumaru – Be prepared, be alert, be safe
Prepare your household for an emergency
Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is forecast to hit from Sunday through to Tuesday, bringing severe weather to many regions including the Waikato. It’s important to keep an eye on the weather and know what to do if the cyclone arrives in your region.
Be prepared for strong winds, heavy rain and large swells along the coast. The State of Emergency has been extended for another week across the Coromandel.
Have an emergency plan for your household, get a grab bag ready, secure your property, avoid any non-essential travel and avoid any recreational activities on or near the water.
Weather systems can change rapidly. It is important keep up to date with the latest official information and always follow official advice (from the likes of MetService, your local council and us).
Make sure you know what to do to look after yourself or seek medical help when and where you need it.
Unwell? Unsure? – Call Healthline 0800 611 116 for free medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Need to talk? 1737 – Free call or text 1737 any time to talk with a trained counsellor.
Always call 111 if it is an emergency – Hospital emergency departments and many urgent care clinics will be open.
Get updates and information from official sources
Keep an eye on local Facebook pages (or tune into local radio stations) for any updates, emergency hub locations and more.
Weather updates and warnings: www.metservice.com/warnings/home
Road closures and traffic conditions: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/regions
Civil Defence: www.civildefence.govt.nz
Thames Coromandel District Council Emergency Management:
www.tcdc.govt.nz/Our-Community/Emergency-Management-Unit
Waikato Region Emergency Management: www.waikatoregioncdemg.govt.nz
Your local councils
South Waikato District Council
What you can do to get ready?
- Have plenty of food and water to get through the next seven days (for drinking and basic hygiene), remember to include for babies and pets.
- Have some long-lasting food that doesn’t need cooking (unless you have a camp stove or gas barbecue). If you have special dietary needs, make sure you have enough to last three days in your grab bag. If you have to evacuate, emergency shelters may not have the food that you need
- Toilet paper and large plastic buckets for an emergency toilet
- Make sure you have medicines if needed, and a backup power supply if you are reliant on power for medical devices
- Make sure you have phone and device battery packs fully charged and have a car charger for your devices to ensure you can keep in touch and keep informed. Plan for not having power supply for a number of days
- Remember to have spare batteries, torches, a radio and some way of cooking if you lose power for a while
- Develop a Household Emergency Plan that includes your pets and make sure you have a grab bag ready
- Check on your friends, whānau, neighbours and anyone who might need your help
- Try and run any errands before the weather hits so you won’t need to do any non-essential travel
Don’t forget that you and your neighbours can help each other by sharing supplies too.
By looking after yourself and your household, you’ll also be helping emergency services focus their limited resources on the people who need the most help.
How to stay safe
You probably have most of the things you need already. You don’t have to have them all in one place, but you might have to find them in a hurry and/or in the dark.
- Prepare your property for high winds by securing large, heavy objects or removing any items that could be picked up by the wind e.g. Trampolines, tarpaulins, outdoor furniture are the biggest risk items
- If you are in an area that sees flooding, then prepare yourself for this possibility
- Check drains, gutters and ditches are clear of debris. Move stock to higher ground
- If you have trees that are old or at risk of breaking in strong winds, move items or vehicles away from them, and prune any loose or cracked branches if possible
- Avoid driving unless necessary. Surface flooding, restricted visibility and slips are possible during severe weather
- Avoid recreational activities on or near the water, as storm conditions can cause turbulent and unsafe waters
- Unplug small appliances that may be affected by electrical power surges, as power cuts are possible in severe weather. If power is lost, unplug major appliances to reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored
- Close windows, external and internal doors. Close curtains or blinds over unprotected glass areas to prevent injury from shattered or flying glass
Have a grab bag ready
A grab bag is a small bag with essential supplies. Have one ready for everyone in your family.
Each bag should have
- walking shoes, warm clothes, raincoat and hat
- water and snack food (remember babies and pets)
- hand sanitiser
- portable phone charger
- cash
- copies of important documents and photo ID
- supplies for any special dietary needs
Remember any medications you might need and keep your first aid kit, mask or face covering, torch, radio and batteries somewhere you can grab them in a hurry.
Make sure you store enough water
Keep water for three days or more — make sure you have at least nine litres of water for every person. This equates to four 2.25 litre soft-drink bottles. This will be enough for drinking and basic hygiene. You will need more water if you want to wash, cook or clean with water or emergency lasts longer.
Store more if you can. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double the amount required. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will also need more
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 stressed.
Some parts of New Zealand could be without water for longer than three days. Your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group can recommend how much you should store.
Reduce the impacts of floods and be prepared
Find out from your local council if your home or business is at risk from flooding. They may have resources and information on how to reduce flood damage. They can also advise you about
- how they’ll alert you if you need to evacuate – ask about their evacuation plans and local public alerting systems
- what to do with your pets and livestock if you have to evacuate
- how you can reduce the risk of future flooding to your home or business
Review your insurance regularly. Take measures to reduce potential flood damage and make sure your insurance policy covers you for flood damage. Having insurance cover for your home and contents is important to help you get back on your feet if you suffer damage in a disaster.
Practise your emergency plan and your evacuation route to higher ground.
Stay out of flood water
Put safety first. Don’t take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water.
Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.
Never try to walk, swim or drive through flood water.
Always assume that flood water is contaminated with farm run-off, chemicals and sewage. Contaminated flood water can make you sick. Make sure you wash your hands, clothes and property after contact with flood waters.
Getting updates if the power goes out
If the power goes out, a solar or battery-powered radio (or your car radio) can help you keep up to date with the latest news. In an emergency, tune in to these stations
· The Hits
· MoreFM
· Today FM
