Whether you’re at the beach, deep in the bush or just chilling at home – the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) wants you to be ready for anything.
“Emergencies don’t take a holiday but we can all enjoy ours when we know we’re prepared for anything,” John Price, NEMA Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management says.
“Prepare ahead of time. It could be the best gift for yourself and your family. “
Emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere – but here’s five simple things you can do to get summer ready:
- Know your zone – check out your tsunami evacuation route at getready.govt.nz/tsunami-evacuation-zones
- Stay informed – follow the local Civil Defence group on Facebook, keep up to date with MetService and NZTA, and tune into local radio stations.
- Pack your car with everything you need in case you get stuck in your car – food, water, medication, warm blankets.
- Prepare your property – if you’re heading away, make sure your property is prepared for severe weather and wildfires.
- Have supplies ready – pack grab bags and emergency water for everyone in your whānau.
Summer brings increased temperatures and increased fire risk. Use Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s “Check It’s Alright” tool to see if it’s safe to light a fire and whether you’ll need a permit.
For many New Zealanders, summer means heading to the beach – and that means being tsunami smart as well as sun smart.
“When you’re near the coast, remember – Long or Strong, Get Gone. That means, if you feel an earthquake that is long – longer than a minute, or strong – it’s hard to stand up, get gone – evacuate as soon as the shaking stops,” John Price says.
“For a local tsunami, the first waves could arrive in minutes. There won’t be time for an official warning. It’s important we all recognise the natural warning signs and act quickly.
“You can check NEMA’s tsunami evacuation map to find out if you live, work, play or holiday in a tsunami zone.
“It’s also important to know how you can stay informed during an emergency – especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Find local radio frequencies, know where you can get local Civil Defence information, and remember that some places won’t have mobile coverage.
“One of the best ways to get yourself and your loved ones prepared for an emergency have a ‘prep talk’ – discuss what might happen and what you will do so that everyone in your whānau knows the plan.”
Now is the best time to prepare and update your plan to keep you and your whānau safe over the summer period and beyond. Get summer ready at www.getready.govt.nz/summer
