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Preparing for an Emergency
All New Zealanders are now asked to be prepared to manage on their own - or as a family group - for the first three days after a disaster.
It can simply take that long for help to arrive, so making preparations in advance can ensure self-sufficiency and minimise distress.
In the event of an emergency, Neighbourhood Support will work with Civil Defence and other emergency services to bring relief.
Meanwhile, tune your radio to your local station as Civil Defence will broadcast messages and instructions as soon as possible. If it's a serious disaster it may take some time before this happens.
Emergency Contacts
In an emergency, dial 111.
This is the number to ring if lives or property are at risk.
Phoning 111 will get you through to an operator who can transfer your call to:
The number to ring for Civil Defence will be broadcast over the radio. Phoning the Council will redirect you to the number once Civil Defence has been activated:
Kapiti Coast District Council: (04) 904-5700
After Hours: 0800-486-486
Emergency Management Office: (04) 904-5700
Other emergency contact details are:
Contact Energy: 0800-802-332
High Pressure Main: 0800-734-567
Electra: 0800-567-876
Telecom Faults: 120
Volunteer agencies such as the St John Ambulance Service and the Red Cross are listed in your local telephone directory.
When activated, Civil Defence Welfare Centres are opened by volunteer staff at:
Civil Defence Emergency Management
Click here to take you to the Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management's "Get Thru" website.
Emergency Planning
Each household should have a plan of exactly what to do in the event of an emergency and display it somewhere visible to everyone. Click below to download a plan for your household:
Household Emergency Plan (1 page, 30kb)
Households should also make the following simple preparations:
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ensure everyone in the house knows where to turn off the mains for electricity, water and gas
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learn First Aid
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have emergency survival items and a getaway kit easily accessible to everyone
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know where your nearest Civil Defence Welfare Centre is located
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join a Neighbourhood Support Group.
Emergency Survival Kit
The basic items to keep in your home for an Emergency Survival Kit are:
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water to last everyone for three days: three litres per person per day
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food to last for three days
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torch
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transistor radio
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spare batteries for torch and radio
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First Aid Kit
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a means of cooking food such as a BBQ, portable cooker, open fire, as well as a fuel supply
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candles
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matches and/or lighters
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toilet paper.
Click below to download a more detailed checklist to make sure you have a full supply of survival items in your home:
Household Emergency Checklist (1 page, 38kb).
You don't have to keep all these items stored together in a box or backpack, but keep a checklist to use as a reference guide to ensure your home has stocks of these items at all times. Make sure everyone knows where to find them if an emergency occurs.
Remember that tinned items and water need to be checked and changed every twelve months. Batteries should be checked every three months.
Getaway Kit
Many of us in Kapiti live in areas at risk from flooding, fires, storm or wind exposure, coastal erosion, hazardous substances, etc.
If you have to evacuate your home due to a disaster of whatever kind, it's important to have a Getaway Kit organised and able to be gathered quickly. All items, expecially blankets and clothing, should be put into leak proof plastic bags.
Your family’s Getaway Kit should include:
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all the Survival Items listed above
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any special medical and/or dietary needs: prescription drugs, inhalers, etc.
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toiletries, including feminine needs
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baby needs
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change of clothing, including warm and waterproof clothes
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strong footwear
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bedding: sleeping bags, blankets, etc.
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legal documents and important papers: birth, marriage, insurance certificates, passports, family photos, etc.
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list of contact details of family and close friends
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games for children to play.
Pets
When you prepare your household emergency plan make sure you include your pets. Think about:
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are they going with you?
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how will they be transported?
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will they be welcome at the place you are evacuating your family to?
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do you have the addresses of out-of-district kennels and catteries where they can be safely kept while you sort out your family situation?
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do you have adequate food supplies for them?
In an extreme emergency do not try and rescue pets.
Tsunamis and the Kapiti Coast
The Kapiti Coast is considered to have a very low level of risk from a damaging or catastrophic tsunami.
In preparation for the unlikely event of a tsunami, the Council advises all residents living within two kilometres of the coast to prepare a simple family plan to evacuate either inland or to higher ground.
Click on the title below for more information about preparing for tsunamis:
Tsunamis and the Kapiti Coast (3 pages, 21kb)
Emergency Management: Schools Resource
The Ministry of Civil Defence Emergency Management has developed a schools resource to help teachers and children learn together about emergency management.
Click here to take you to the "What's the Plan, Stan?" website.
Kapiti Neighbourhood Support Group
For further information about Neighbourhood Support click here to take you to their website, email the Kapiti Neighbourhood Support Co-ordinator at nsg.kapiti@paradise.net.nz or phone on (04) 296-1439.
Kapiti Coast District Council is a member of the Wellington Region Emergency Management Group. Click on the logo to take you directly to its website.
Kapiti Coast District Council Civil Defence Operating Procedures (47 pages)
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