What you need to know

In an emergency, your most immediate support comes from your community and the preparations you’ve made ahead of time. The information below will help you and your whānau stay safe and resilient during emergency events. Take some time to read through it and make a plan.

Community emergency hubs

Community emergency hubs are your go-to places for local support in an emergency, especially while wider services are still responding. There is a hub in your neighbourhood, get familiar with where it is and how it works.

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) leads and coordinates emergency management services on behalf of the nine councils in the Wellington region.

👉 Find out more about your local community emergency hub on the WREMO website.

Get your whānau prepared

Getting prepared doesn’t have to be hard. WREMO’s Home Ready page has practical advice and tools to help you prepare for emergencies so you can manage safely at home.

Helpful resources include:

Emergency preparedness: power outages & fallen trees

Severe weather alert

High winds and storms can cause hazards such as fallen trees and power outages. Stay safe by being aware of your surroundings and following the guidance below.

Fallen trees and roadside hazards

  • Take extra care when driving, especially in high winds or low visibility.
  • Report fallen trees or roadside vegetation hazards to Kāpiti Coast District Council:
    • Phone: 04 296 4700
    • Freephone: 0800 486 486
  • Never touch or move fallen trees near power lines. Always assume electrical lines are live and keep well clear.

Power outages

If you experience a power outage:

  • Report it and check for updates through your electricity provider, Electra or you can also check radio and official social media updates.
  • Unplug major appliances to prevent damage from power surges when power is restored.
  • Use a torch, not candles, to reduce fire risk.
  • If you or someone in your household is medically dependent on electricity and at immediate risk, call 111. Otherwise, contact your health provider or nearest medical centre for advice.
  • Always treat downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment as live and keep well clear.

Prepare your home for storms and outages

  • Store emergency water for drinking and essential use.
  • Clear gutters and drains of leaves to reduce flooding and water damage.
  • Secure outdoor furniture, trampolines, and loose items with ropes or tie-downs to prevent them from becoming hazards or damaging power lines.

Stay informed and ready

  • Keep a torch, charged devices, and essential supplies easily accessible.
  • Regularly review your household emergency plan for storms and power outages.

For alerts sent straight to your phone, download the free Antenno app:

To find out more ways to stay prepared, visit our Emergency page.

And keep an eye on updates from Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO).

Earthquakes

An earthquake can happen at any time. There's no early warning; the first is often a rumbling sound followed by rolling and shaking. Make sure you look now at all the resources above, and WREMO’s earthquake planning guide, and have your plan together!

Tsunami

It's vital for everyone in Kāpiti to know if they live, work or play in a tsunami evacuation zone, and where to evacuate to:

Before a tsunami

If you live or intend to live in a tsunami evacuation zone you should:

  • check out all the links above, and get your whānau prepared
  • have an evacuation route and test it
  • know how far you need to go to get out of the tsunami evacuation zone
  • do a test evacuation; walk inland to the edge of the evacuation zone, keeping an eye out for any useful areas of higher ground as you go
  • familiarise yourself with evacuation maps in areas you travel to often – for work and school, as well as home
  • if you’re buying land or a building in a coastal area, talk to the Council about the risks of a tsunami, coastal storm surge and erosion.

Find out what to do in a tsunami emergency.

Floods

Make sure you're familiar with evacuation routes if your property could be subject to flooding.

Have a household plan (including for your pets and/or livestock) in case you need to evacuate, and a grab bag ready to go.

Check out our Helping us help you page for how you can help manage your flooding risk.

If there’s the risk of floods, listen to emergency announcements and follow the directions to evacuate if required.

See Civil Defence’s Floods page to know what else you can do to be prepared.

Related links