Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
Coastal storm inundation
Earthquakes
Floods
Heat Introduction
Landslides
Emergency Items
Major storms
Snow
First Aid
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes
Evacuation
Tsunami
Volcanoes
Household Plans
Getaway Kit
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 June 2010
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Working from the same page
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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.
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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
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Foreword
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
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Introduction and purpose
About this
document
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.
Background
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
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Introduction and purpose
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.
Acknowledgements
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
Who is this
document for?
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).
How this document
is structured
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.
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Introduction and purpose
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.
Viewing this
information
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.
Checking for
updates
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.
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PART A: General information
Household
emergency plan
►►Be prepared for disasters – make a plan
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about a Household Emergency Plan?.......................................................... 3
What is a Household Emergency Plan?....................................................................... 3
What to tell children?.................................................................................................... 3
Action messages
Find out what could happen to you.............................................................................. 5
Create a Household Emergency Plan.......................................................................... 6
Complete a Household Emergency Checklist............................................................. 7
Assemble Emergency Survival Items........................................................................... 9
Practice and maintain your plan................................................................................ 10
For people with disabilities......................................................................................... 11
If you have a severe speech, language, or hearing disability................................... 11
If you have a service animal....................................................................................... 12
If you use a wheelchair............................................................................................... 12
Listen to the advice of local officials. . ...................................................................... 12
Plan for your pets and animals.................................................................................. 13
Household emergency plan general information
Media and community preparedness ideas.............................................................. 15
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 16
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
Why talk about a
Household
Emergency Plan?
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.
What is a Household
Emergency Plan?
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.
What to tell children
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.
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Awareness messages
What to tell children
(continued)
• 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.
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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:
Find out what could
happen to you
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?
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Action messages
Find out what could
happen to you
(continued)
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.
Create a Household
Emergency Plan
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.
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Action messages
Create a Household
Emergency Plan
(continued)
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 Post-Emergency 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.
Complete a Household You can download a checklist from the ‘downloads’ page on www.getthru.govt.nz.
Emergency Checklist
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.
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Action messages
Complete a Household 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
Emergency Checklist
and belongings adequately. If you are a tenant, your landlord’s insurance does
(continued)
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.
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Action messages
Assemble
Emergency Survival
Items
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
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Action messages
Practice and
maintain your plan
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.
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Action messages
For people with
disabilities
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.
If you have a severe
speech, language,
or hearing disability
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.
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Action messages
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.
If you have a service
animal
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.
If you use a
wheelchair
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.
Listen to the advice
of local officials
12
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.
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Action messages
Plan for your pets
and animals
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 24-hour 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-to-carry container.
77. Have a current photo of your pets in case they get lost.
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Action messages
Plan for your pets
(continued)
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.
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Household emergency plan general information
Media and
community
preparedness ideas
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 Itemss
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.
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Household emergency plan general information
Media and
community
preparedness ideas
(continued)
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/
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART A: General information
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
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about Emergency Survival Items?................................................................ 3
What are Emergency Survival Items?.......................................................................... 3
What is a Getaway Kit?................................................................................................. 3
What to tell children...................................................................................................... 3
Action messages
Assemble Emergency Survival Items........................................................................... 5
Assemble a Getaway Kit............................................................................................... 7
Emergency supplies for your vehicle........................................................................... 7
Emergency Survival Items for pets.............................................................................. 8
Appendix: Storing food and water safely
Foods to stock at home and with your Emergency Survival Items............................ 9
Storing water............................................................................................................... 10
Emergency Survival Items general information
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 12
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 12
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
Emergency Survival
Items?
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.
What are
Emergency Survival
Items?
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).
What is a Getaway
Kit?
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.
What to tell children
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.
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Awareness messages
What to tell children
(continued)
• 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.
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Action messages
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.
Assemble
Emergency Survival
Items
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.
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Action messages
Assemble
Emergency Survival
Items (continued)
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.
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Action messages
Assemble a Getaway
Kit
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.
Emergency supplies
for your vehicle
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.
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Action messages
Emergency Survival
Items for pets
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.
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Appendix: Storing food and water safely
Foods to stock at
home and with your
Emergency Survival
Items
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.
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Appendix: Storing food and water safely
Foods to stock at
home and with your
Emergency Survival
Items (continued)
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.
Storing water
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.
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Appendix: Storing food and water safely
Storing water
(continued)
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 long-term 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.
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11
Emergency survival items general information
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
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PART A: General information
First aid kits
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
First aid kit contents..................................................................................................... 3
First aid kit for pets....................................................................................................... 4
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
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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.
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3
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.
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PART A: General information
Evacuation, shelteringin-place and postemergency safety
►►Learn about your local evacuation arrangements including evacuation
zones, routes and shelters
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about evacuation?......................................................................................... 3
Why talk about sheltering-in-place?............................................................................. 3
Special preparations for pets....................................................................................... 3
Action messages
Evacuation..................................................................................................................... 4
Sheltering-in-place........................................................................................................ 6
Long-term sheltering-in-place at home . ..................................................................... 6
Staying safe after an emergency ................................................................................ 7
Appendix: Emergency sanitation............................................................................... 10
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
2
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
evacuation?
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.
Why talk about
sheltering-in-place?
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.
Special preparations
for animals
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.
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3
Action messages
Evacuation
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.
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Action messages
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.
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5
Action messages
Sheltering-in-place
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.
Long-term
sheltering-in-place
at home
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 battery-operated radio or television for local
news updates for short periods of time to preserve the batteries.
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Action messages
Staying safe after
an emergency
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.
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7
Action messages
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.
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Action messages
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.
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9
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.
10
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Beach Road, Whangarei, 2007
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Is coastal-storm inundation an issue in New Zealand?.............................................. 3
What causes coastal inundation?................................................................................ 3
What sorts of impacts should we watch for?.............................................................. 5
How will climate change affect coastal inundation?.................................................. 5
Action messages
Reducing the risk and planning pays off..................................................................... 6
What is the best source of information in a flood situation?..................................... 6
How can I protect myself during coastal inundation?................................................ 7
Evacuation preparedness............................................................................................. 9
After inundation/returning home............................................................................... 10
Health hygiene and clean up...................................................................................... 10
Building and utility safety........................................................................................... 12
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 13
Recovery...................................................................................................................... 14
Coastal-storm inundation general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 15
Fiction and facts.......................................................................................................... 15
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 16
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 18
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 coastal-storm inundation specific precautions and plan for and
practice what to do if a coastal storm occurs.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
2
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Version 1.0, April 2010
Awareness messages
Is coastal-storm
inundation an issue
in New Zealand?
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.
What causes
coastal 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 low-lying coastal
areas, or areas located too close to the shoreline to accommodate existing natural
changes in shoreline position.
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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 winds1;
• 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.
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What sorts of
impacts should we
watch for?
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;
How will climate
change affect
coastal inundation?
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.
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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.
Reducing the risk
and planning pays
off
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).
What is the best
source of
information in a
flood situation?
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
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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.
How can I protect
myself during
coastal inundation?
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.
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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.
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14. Contact your local civil defence emergency management office for more
information on mitigation options to further reduce potential coastalinundation damage. Your local emergency management office may be able
to provide additional resources and information on ways to reduce potential
damage.
Evacuation
preparedness
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.
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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 battery-operated 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.
After inundation/
returning home
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.
Health hygiene and
clean up
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.
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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.
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Building and utility
safety
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 neighbor’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.
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Insurance
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.
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Recovery
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.
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Coastal-storm inundation general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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.
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Coastal-storm inundation general information
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
16
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Coastal-storm inundation general information
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?sit
e=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/
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Coastal-storm inundation general information
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
18
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: +D]DUGVSHFLÀFLQIRUPDWLRQ
Damage from the Christchurch earthquake, February 2011
Earthquakes
ɻ Everyone, everywhere should know the right actions to take before,
during and after an earthquake
ɻ Information about earthquake risk is also available on the GNS
Science website at www.gns.cri.nz.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency
Management Version 1.1 June 2015
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about earthquakes? ..................................................................................... 3
What are earthquakes and what causes them? ........................................................ 3
What damage can earthquakes do? .......................................................................... 4
How can I protect myself in an earthquake? .............................................................. 5
Action messages
Be prepared for an earthquake: protect yourself ...................................................... 6
Protect your property ................................................................................................... 7
What to do during an earthquake ............................................................................... 8
What to do after an earthquake................................................................................ 10
Earthquakes general information
Media and community education ideas ................................................................... 13
Fiction and facts ......................................................................................................... 13
Useful links ................................................................................................................ 14
Useful numbers .......................................................................................................... 15
CORE ACTION MESSAGES IN THIS CHAPTER (pp6–15)
ɻ Identify safe places in each room.
ɻ Practise drop, cover and hold.
ɻ 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
WDNHHDUWKTXDNHVSHFLÀFSUHFDXWLRQVDQGSODQDQGSUDFWLVHZKDWWRGRLQ
the event of an earthquake.
ɻ Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundations.
ɻ Secure heavy objects both inside and outside the home.
ɻ ,I\RXDUHRXWVLGHÀQGDFOHDUVSRWDQGGURSWRWKHJURXQG
ɻ If you are inside when the shaking starts, move no more than a few
steps to a safe place and drop, cover and hold.
ɻ Check on those around you (including neighbours) for injuries and
identify any immediate hazards caused by the earthquake.
ɻ Expect aftershocks.
ɻ Listen to the radio for updated emergency information.
ɻ 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.
ɻ 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.
2
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Awareness messages
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.
What are
earthquakes and
what causes them?
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.
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3
Awareness messages
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, Áash Áoods, Àres, and
tsunami. Buildings with foundations resting on unconsolidated (loose) landÀll 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 Ànancial 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 modiÀcation, 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 Áoods 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
Áow downstream and build up the level of river beds. This reduces the capacity of
rivers, causing ongoing Áooding 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.
4
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Awareness messages
Subsidence can lead to increased Áooding 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 signiÀcant uplift
or down thrust of the sea Áoor, 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 Àre is a highly variable phenomenon. Most earthquakes are
not accompanied by Àre, but devastating Àres have occurred after earthquakes.
In Napier, following the 1931 earthquake, much of the central business district
burned and the loss due to the Àre was about equal to the loss from the ground
shaking. The 1906 San Francisco and 1923 Tokyo earthquakes caused Àre losses
that greatly exceeded the losses from ground shaking. The Àres 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 Àre 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 Àre across city streets lined with wooden
buildings, and vegetation is Áammable following hot, dry weather, then the scene
is set for a high level of Àre 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 identiÀed 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, retroÀt 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”).
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5
Action messages
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 ofÀce 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 Àxtures that can become
Áying 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 Áoor, 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 Áoor 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 Àre evacuation assembly
point may not be appropriate after an earthquake.
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
ɻ Identify safe places in each room.
ɻ Practise drop, cover and hold.
ɻ 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
WDNHHDUWKTXDNHVSHFLÀFSUHFDXWLRQVDQGSODQDQGSUDFWLVHZKDWWRGRLQ
the event of an earthquake.
6
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Action messages
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 Àre 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 gasÀtter install Áexible Àttings for gas and water pipes.
11. Securely Àx 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 Àxtures. During earthquakes, overhead light
Àxtures 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
Áoor.
15. Secure large ornamental items that might fall and break.
16. Store weed killers, pesticides, and Áammable 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
ɻ Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundations.
ɻ Secure heavy objects both inside and outside the home.
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7
Action messages
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 Ànd 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 Áat, 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
ɻ ,I\RXDUHRXWVLGHÀQGDFOHDUVSRWDQGGURSWRWKHJURXQG
ɻ If you are inside when the shaking starts, move no more than a few
steps to a safe place and drop, cover and hold.
8
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Action messages
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 Àttings may have become hazardous. Look for small Àres and if
practicably possible, extinguish them.
29. Check yourself for injuries and receive or apply Àrst 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 life-threatening 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 ofÀcial 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 Àre evacuation assembly
point may not be appropriate after an earthquake.
42. Ensure all persons inside are aware of the exit route and assembly point.
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Action messages
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 Àre alarm activates, carry out the steps from number 37 above,
taking extra care to:
• Check for and extinguish small Àres 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 you have pets or
livestock
48. Try to keep pets calm and under control so that they don’t try to run away.
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 Ànd their way home.
If in a store, unfamiliar commercial building or on public transport, follow the
instructions of those in charge.
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
ɻ Check on those around you (including neighbours) for injuries, and
identify any immediate hazards caused by the earthquake.
ɻ Expect aftershocks.
ɻ Listen to the radio for updated emergency information.
ɻ 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.
ɻ In the workplace, work as a team to establish a safe route to an
assembly area before leaving the building.
10
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Action messages
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, Áoors, 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 Áammable 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 Àtter. Do not smoke or use a naked Áame.
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 signiÀcant 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 conÀrm 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.
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11
Action messages
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. ConÀrm 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.
12
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Earthquakes general information
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 Àrst 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 Àt 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.
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13
Earthquakes general information
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 scientiÀc
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/
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Earthquakes general information
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
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Flooded farm houses and paddocks, Hawke’s Bay 2007
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about floods?................................................................................................. 3
What causes floods?..................................................................................................... 3
Measuring floods........................................................................................................... 4
Forecasting /warning.................................................................................................... 4
Example: Severe weather outlook............................................................................... 5
Example: Severe weather watch.................................................................................. 6
Example: Severe weather warning............................................................................... 6
River flow forecasting.................................................................................................... 8
Action messages
Reducing the risk and planning pays off..................................................................... 9
How can I protect myself in a flood?............................................................................ 9
Preparing your home or business.............................................................................. 11
Preparing to evacuate................................................................................................. 11
If outdoors................................................................................................................... 12
If in a car...................................................................................................................... 12
After a flood/returning home..................................................................................... 12
Health hygiene and clean up...................................................................................... 13
Building and utility safety........................................................................................... 14
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 15
Recovery...................................................................................................................... 16
Floods general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 16
Fiction and facts.......................................................................................................... 17
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 17
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 19
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
2
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
floods?
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.
What causes floods?
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.
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3
Awareness messages
Measuring floods
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.
Forecasting /
warning
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
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Awareness messages
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.
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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.
5
Awareness messages
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.
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Awareness messages
Example: Severe
weather warning
(continued)
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 25-35mm/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 70
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7
Awareness messages
Example: Severe
weather warning
(continued)
km/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.
HEAVY
==========================
WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE
==========================
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
8
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 real-time river flow forecasts.
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Action messages
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.
Reducing the risk
and planning pays
off
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.
How can I protect
myself in a flood?
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.
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9
Action messages
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.
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Action messages
Preparing your
home or business
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.
Preparing to
evacuate
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.
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11
Action messages
If outdoors
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.
If in a car
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.
After a flood /
returning home
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.
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Action messages
Health hygiene and
clean up
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, long-sleeved 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.
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Action messages
Building and utility
safety
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.
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Building and utility
safety (continued)
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.
Insurance
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.
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Action messages
Recovery
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 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.
Media and
community
education ideas
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
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Media and
community
education ideas
(continued)
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 facts
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 100-year 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
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17
Floods general information
Useful links
(continued)
• 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
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Floods general information
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
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Floods general information
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PART B: Hazard-specific information
Heat
►►Learn about your community’s risks from a heat wave.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about excessive heat?................................................................................... 3
How serious can it be?................................................................................................. 3
Heat and human health: Impact and treatment......................................................... 4
Heatstroke in animals................................................................................................... 7
Action messages
How can I protect myself in a heat wave?................................................................... 8
If you must be out in the heat.................................................................................... 10
Making your home safer............................................................................................. 11
How to prevent heatstroke in animals....................................................................... 11
If heatstroke occurs in animals.................................................................................. 11
Emergency planning................................................................................................... 12
Heat warning systems................................................................................................. 12
Heat general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 13
Fiction and facts.......................................................................................................... 13
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 13
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 14
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
excessive heat?
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 mostunderrated 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.
How serious can it
be?
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
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3
Awareness messages
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 and human
health: Impact and
treatment
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
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Awareness messages
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.
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Awareness messages
• 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.
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Awareness messages
Heatstroke in
animals
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.
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Action messages
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
►►Determine your risk.
►►Reduce heat stress indoors and outdoors.
►►Learn to recognise the symptoms.
►►Act in time.
How can I protect
myself in a heat
wave?
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:
8
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.
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Action messages
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.
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9
Action messages
How can I protect
myself in a heat
wave? (continued)
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.
If you must be out in
the 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 low-salt 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.
10
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Action messages
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”.
Making your home
safer
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.
How to prevent
heatstroke in
animals
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.
If heatstroke occurs
in animals
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.
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11
Action messages
Emergency planning
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.
Heat warning
systems
Note that currently in New Zealand MetService does not provide a heat warning
service.
12
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Heat general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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/
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13
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
14
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consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Kelson, Lower Hutt, 2006
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about landslides?.......................................................................................... 3
What are landslides?.................................................................................................... 3
Why do landslides occur? . .......................................................................................... 3
Where do landslides occur?......................................................................................... 3
When do landslides occur?.......................................................................................... 4
Will there be a warning and what are the danger signs?........................................... 4
How can I protect myself from landslides?................................................................. 6
Action messages
Be prepared for a landslide: protect yourself.............................................................. 7
What to do during severe storms which can trigger landslides................................. 8
What to do if you suspect imminent landslide danger............................................... 9
What to do during a landslide...................................................................................... 9
What to do after a landslide......................................................................................... 9
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 10
Landslides general information
Media and community education ideas ................................................................... 12
Fiction and facts . ....................................................................................................... 12
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 12
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 13
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
2
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
landslides?
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
Ōngarue, 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.
What are
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 flow-like 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.
Why do landslides
occur?
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.
Where do landslides
occur?
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.
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Awareness messages
When do landslides
occur?
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.
Will there be a
warning and what
are the danger
signs?
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.
Fig. 1 Landslide features (GNS Science)
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Awareness messages
Table 1 Landslide terms
and definitions
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
Give rise to areas of swampy or boggy ground; seepage water
may accumulate in ponds.
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.
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5
Awareness messages
Will there be a
warning and what
are the danger
signs? (continued)
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.
How can I protect
myself from
landslides?
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.
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Action messages
Be prepared for a
landslide: protect
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.
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7
Action messages
What to do during
severe storms which
can trigger
landslides
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.
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Action messages
What to do if you
suspect imminent
landslide danger
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.
What to do during a
landslide
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.
What to do after a
landslide
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.
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9
Action messages
What to do after a
landslide
(continued)
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.
Insurance
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.
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Action messages
Insurance
(continued)
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.
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11
Landslides general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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/
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Landslides general information
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
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consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Aerial view of the Waipawa River, Hurunui District, 2008
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about major, mid-latitude storms?............................................................... 3
What is a storm? .......................................................................................................... 3
Forecasting/warning..................................................................................................... 3
Example: Severe weather outlook............................................................................... 4
Example: Severe weather watch.................................................................................. 5
Example: Severe weather warning............................................................................... 5
Action messages
How can I protect myself from a mid-latitude storm?................................................. 8
During a storm or if a storm is imminent..................................................................... 9
After a storm................................................................................................................ 10
Building and utility safety........................................................................................... 11
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 12
Major storms general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 14
Fiction and facts.......................................................................................................... 14
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 14
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 16
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
major, mid-latitude
storms?
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.
What is a storm?
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.
Forecasting/warning
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.
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Awareness messages
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.
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.
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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.
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Awareness messages
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
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Awareness messages
Example: Severe
weather warning
(continued)
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 25-35mm/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 70
km/h gusting 120 km/h at times in exposed inland places and about the higher
parts of Banks Peninsula.
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Awareness messages
Example: Severe
weather warning
(continued)
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.
HEAVY
==========================
WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE
==========================
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.
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Action messages
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.
How can I protect
myself from a
mid-latitude storm?
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.
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Action messages
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.
During a storm or if
a storm is imminent
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
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9
Action messages
During a storm or if
a storm is imminent
(continued)
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.
After a 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.
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Action messages
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.
Building and utility
safety
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,
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11
Action messages
Building and utility
safety (continued)
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.
Insurance
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).
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Action messages
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.
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13
Major storms general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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
Facts about storms
• 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/
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Major storms general information
• 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
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15
Major storms general information
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
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Snow-covered farmland, South Island snow event 2006
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about snow?................................................................................................... 3
What causes snow?...................................................................................................... 3
Forecasting /warning.................................................................................................... 3
Action messages
How can I protect myself from snow?.......................................................................... 5
If you live in an area where severe winter weather is possible.................................. 6
Dress for the weather................................................................................................... 7
During a winter storm................................................................................................... 7
What to do after a snow storm..................................................................................... 9
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 10
Snow storms general information
Media and community education ideas ................................................................... 11
Fiction and facts.......................................................................................................... 11
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 11
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 12
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
2
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
snow?
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.
What causes snow?
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 world-leading 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.
Forecasting /
warning
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):
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3
Awareness messages
• 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.
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Action messages
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.
How can I protect
myself from snow?
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
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5
Action messages
◦◦ Take or fit tyre chains if the roads are not cleared and the snow is deep or
the roads are icy.
If you live in an area
where severe winter
weather is possible
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.
6
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Action messages
If you live in an area
where severe winter
weather is possible
(continued)
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.
Dress for the
weather
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.
During a winter
storm
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.
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7
Action messages
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.
8
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Action messages
◦◦ 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.
What to do after a
snow storm
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.
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9
Action messages
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.
Insurance
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.
10
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Snow storms general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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
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11
Snow storms general information
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
12
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Approaching thunderstorm, Wellington. Photo: MetService
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about thunderstorms?................................................................................... 3
What is a thunderstorm? . ........................................................................................... 3
Forecasting /warning.................................................................................................... 4
Action messages
What to do before a thunderstorm ............................................................................. 7
During a thunderstorm or if a thunderstorm is imminent.......................................... 8
After a thunderstorm.................................................................................................. 10
What to do if someone is struck by lightning............................................................ 11
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 11
Thunderstorms general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 13
Fiction and facts . ....................................................................................................... 13
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 14
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 15
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
2
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
thunderstorms?
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.
What is a
thunderstorm?
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.
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Awareness messages
Forecasting /
warning
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.
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Awareness messages
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.
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Awareness messages
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
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Action messages
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.
What to do before a
thunderstorm
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.
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Action messages
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.
During a
thunderstorm or if a
thunderstorm is
imminent
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.
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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.
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Action messages
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.
After a
thunderstorm
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.
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Action messages
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.
Insurance
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.
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Action messages
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.
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Thunderstorms general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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!
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Thunderstorms general information
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/
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Thunderstorms general information
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
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PART B: Hazard-specific information
Damage from a tornado in New Plymouth, July 2007
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about tornadoes?.......................................................................................... 3
What causes tornadoes?.............................................................................................. 3
Effects on buildings...................................................................................................... 4
Forecasting /warning.................................................................................................... 5
Example: Severe thunderstorm outlook...................................................................... 6
Example: Severe thunderstorm watch......................................................................... 7
Example: Severe thunderstorm warning..................................................................... 8
What are the warning signs of a tornado?.................................................................. 8
Action messages
What can I do before the storm?................................................................................. 9
During a tornado or if a tornado is imminent . ......................................................... 10
If outdoors................................................................................................................... 10
If in a car...................................................................................................................... 11
After a tornado............................................................................................................ 11
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 12
Tornadoes general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 13
Fiction and fact........................................................................................................... 13
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 14
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
tornadoes?
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.
What causes
tornadoes?
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.
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Awareness messages
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)
Effects on buildings
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
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Awareness messages
speed and direction, in combination with debris impact often causes buildings to
fail at relatively low wind speeds.
Forecasting /
warning
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.
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Awareness messages
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 .
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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.
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Awareness messages
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.
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Action messages
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.
What can I do
before the storm?
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.
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Action messages
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.
During a tornado or
if a tornado is
imminent:
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.
If outdoors:
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
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or floodwater coming toward you, move to another spot.
26. Protect your head with an object or with your arms
If in a car:
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.
After a tornado:
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.
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Action messages
Insurance
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.
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Tornadoes general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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 fact
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.
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Tornadoes general information
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/
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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
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PART B: Hazard-specific information
Banda Aceh: Debris from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about tsunami?.............................................................................................. 3
What is a tsunami?....................................................................................................... 4
What are our tsunami risks? ....................................................................................... 5
Distant-, regional- and local- source tsunami............................................................. 5
How can I protect myself from a tsunami?.................................................................. 6
Tsunami warning messages and signals..................................................................... 6
Action messages
What to do if you feel a strong coastal earthquake or observe unusual coastal
water phenomena (natural warnings) ........................................................................ 8
What to do when an official tsunami warning is issued............................................. 8
Tsunami evacuation...................................................................................................... 9
Be prepared for a tsunami: protect yourself............................................................... 9
Protect your property.................................................................................................. 11
What to do after a tsunami........................................................................................ 11
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 12
Tsunami general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 15
Fiction and fact........................................................................................................... 15
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 16
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 16
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.
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Why talk about
tsunami?
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
Tsunami wave terminology
Inundation
line or limit
Maximum water
level/wave height
Run-up
Mean sea level
Shoreline
Inundation horizontal flooding
Fig. 1 Schematic diagram of a tsunami wave approaching the coast (Reese et al, 2007)
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
tsunami?
(continued)
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-tocrest 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.
What is 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 charateristic of ordinary waves such as strong currents.
Ordinary coastal wave
Tsunami wave
Inundation
1m
Shoreline
1m
Shoreline
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.
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What is a tsunami?
(continued)
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.
What are our
tsunami risks?
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.
Distant-, regionaland local- source
tsunami
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.
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Awareness messages
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.
Tsunami warning
messages and
signals
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.
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Awareness messages
Tsunami warning
messages and
signals (continued)
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.
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Action messages
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.
What to do if you
feel a strong coastal
earthquake or
observe unusual
coastal water
phenomena (natural
warnings)
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.
What to do when an
official tsunami
warning is issued
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
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Action messages
a 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.
Tsunami evacuation
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 prepared for a
tsunami: protect
yourself
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.
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Action messages
Be prepared for a
tsunami: protect
yourself (continued)
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.
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Action messages
CORE ACTION MESSAGES
Actively protect your home.
Protect your
property
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.
What to do after a
tsunami
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.
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Action messages
What to do after a
tsunami (continued)
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.
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Action messages
What to do after a
tsunami (continued)
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.
Insurance
If 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.
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Action messages
Insurance
(continued)
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.
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Tsunami general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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 fact
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.
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Tsunami general information
Fiction and fact
(continued)
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
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consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
Ruapehu erupting in 1995. Photo: GNS
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.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
What are volcanoes and what causes them?............................................................. 3
Why talk about volcanoes?........................................................................................... 3
What damage can volcanoes cause?.......................................................................... 4
How can I protect myself from volcanic hazards? ..................................................... 4
What is the best source of information in case of a volcanic alert?......................... 4
Action messages
Be prepared for a volcanic eruption: protect yourself................................................ 6
What to do during a volcanic eruption......................................................................... 7
What to do after a volcanic eruption........................................................................... 8
Why should we clean up the ash?............................................................................... 9
What precautions should be taken before cleaning up ash? ................................... 9
Cleaning up: Outside..................................................................................................... 9
Cleaning up: Inside..................................................................................................... 10
Clean up and maintenance: Vehicles........................................................................ 12
Further information..................................................................................................... 12
Insurance..................................................................................................................... 12
Volcano general information
Media and community education ideas.................................................................... 14
Fiction and fact........................................................................................................... 14
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 14
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 15
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
What are volcanoes
and what causes
them?
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.
Why talk about
volcanoes?
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.
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Awareness messages
What damage can
volcanoes cause?
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.
How can I protect
myself from volcanic
hazards?
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.
What is the best
source of
information in case
of a volcanic alert?
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.
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Awareness messages
Frequently active cone volcanoes
White Island, Tongariro-Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu,
Kermadecs
Volcano status
Indicative phenomena
Usual dormant, or
quiescent state
Typical background
surface activity,
seismicity, deformation
and heat flow at low
levels.
Signs of volcano
unrest
Departure from typical
background surface
activity.
Minor eruptive
activity
Onset of eruptive
activity, accompanied by
changes to monitored
indicators.
Significant local
eruption in
progress
Increased vigour of
ongoing activity and
monitored indicators.
Significant effects
on volcano, possible
effects beyond.
Hazardous local
eruption in
progress
Significant change to
ongoing activity and
monitoring indicators.
Effects beyond volcano.
Large hazardous
eruption in
progress
Destruction with
major damage beyond
volcano. Significant risk
over wider areas.
VOLCANIC
ALERT
LEVEL
Reawakening volcanoes
Northland, Auckland, Mayor Island, Rotorua,
Okataina, Taupo, Egmont/Taranaki
Indicative phenomena
Volcano status
0
Typical background
surface activity;
deformation,
seismicity, and heat
flow at low levels.
Usual dormant, or
quiescent state.
1
Apparent seismic,
geodetic, thermal
or other unrest
indicators.
Initial signs of
possible volcano
unrest. No eruption
threat.
2
Increase in number
or intensity of unrest
indicators (seismicity,
deformation, heat flow
and so on).
Confirmation of
volcano unrest.
Eruption threat.
3
Minor steam
eruptions. High
increasing trends of
unrest indicators,
significant effects
on volcano, possible
beyond.
Minor eruptions
commenced.
Real possibility
of hazardous
eruptions.
4
Eruption of new
magma. Sustained
high levels of unrest
indicators, significant
effects beyond
volcano.
Hazardous local
eruption in
progress. Largescale eruption now
possible.
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)
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Action messages
Be prepared for a
volcanic eruption:
protect yourself
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
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.
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Action messages
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.
What to do during a
volcanic eruption
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.
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Action messages
What to do during a
volcanic eruption
(continued)
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.
What to do after a
volcanic eruption
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.
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Action messages
Why should we
clean up the ash?
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.
What precautions
should be taken
before cleaning up
ash?
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.
Cleaning up:
Outside
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.
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Action messages
Cleaning up:
Outside (continued)
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.
Cleaning up: Inside
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.
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Action messages
Cleaning up: Inside
(continued)
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 detergent-soaked 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.
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11
Action messages
Clean up and
maintenance:
Vehicles
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.
Further information
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.
Insurance
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.
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Action messages
Insurance
(continued)
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.
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13
Volcano general information
Media and
community
education ideas
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 fact
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/
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Volcano general information
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
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Working from the same page
consistent messages for CDEM
PART B: Hazard-specific information
H1N1 influenza virus. Image: Cynthia Goldsmith
Pandemic influenza
►►Learn about your community’s risks from pandemic influenza.
Published by the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management
Version 1.0 April 2010
In this chapter
Awareness messages
Why talk about pandemic influenza?........................................................................... 3
Who will decide if the world is having a pandemic?................................................... 3
Who will be in charge if there is a pandemic in New Zealand?................................. 3
Will travel and trade be affected?................................................................................ 4
What might the Government do to manage an influenza pandemic?....................... 4
How will New Zealanders get treatment or health advice in an influenza
pandemic?..................................................................................................................... 5
How many people could get sick or die if a pandemic virus reaches
New Zealand?................................................................................................................ 5
Will I be able to get essential supplies and access other services?......................... 5
How will I get support?................................................................................................. 6
Action messages
Getting ready for a pandemic....................................................................................... 7
Have a plan.................................................................................................................... 7
Build up your Emergency Survival Items..................................................................... 7
Get to know your neighbours....................................................................................... 8
Get an annual flu jab.................................................................................................... 8
Workplace and business planning............................................................................... 8
How will I know what to do in a pandemic?................................................................ 9
What should people do at home to deal with an influenza pandemic? ................... 9
What can I do to protect others and myself in an influenza pandemic?................... 9
Support others............................................................................................................ 10
Pandemic influenza general information
Useful links.................................................................................................................. 11
Useful numbers........................................................................................................... 11
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.
Please note: Core Action Messages should be read in conjunction with the rest of the text in this chapter.
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Awareness messages
Why talk about
pandemic influenza?
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.
Who will decide if
the world is having a
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
Who will be in
charge if there is a
pandemic in New
Zealand?
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.
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Awareness messages
Will travel and trade
be affected?
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.
What might the
Government do to
manage an
influenza pandemic?
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.
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Awareness messages
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.
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Awareness messages
How will I get
support?
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.
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Action messages
Getting ready for a
pandemic
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.
Have a plan
Build up your
Emergency Survival
Items
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)
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Action messages
Get to know your
neighbours
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.
Get an annual flu
jab
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.
Workplace and
business planning
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.
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Action messages
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.
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Action messages
Support others
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.
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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
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