New Zealand Earthquake Emergency Preparedness Checklist: 25 Items
Secure a household, practise Drop Cover Hold and prepare supplies, communications and recovery plans for New Zealand earthquakes.
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๐ Reduce home hazards
Notes: Find sturdy shelter within a few steps in each frequently used room.
Find sturdy shelter within a few steps in each frequently used room.
Notes: Anchor shelves and cabinets appropriately to reduce falling hazards.
Anchor shelves and cabinets appropriately to reduce falling hazards.
Notes: Avoid heavy stored items above beds and seating.
Avoid heavy stored items above beds and seating.
Notes: Review mirrors, TVs and other fixtures for secure installation.
Review mirrors, TVs and other fixtures for secure installation.
Notes: Know where isolation controls are and when trained help is necessary.
Know where isolation controls are and when trained help is necessary.
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Make a family emergency plan
Notes: Choose locations and a fallback when travel is unsafe.
Choose locations and a fallback when travel is unsafe.
Notes: Practise a safer response suitable for each person.
Practise a safer response suitable for each person.
Notes: Arrange a contact plan if local communications fail.
Arrange a contact plan if local communications fail.
Notes: Keep transport and emergency care needs in mind.
Keep transport and emergency care needs in mind.
Notes: Follow the relevant Civil Defence group and local hazard map.
Follow the relevant Civil Defence group and local hazard map.
๐ Prepare practical supplies
Notes: Follow Get Ready guidance for a household that may be isolated.
Follow Get Ready guidance for a household that may be isolated.
Notes: Choose food needing little preparation or refrigeration.
Choose food needing little preparation or refrigeration.
Notes: Test them and locate them away from toppling objects.
Test them and locate them away from toppling objects.
Notes: Keep compatible phone cables ready.
Keep compatible phone cables ready.
Notes: Review expiry and individual health needs regularly.
Review expiry and individual health needs regularly.
Notes: Broken glass and debris may make walking dangerous.
Broken glass and debris may make walking dangerous.
๐ก๏ธ Practise immediate actions
Notes: Avoid running outside during shaking or sheltering in an ordinary doorway.
Avoid running outside during shaking or sheltering in an ordinary doorway.
Notes: Review Lock Cover Hold or the appropriate accessible alternative.
Review Lock Cover Hold or the appropriate accessible alternative.
Notes: Pull over safely and wait until shaking stops.
Pull over safely and wait until shaking stops.
Notes: Long or strong shaking near the coast calls for immediate evacuation after shaking.
Long or strong shaking near the coast calls for immediate evacuation after shaking.
Notes: Practise at regular intervals so actions become familiar.
Practise at regular intervals so actions become familiar.
โ Prepare for disruption and recovery
Notes: Watch for damaged buildings, glass and fallen lines.
Watch for damaged buildings, glass and fallen lines.
Notes: Keep documents accessible without exposing policy data publicly.
Keep documents accessible without exposing policy data publicly.
Notes: Use local Civil Defence, radio and emergency alerts.
Use local Civil Defence, radio and emergency alerts.
Notes: Help only when it is safe and your household is secure.
Help only when it is safe and your household is secure.
Complete Guide
Earthquakes can happen anywhere
New Zealand is earthquake-prone, and shaking can start without warning. Protecting yourself immediately and reducing indoor falling hazards deserve attention before an event.
Make safer rooms and routines
Identify nearby shelter, secure furniture and avoid placing heavy objects over beds. Safety planning should reflect a homeโs layout and the needs of its residents.
Practise the right response
Drop, Cover and Hold protects against falling objects. Get Ready also explains accessible alternatives; ordinary doorways are not automatically safer.
Prepare for interrupted services
Water, communications, power and transport may be disrupted. Build practical supplies and a family contact plan without relying on an exact restoration time.
Understand coastal consequences
A long or strong earthquake near the coast can signal a local tsunami. Once shaking ends, evacuation to higher ground or inland takes priority over collecting belongings.
After shaking
Expect aftershocks, look for hazards and follow official local instructions. Document damage only when safe, and avoid returning to damaged buildings without suitable clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Should I run outside during shaking?
No. Get Ready recommends Drop, Cover and Hold. Running outside can expose people to glass and falling building materials.
What if I use a wheelchair?
Use an appropriate accessible response, including Lock, Cover and Hold for a wheelchair or walker, as described in Get Ready guidance.
Does an earthquake near the coast also mean tsunami risk?
If shaking is long or strong near the coast, protect yourself during shaking, then evacuate promptly to higher ground or inland without waiting for an official warning.
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