Getting your flat emergency ready

Building emergency supplies doesn't have to be expensive. Buy one extra item every shop (canned food, long-life milk) and save clean plastic bottles for water to gradually build up your stores. 

If the power goes out, eat food in this order: fridge stuff first (it'll spoil quickly!), then the freezer food, before it thaws, and finally tuck into your cans and pantry supplies. 

For cooking without power, use a barbecue, if you have one (remember to keep the gas bottle full) or see if your neighbours are willing to share with you. 

Store water in clean plastic bottles (aim for at least 3 litres per person per day).

If you have advance warning of a situation that could cut off water supplies, fill up your bath and store some in there. 

Check out the Get Ready website for more detailed information on water storage. 

Keep your torches and batteries somewhere easy-to-find.  

Avoid using candles, you don’t want a house fire to deal with too. 

Conserve phone battery by dimming your screen, turning off background app refresh, using black and white mode, and switching on battery saver. 

Keep a battery-powered or solar-powered radio for updates. Radio tends to keep going in an emergency when other media and information systems are offline. 

If you don't have a radio, your car radio can be a good alternative. 

Know which of your local radio stations provide emergency information. RNZ will keep you updated. 

Discuss your emergency plans with flatmates, friends and family before an emergency happens. 

Make sure everyone knows who to contact and what the plan is. 

Read more tips on how to deal with loss of internet and communication here. 

It's normal to feel stressed and anxious during emergencies. 

Check in regularly with your flatmates, talk about what's bothering you and support each other. 

If you’re taking medications for your mental or physical health, have a plan to make sure you have enough of what you need and can store it properly. Read more about that here.