Emergency phone usage tips

• Don't assume mobile networks will always work. Access to repair masts and loss of electricity supply could mean long delays in getting back online and in contact. In a volcanic eruption, phone masts are unlikely to work if there is ash in the atmosphere. 
• Have non-digital back-ups of crucial information. 
• Keep some cash on hand - EFTPOS may not work (EFTPOS terminals can do offline transactions when signal is out, but don’t rely on this.) 
• Consider getting a personal locator beacon (EPIRB) for remote areas. 
• Don’t jump back on and get stuck into high data use activities (e.g. streaming or video calls) as soon as you are reconnected. Networks will still be fragile and emergency services need them more. 

Essential phone preparation

• Familiarise yourself with your phone’s emergency location services and how to share your location. 

• Save all the people who are your emergency contacts with 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) next to their name. 

• Print-off or download offline maps of your local area. 

• Take photos of important documents and keep them locally on your camera roll or photos app. 

• Keep your phone's operating system updated. 

• Learn how to turn off your mobile data quickly. 

• Check in with older relatives or your less technically minded whānau to ensure they know how to best use their phone in the situation.

Battery

• Make sure everyone has their own charger. 

• Keep back-up power banks fully charged. 

• Consider buying a portable power station with solar panels for extended outages. 

• Keep a power cable in the car - so you’re ready to charge in the car if you’re driving. 

• Consider getting a generator if you live remotely. 

• Buy an inverter and learn how to use your car battery as a generator. 

• Establish a clear meeting point (school, marae, community centre). 

• Agree on who picks up children, in what order and from where. 

• Write down key phone numbers and store in a waterproof container or sealable bag. 

• Pre-plan what everyone should do if you get separated and are unable to communicate (go through the scenarios with your kids e.g. imagine you're at school and x happened, what would you do?) 

• Practice the plan with your whānau. 

• If you have to flee, leave a pen and paper in your letterbox with information about where you have gone. Leave extra paper for others to leave a message in case you return. 

• Getready.govt.nz has a comprehensive household emergency plan template 

Immediate actions

• Charge all phones immediately if power is still available. 

• Switch to SMS (text messages) only - avoid WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger etc. If they don’t get through the first time texts generally keep trying, most of the other messaging apps you’re used to using won’t. 

• Your loved ones may be able to reach your voicemail. If you can, pre-record an informative voicemail message e.g. “It’s 1pm on Tuesday, March 12th, Hemi, Kate, Xavier and Anahera are all ok. We’re up at the Marae and we are staying there. Can someone please check on Nanny, we haven’t been able to contact her.” 

Reduce battery drain

• Turn off mobile data. 

• Switch your phone to low power mode. 

• Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 

• Turn off location services unless needed. 

• Close background apps, especially maps. 

• Lower screen brightness. 

• As tempting as it is, don’t use your phone to keep the kids occupied. 

• Have a torch handy so you can avoid using the one on your phone. 

• Avoid watching video, downloading, playing games, leaving maps apps on – these will eat up a lot of your charge. 

• Take turns having one phone on at a time within your family or household group. Move on to the next phone when that one runs out of power. 

When networks are under pressure

• Use text messages instead of calling - they'll keep trying to send even if they don’t get through the first time. 

• Keep essential calls brief. 

• Emergency calls (111) might work even when showing "no service" - so keep trying. Often your phone will search for other networks even if they are not your provider. 

• Don't waste battery searching for signal - switch to airplane mode. 

If network coverage fails

• Look for available Wi-Fi networks from fixed-line connections. 

• Use offline maps and saved documents. 

• Check community notice boards. 

• Remember: Different family members can take turns having their phone on to conserve overall battery life. 

• Use satellite texting if you have a compatible phone. It’s currently available on iPhone 15 with One NZ - you’ll notice the 4G/5G symbol on your phone changes to a satellite symbol. 

• Keep your phone's operating system up-to-date to access satellite texting. 

• Set a reminder to check your phone's emergency set-up. 

• Practice your family communication plan. 

• Keep device operating systems updated. 

• Review and refresh stored documents regularly.