How you can prepare

After a large earthquake the shops will be closed and roads will be blocked. The power will be off and the phone (both landline and mobile) won’t work. You will need to look after yourself and your family for at least 3 days, probably more.

Be prepared at home

  • Store enough water for yourself and your family (3 litres per person for 3-7 days)
  • Have some spare non-perishable food handy – it doesn’t have to be tins of baked beans!
  • If you have any personal medication that you need to keep taking then try not to run out, and keep some spare if you can
  • Have a torch and a battery powered radio handy – and have spare batteries. Dynamo torches and radios are a great idea.
  • Have a plan – know what you would do in a disaster and make sure the rest of the family know too.
  • There are lots of other useful things you could keep in an emergency kit – check out the WCC preparedness information for a list of items that will be useful to have around in a disaster, as well as information on Family Survival Plans. A little time spent thinking ahead now can save you a lot of trouble later.

Be prepared at work

  • Being well prepared at home won’t help you a lot if a big earthquake happens when you are at work and you are stuck in town for a while.
  • If you have medication that you need to take daily then maybe you could carry some with you or have some at work
  • Keeping some sensible shoes at work would help a lot if you have to walk home after an earthquake (don’t expect the buses to be running) as there could be lots of rubble around.
  • Have a think about what you might need.

Get to know your neighbours

  • This is a good idea: you may need their help in a disaster.
  • Joining or starting a neighbourhood support group is a good way of doing it.

Volunteer!

  • Be a Civil Defence volunteer – we would love to meet you!

Get in touch

You can get in touch with us using our contact form.