Overview

Selling water bottles during Disaster Awareness Week

The Wellington Emergency Management Office (WEMO) aims to help Wellington prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters.

It operates under the requirements of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management Act 2002.

Wellington at Risk

Wellington is a city at risk of natural hazards such as storms, flooding, earthquakes and wild fires. It is also at risk of hazards caused by vehicles transporting and disposing of dangerous substances.

An emergency occurs when any of these hazards affects the city in a way that overwhelms the city's normal ability to cope.

Emergencies & Hazards - Greater Wellington Regional Council website

Water Containers

Plastic water containers (15 litre) are available to members of the public for $10 each from the City Service Centre located at 101 Wakefield Street. They will also be available periodically through local branch libraries.

In a disaster, you should be prepared to cope for at least three days on your own. The recommended minimum amount of water to have stored is three litres per person, per day, for three days. One 15-litre bottle per person in the household will provide that with some to spare.

If you would like to purchase a larger quantity of water containers or provide them at a community event, phone WEMO on (04) 460 0650.

Receiving Emergency Alerts on Your Mobile

You can sign up to receive WEMO alerts direct to your mobile phone and hear about any large-scale emergency in Wellington (for example, tsunami warning).

Text alerts are free, but sign-up costs you four texts at your standard rate.
You will receive 3 - 4 test messages a year and any other message will be a real alert.
If you receive an emergency alert, forward it to your networks; re-tweet the message if you're on Twitter.

Signing Up

Wait for a reply after each text sent. If you already receive tweets to your mobile phone, go to step 5.

Text the word "start" to 8987.
Reply with the word "signup".
Reply with a unique username. (You won't need to remember it again, so you could use your name followed by some random characters, eg "Kelly495hgim".)
Reply with your chosen username. (If you are already on Twitter, use your existing username and it will ask you for your password)
Send / Reply "follow wemonz" to 8987.

Earthquake Safety

In an earthquake, Civil Defence and the NZ Society for Earthquake Engineering advise to drop, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on, or take shelter against an interior wall away from windows and bookcases.

It's also important to identify safe places in your home, school or workplace so you can react quickly in an earthquake.

Earthquake Safety Advice (254Kb PDF)

WEMO Facilities

The WEMO building has been purpose-built with its own water, electricity, communications and sewerage facilities to ensure communications and essential services can continue to operate in the event of an emergency or disaster.

Completed in April 1996 at the cost of $1.87 million, it's located on the corner of Murphy and Turnbull Streets in Thorndon.

Emergency Response

On a daily basis, WEMO works to manage emergency risks through planning, training and exercises.

In any event that requires the coordination of a range of emergency agencies, or a declared disaster under the Civil Defence Act, WEMO will be fully activated.

Under the leadership of the Controller, the office becomes a nerve centre where critical decisions can be made in consultation with emergency services and others involved in disaster response.

Publications

The Council produces a number of publications on emergency management, civil defence, and natural hazards in Wellington. They are particularly useful for schools, business and householders.

Council Emergency Management Publications

Overview
Preparedness
Fire
Civil Defence Centres
Urban Search & Rescue
Links