Preparedness - Schools
This page is designed to help children understand and prepare for emergencies.
Emergencies are unexpected disasters. They can cause damage to the places we live and put our own safety at risk.
Earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, landslips, gas leaks, and chemical spills are some examples of emergencies that could happen in New Zealand.
Potential Damage
Emergencies that make the ground move (like earthquakes, eruptions, and landslips) can cause damage to buildings and roads. Some emergencies (floods or tsunamis) can trap people in buildings. Other emergencies (like fires, gas leaks, or chemical spills) can make the air dangerous to breathe.
Other things that could happen are:
- power lines coming down
- water pipes bursting
- roads being blocked
- things being washed away
- windows breaking
- large objects being blown around.
Getting Help
There are a lot of groups that know what to do and are ready to help if there is an emergency.
| People who can help | What they can do |
|---|---|
| Ambulances |
provide first aid take people to hospital |
| City Council workers |
fix broken roads and footpaths fix broken water pipes |
| Civil Defence |
co-ordinate helpers |
| Doctors |
provide first aid care for sick or injured people |
| Earthquake Commission (EQC) |
help people pay for damage to their property |
| Electricity supply companies |
fix power supplies to buildings fix broken power lines |
| Fire brigade |
put out fires rescue people with ladders supply water pump out flooded areas |
| Gas companies |
fix gas supplies to buildings fix broken gas pipes |
| Hospitals |
care for sick or injured people |
| Insurance companies |
help people pay for damage to their property |
| Parents |
keep you safe if you are at home |
| Phone companies |
fix phone connections to buildings fix broken phone lines |
| Police |
make sure neighbourhoods are safe find people who are missing and help their families help with search and rescue help people get out of buildings |
| Radio and television |
tell people what's happening and what to do |
| Red Cross |
provide food provide clothing and blankets help find missing people |
| Salvation Army |
provide food provide somewhere to sleep for people who have to leave their homes |
| St John's Ambulance |
provide first aid |
| Teachers |
keep you safe if you are at school |
| Vets |
care for animals that are sick or injured |
Home Survival Plan
Your family needs to have a plan for what to do if there is an emergency, and where to find each other if you have been separated. You should talk with your family about these things:
- where to shelter in an earthquake, flood or storm
- who is responsible for your survival and first aid kits
- how to evacuate and where to meet
- how to contact family
- where your nearest Civil Defence Centre is located
- how to turn off gas, electricity and water at the mains.
Emergency Survival Items
In a major emergency, your family may need to survive at home without help for a few days. Your family should have these survival items:
- water: five litres per person per day for at least five days, but more is better
- food: three days' supply of things like tinned food, dried fruit
- alternative cooking source and utensils – BBQ, can opener, knives
- clothing and sturdy shoes – be prepared for wind, rain and sun
- emergency blanket
- important family documents
- medications, baby supplies
- soap, wet wipes, toilet paper
- torch with spare batteries
- radio with spare batteries
- fire extinguisher
- notebook and pen
Related Links
Department Details:
Emergency Management
