By Dylan Moran
New Zealanders need to check that their emergency management kits are up to scratch, according to Ministry of Civil Defence Public Education Manager Chandrika Kumaran.
High on the list of things to be checked is batteries, with Ms Kumaran saying people may think their torches and radios are fully powered only to find the batteries flat or gone when they need them.
Ms Kumaran says "sometimes children take torch batteries and use them", and to remember they do not have an infinite shelf life.
She also says that often people forget about special medication which may be needed in an emergency, such as asthma inhalers, or dietary requirements.
"For example, Civil Defence shelters won't always have gluten-free options," says Ms Kumaran.
On top of these considerations, those with disabilities should have a personal support network of at least three people who know how to look after them.
But having an emergency management kit does not necessarily mean locking away food and not eating it. Ms Kumaran says that having extra food in the pantry is the best way to operate. She says that people often use the excuse "we can't afford to have that much food locked away”, but to remember that you can simply buy an extra tin of food and bottle of water each time you shop – and if you use it, replace it.
Having a “quick getaway kit” is also a good move. A quick getaway kit should have food, three litres of water per person per day, any essential medical supplies and also important documents such as passports, mortgage papers, driver's license and any important photos or mementoes which you do not want to lose in an emergency.
Also take pets into consideration. Civil Defence shelters will not house pets, only service animals. A get away kit should also be on hand for pets with food, but any other requirements such as spare leads and harnesses in case their normal ones cannot be found following a disaster.
Finally, Ms Kumaran says to realise that radios still play an important part in society. While you may not listen to the radio on a daily basis, in an emergency they will be one of your best sources of information, so it is always worthwhile having one in the house and ensuring it has batteries to power it.
A full list of the items Civil Defence recommend you have in an emergency kit is available here.
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