What to pack for an emergency grab bag

As we know, living in New Zealand comes with plenty of natural disaster risks, with some parts of the country being more high-risk than others for things like flooding, earthquakes and even tsunamis. Regardless of where you live, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit or grab bag ready just in case you need to leave your home at short notice.

So, what do you include in your emergency kit? We’ve put together some top tips from the getready.govt.nz and getthru.govt.nz websites to help.

1. Torch, radio, and spare batteries.
2. Charged battery pack and phone charging cable.
3. Any special needs items, like hearing aids, inhaler, glasses, mobility aids or medicine.
4. A complete first aid kit, find out what needs to be in there here.
5. Water and long-lasting food or snacks, freeze dried food is a good option.
6. Hand sanitiser, toiletries, sun cream and toilet paper.
7. Cash.
8. A copy of important documents like your passport and driver’s licence, financial documents and birth or marriage certificates.
9. Any essential items for infants and new-borns like formula and nappies.
10. A change of underwear and warm clothes, comfortable walking shoes and a raincoat.
11. Any supplies for your pets, like food or essential medication.
12. A blanket or sleeping bags.
13. Mask or face covering.
14. Any personal possessions you would not want to be without.
15. It’s a good idea to have a few things in the boot of your car too, like a shovel, windshield scraper and tire chains.

Plan to have enough in your grab bag to last you 3-4 days, and make sure that each person in your household has one. It’s a good idea to put these somewhere you can grab easily and on slightly higher ground to avoid anything being ruined by flooding.

As well as having a grab bag or emergency kit ready to go, it’s essential to have an emergency plan that everyone in your household understands. Visit getready.govt.nz/household-plan/ to make your own.

References:

https://getthru.govt.nz/emergency-survival-items

https://getready.govt.nz/prepared/household/supplies/