Last month, the Whakatane Beacon wrote an article with my Mum about being prepared for emergency response to a large earthquake. The weekend that the article came out we also had a series of eruptions from Whakaari, a large earthquake in the Islands, and a Civil Defence Emergency test - that was scary timing.
Since then, lots of people have stopped me and my Mum in the street to talk to us about what they should have in a go bag, so I thought I would write about that for my article this month.
There are some basic things we should all have, and some nice-to-haves. Remember that if we evacuate, you are not going to be on your own and other people will have things that you might not have. We are always a community that looks after each other.
Something important to remember is that drinkable water is not always easy to come by in an emergency situation, so pack food that is ready to eat without needing to be rehydrated. Small tins of tuna and beans, or foil packs of soups etc… are perfect. Muesli bars, nuts and dried fruit are easy to carry and great for snacks.
Another important thing is to use backpacks rather bags as your go bags. If you put a pack on your back, you still have two free hands. They don’t have to be fancy packs, they just have to be strong enough to hold your gear and not let you down. You should line your pack with a waterproof liner - this can just be a sturdy rubbish bag, or two.
Medication is something people don’t think about. Medications expire, and doses change. Remember to add a calendar reminder to check your medications. Check with your pharmacist to see how long you can store medication that is not stored in its original sealed container.
What my Mum and I have in our packs:
For me and Mum, we have two backpacks, one on one side of the house and one on the other side. We keep them seperate in case we can get to one and not the other. Mum has arthritis and is slower than me, and I am a lot bigger than her, so I carry the heavy pack. Our packs have some of our tramping gear inside them, with the non essentials in my bigger pack. In each pack we have everything we need to get through three days in an emergency scenario. Everything is packed inside a pack liner, in the pack, so everything will stay dry.
Some of the important things in our packs are a small gas cooker, gas and a billy, fire-starting gear, multi tool with knife, empty bottles for water, a life straw (used to filter dirty water), water purifying UV pen, good first aid kits, emergency ponchos and life bivvys for quick warmth and some protection from weather. We have hats, spare socks, medications, toilet paper, ziplock bags, rubbish bags, and small packs of baby wipes, sanitiser, sunblock, can opener, and enough ready-to-eat food for three days. We have head torches (batteries round the wrong way so they don’t go flat), gound sheets, rope, scissors, knives, pen and paper, permanent marker and collapsible shovels. This might seem like a lot, but everything is chosen for its weight, and mums full small pack only weighs 7kgs. We have a sleeping bag next to each pack that can be grabbed if needed.
An important part of our emergency pack is the calendar reminders we have set on both of our Google Calenders - our calenders remind us to “check your pack”. Every change of season we change our batteries, medicactions and food. We take everything out, check its as it’s meant to be, and replace what needs replacing. It is a normal routine for us to do this, so we never worry about being let down when we are in need.
What you absolutely should have (bare minimum)
Food for three days: Non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items. For example:
Canned foods (beans, soup, tuna, salmon) and a can opener (don’t rely on tear tabs working). Dry foods for when water is available (rice, pasta, two minute noodles).
High-energy foods (nuts, dried fruit, muesli bars, one square meals).
Water
Empty bottles suitable for holding water and some way of filtering or purifying water to make it safe. If you are going to use purifying tablets for purifying water, it is great to have some powdered drink to make it taste better. There are so many cheap options for portable water filters now. You can pick up something functional at places like KMart, and for something a bit more effective (and expensive), you can ask at Hunting and Fishing - they have a great selection of filter bottles and life straws.
Clothes:
If you have kids, keep size appropriate clothing (and nappies/wipes) in your pack. Change these every season. Plastic ponchos are awesome because they don’t weigh anything and they do keep you pretty dry. Try to keep your pack near where you have fast access to shoes, that way you arent running around, wasting time looking for things. Clean, dry socks just make life feel better, so keep some in your pack. They double as gloves in cold weather.
Hygiene, Safety and Sanitation:
Hand Sanitizer, toilet paper, wipes, rubbish bags and something to dig a small hole.
A big packet of ziplock bags is useful for so many things. Store your medication and first aid kit in them, too. A basic first aid kit should contain bandages, plasters, iodine, tweezers, scissors, dental floss, a sling, safety pins, and a sewing kit. For making a fire, it’s good to have at least a box of waterproof matches and a candle. A multi tool with knife is another essential.
Additional Items if you have babies and children
Baby Food/Formula: Enough for 3-7 days, plus bottles and feeding supplies.
Nappies and wipes: supply for at least 3 days.
Clothing and blankets: extra clothing, seasonal wear, and a soft blanket.
Medications: Infant/child Paraceamol and any prescriptions.
Comfort Items: Favourite toy or blanket
If you want a basic go bag that you just need to add food, medication and personal items to, you can buy ready made go bags at places like Mitre10. They are not backpacks though, so just put them in an old backpack with some kai, and you will feel better because you are prepared.
Lots of people ask my Mum “What is a big earthquake?” A big earthquake is one where it is difficult to stand up, or one that goes on for a long time - like over a minute. The rule is always
“if it's long and strong, get gone”. Earthquakes can be sudden and violent, especially one like the 9.1 magnitude earthquake that is possible from the Hikurangi Subductions zone in the next fifty years. You don’t have to be scared - just be prepared.
It’s highly recommend you make an evacuation plan for your family, and practice it together. Choose a safe meeting spot, away from potential slip areas or other dangerous areas prone to flooding. Know the quickest and safest routes to get to your spot. If you have kids at school or preschool, find out what your school policy is for evacuation. Let your school manage taking your kids, and you just worry about getting to the meeting place.
If we practice evacuating, this will help everyone understand the timing, where to go, and what actions to take in the event of an earthquake. Make sure your go bag, or go bags are ready and easily accessible, (preferably one on each side of the house), and stay informed about local evacuation routes and shelters.
And a last note, please do not get in your car, you will only get stuck in a gridlock. It’s better to walk, run, ride a bike, scooter, or even motorcycle. How ever you find your way to higher ground, make sure you get there as quickly as you can and remember that we are a community that cares for each other. How we look after each other in the Eastern Bay of Plenty is what makes this place so cool. Thank you for reading my article.
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