In an emergency

Emergencies can happen at any time. Find out what to do before, during and after an emergency to keep yourself, your employees and your business safe.

Storms can happen at any time of the year. They can bring strong winds, heavy rain or snow, thunder, lightning, tornadoes and rough seas. 

Before a storm

Strong winds can lift large, heavy objects. Tie down anything that could be lifted by high winds, or bring them inside.

Secure windows and doors. Have tools and material ready to repair windows, such as tarpaulins, boards and duct tape.

Get supplies, such as water, in case you need to remain inside your premises during a storm.

Identify a safe place in your premises to gather during a thunderstorm. This should be a place where there are no windows, skylights, or glass doors. These could break in strong winds or hail and cause damage or injury.

How to assess health and safety risks

During a storm

Stay inside. Don't walk around outside. Don't drive unless absolutely necessary.

Close exterior and interior doors and windows. Pull curtains and blinds over windows. This could prevent injury from flying glass if the window breaks.

Stay informed during an emergency. Listen to the radio or follow your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group online. Follow the instructions of civil defence and emergency services.

Avoid water taps, and sinks. Metal pipes and plumbing can conduct electricity if struck by lightning. Use your water from your emergency supplies.

Unplug small appliances that may be affected by electrical power surges. If you lose power, unplug major appliances. This will reduce the power surge and possible damage when power is restored.

After a storm

Keep listening to the radio or following your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group online. They will give you information and instructions.

Check for injuries and get first aid if necessary.

Help others if you can, especially people who may need extra help.

Contact your local council if your building has been severely damaged. Ask your council for advice on how to clean up debris safely.

Stay alert for extended rainfall, flooding, landslides and debris hazards, especially when driving.

If your premises are damaged

  • Do not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage.
  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
  • If you rent your premises, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company.
  • Take photos of any damage. It will help speed up assessments of your claims.

Storms(external link) — Get ready

Landslides

Landslides can happen without warning. They are often triggered by heavy rain, earthquakes and, in some cases, human activity.

Before a landslide

Check if your area might be prone to landslides. Areas that are prone to landslides include areas with:

  • existing old landslides
  • steep slopes
  • drainage channels on steep slopes
  • streams and riverbanks, or
  • coastal cliffs.

Review your insurance regularly. Having insurance cover for your business is important to help you get back on your feet if you suffer damage in a disaster.

Know the warning signs so you can act quickly if you see them. Regularly inspect your premises, especially after long dry spells, earthquakes or heavy rainfall.

Look for:

  • small slips, rock falls and subsidence at the bottom of slopes
  • sticking doors and window frames
  • gaps where frames are not fitting properly
  • outside fixtures such as steps, decks, and verandas moving or tilting away from the rest of the property
  • new cracks or bulges on the ground, road, footpath, retaining walls and other hard surfaces; and
  • tilting trees, retaining walls or fences.

During a landslide

Get out of the path of the landslide quickly.

Evacuate if the building you are in is in danger — take your grab bag with you if you can do so quickly.

Warn neighbours and help others if you can.

Contact emergency services and your local council.

After a landslide

Stay alert for future landslides.

Stay away from the landslide area until it has been properly inspected and authorities give the all-clear.

Report broken utility lines to appropriate authorities.

Help others if you can, especially people who may need extra help.

If your property is damaged

  • Do not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage to your property.
  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
  • If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company.
  • Take photos of any damage. It will help speed up assessments of your claim.

Landslides(external link) — Get ready

Floods happen often in New Zealand and can cause a lot of damage and loss of life. 

Before flooding

Find out from your local council if your business is at risk from flooding and how they’ll alert you if you need to evacuate.

Ask about:

  • evacuation plans and local public alerting systems
  • what to do with your livestock if you have to evacuate
  • how you can reduce the risk of future flooding to your business.

Work out what supplies you might need and make a plan.

Practise your emergency plan and your evacuation route to higher ground.

Take measures to reduce potential flood damage and make sure your insurance policy covers you for flood damage.

During flooding

Put safety first. Don’t take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water.

Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.

Never try to walk, swim or drive through flood water. Many flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water.

Always assume that flood water is contaminated with farm run-off, chemicals and sewage. Contaminated flood water can make you sick. Make sure you wash your hands, clothes and property after contact with flood waters.

If flooding is possible

Stay informed in an emergency. Listen to the radio or follow your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group online.

Be prepared to evacuate and keep your grab bag near. Listen to emergency services and local civil defence authorities. Follow any instructions about evacuation of your area. Self-evacuate if you feel unsafe.

Move stock to higher ground.

Turn off water, electricity and gas if advised to.

Move valuable and dangerous items as high above the floor as possible. This includes electrical equipment and chemicals. Use watertight containers to store important items.

After flooding

Only return to your business premises after Civil Defence and emergency services have told you it is safe to do so. It may not be safe to return even when the floodwaters have receded.

Stay away from damaged areas. You might hamper rescue and other emergency operations and be at further risk from the residual effects of floods.

Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors may be slippery or covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails.

Help others if you can, especially people who may need extra help.

If your property is damaged

Do not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage to your property.

  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
  • Once you’ve contacted your insurers, photograph contaminated or damaged property and put aside, taking care to deal with any hazardous materials appropriately. 
  • Your insurer will advise if you can do emergency repairs to make your business premises safe and secure. 
  • Electricity in flooded buildings should not be turned on until it has been inspected by an electrician.
  • Don’t use any vehicles or electrical equipment that have been flooded. 
  • If you rent your premises, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company.

Cleaning up after a flood

Clean and dry your business premises and everything in it. Floodwater can make the air in your premises unhealthy. When things get wet for more than two days they usually get mouldy. There may also be germs and bugs in your premises after a flood.

Mould may make some people with asthma, allergies or other breathing problems sick.

Talk to your doctor or another medical professional if you have questions about cleaning or working in a property that has been flooded. If there is a large amount of mould, you may want to hire professional help to clean up the mould.

Protect yourself by wearing:

  • a certified respirator
  • goggles
  • gloves
  • protective clothing that covers your arms and legs, and
  • sturdy footwear.

Throw away anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned.

Flooding(external link) — Get ready

Fire and wildfire

Stay safe and reduce the risk of fire over summer. 

Before a fire

Don’t wait until there’s smoke in the air to prepare. 

Help defend your property from fire or wildfire by:

  • keeping your grass short around buildings on your property
  • keeping gutters and areas around decks clear of dead leaves, debris and pine needles
  • removing highly flammable plants close to buildings on your property
  • making a plan to evacuate for employees and customers
  • ensure there is easy access to water for firefighting
  • check the wildfire risk regularly, and think about when you do particular outdoor activities that could generate a spark to reduce the risk of an accidental fire.

Can I light a fire?(external link) — Fire and Emergency New Zealand

During a fire

If you see smoke or fire and believe there's a risk to people or property, call 111 and ask for 'Fire' immediately.

If you're not sure whether it's a real emergency or not, call 111 and report what you can see.

If you are in a house or building that is in the path of an approaching fire or is impacted by smoke and embers, evacuate from the area as quickly as possible. Call 111 as soon as you can safely do so without delaying your evacuation.

Meet friends, family or staff at your agreed safe meeting place — somewhere safely away from the property.  

Once you're out of danger, stay away. Do not return until the “all clear” has been given.

Remember to let the arriving firefighters know whether you are all safely out or if there’s anyone missing. 

After a wildfire 

If a wildfire has burned your land, it’s important that you understand the hazards that may be left behind – even if your buildings themselves were not damaged.

Potential impacts include:

  • damaged fences
  • dangerously damaged and unstable trees
  • ash pits which can be extremely hot long after the fire has passed
  • contaminated water tanks.

You should seek advice from Fire and Emergency before returning to your property, to ensure it is safe for you and your staff and customers.

If you've been involved in a fire and need support, call these people and let them know what happened. They may be able to provide support.

  • your insurance company
  • your bank or mortgage company.

It's also important to contact anybody providing services to the property, such as:

  • post office
  • electricity supplier
  • local council
  • gas supplier
  • phone and internet provider.

They'll be able to talk you through the next steps.

Visit Fire and Emergency's website for safety tips to lower the risk of wildfire when you’re lighting a fire or doing anything that could cause a spark, to check whether it’s safe to light a fire, and if you’ll need a fire permit.

Check before you light a fire(external link) — Fire and Emergency New Zealand

More information about emergency planning and insurance

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