Tai Tokerau Timebank
Emergency Preparedness
There's something strange in the neighbourhood, who you gonna call? Timebankers!
Okay so we're unlikely to have a problem with ghosts, but given our precarious geographical location we are likely to have a problem with cyclones, flooding, landslides and power cuts.
When emergency situations arise it's good to be prepared, whether that is a case of having plenty of supplies in, or knowing who can give you a hand to put your fence back up or help you clear debris out of a drain.
Obviously if it's a 111 type of emergency then don't hesitate to call them first, but so often what help we need is way too far down the priority list of the Emergency Services, but it still needs done. This is where Timebanking can help.
There are several ways we can do this.
-
Getting to know each other better so we know who to ask, and who might need our help
-
sharing and learning new skills that help us to be more resilient and prepared to weather the storms (literally and figuratively!)
-
sharing resources, sources of things that can help us 'get through', and tips to make it less of a basic survival scenario but rather living a bit differently.
-
improving our communication networks and community resources.
It doesn't have to be an official emergency to feel like one! If in doubt, shout out. It may be just your home or street that's affected, it doesn't have to be the whole area. In fact if the problem is localised the easier it'll be to find help!
"A community-led response
and recovery displays Whakawhanaungatanga and
Manaakitanga which demonstrates the resilience of
Northland communities."
NRC CDE Management Plan
In the event of an emergency your neighbours are obviously the closest at hand to help, but we don't all know our neighbours, or local Timebank members. We'll be working on ways to help Timebankers get to know who all else is near by, and how they can help each other.
Workshops to help better prepare you to cope with an emergency, whether it is loss of power, being cut off locally or regionally or anything else that might make life at home difficult or unsafe
A collection of resources available online, to access via Timebank and some checklists etc to help you plan for your own situation.
Database
We'll be gathering information on what skills and resources our members have that could be useful in an emergency situation, also making sure we know who are more vulnerable members are so that we can ensure that they are check in on and get the support they need, even if it's just a warm fire to sit by!
Neighbourhood networking.
Between the 2023 cyclones and general wetness, past summer droughts, lengthy closures of SH1 in at least one place, and 'that' power outage we've all had experience of what the weather (and human error, but that's harder to plan for!) can throw at us. With the climate crisis escalating we're going to see more extreme weather events happening.
Sharing our stories and experiences is a great way to not only get to know each other better, but it broadens our perspectives on what is possible, and how to achieve it.
Things to be thinking about
- what are the biggest risks where I live (flooding, power outages etc)
- what has been particularly useful to me in past emergency type situations?
- what have I wished I had that I haven't got?
- how could I be better prepared for 'next time'?
- what might I be able to offer others to help them be better prepared, or cope in/after an extreme weather event etc?
Planning ahead
There are three main options for most of us in the event of an emergency
- Leaving on foot - what can you carry? What do you need? How easy is it to grab in a hurry?
- Leaving by car - you're able to take more, but what?
- Stuck at home - if you're safer staying put do you have sufficient supplies and resources to last at least a week?
Workshops
We'll be organising a number of workshops that help you be better prepared for whatever happens. If you have a workshop that you would like to see near you please contact us and we'll see what we can do!
Resources
Official Resources
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
National Civil Defense https://getready.govt.nz/
Northland Civil Defense https://www.nrc.govt.nz/civildefence/
NRC Civil Defense Facebook page
MetService http://www.metservice.com/
Northland Civil Defense Emergency Management Group Plan 2021-26
Response: When it actually happens
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you have to evacuate
Things to take with you that you might not have thought of that others have found useful or wished they had
-
Vital medication (at least 3 days worth)
-
Proof of address for getting back again if access is restricted
-
Important documents eg passport, birth/marriage/divorce certificates etc - yes these can be replaced but it's a particularly slow & stressful process if you've lost all of them.
-
ID numbers eg IRD, Health, Community Services
-
Children are used to carrying a school bag - fill theirs with a change of clothes and/or sleepwear, snacks and a full drinks bottle, a comfort item and something for them to do eg a toy, book etc. It saves you carrying it, and gives them some security if they get separated from you.
-
Pillowcase - you can stuff it with clothes for a pillow, and it also gives you an extra 'bag' to keep your belongings together during the day if you're at an evacuation centre.
-
A list of useful phone numbers and email addresses written down in case your phone goes flat and you can't recharge it.
-
Cash & valuables (being in a safe or strong box is no guarantee they won't burn)
Do you know where to go? Whether that's your nearest evacuation centre or a friend/whānau member who is closer. What are your options?
Recovery: The aftermath
This section will develop over time as we gather more resources. If you have suggestions as to what else to include please do not hesitate to contact us.
"The Recovery process is about supporting people to rebuild their lives, restoring their emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing as quickly as possible to assist with the functioning of the wider community."
NRC CDE Management Plan
What happens next?
You might need help, be able to provide it, or both!
-
Restoration of damaged property
-
Managing stress and anxiety
-
Needing to 'debrief'
-
Rebuilding your life
How can this happen?
-
Contact a timebanker directly for help
-
If you have a Neighbourhood group reach out to them
-
Post an Offer or Request on TimeOverflow for a wider reach
-
Contact your Local Coordinator if you need assistance
-
Working Bees to tackle larger tasks
This resource from Wellington on Psychological First Aid after natural disasters provides some useful insight, especially for those needing to explain things to children.
Remember that if you require professional help timebankers are able to help you access that rather than provide it themselves. Whether this is by getting you to appointments, being an advocate, or providing advice on where to seek help etc.
Fire!
With hot dry weather and strong winds comes a greater risk of wildfires. The following advice comes from California in light of the 2025 Los Angeles fires. (edited to reflect Aotearoa NZ conditions)
IF YOU ARE IN MANDATORY EVACUATION AND ORDERED TO LEAVE GO IMMEDIATELY.
- Turn on your lights so Fire dept can see your house- (this saved many homes in our area as did solar lights)
- Walk through the house quickly with video camera on and video each room of the house. If you have time, open all the closets, drawers and cabinets. This will help immensely with insurance claims later.
- Leave gates unlocked.
- Leave the hose out where it’s easy to spot
- Turn off propane tanks or gas lines if possible and if there’s anything leaning up against the house or fence or propane tank like trash cans, move them.
- Bring headlamps, water, electrolytes and snacks
- Grab your dirty laundry… it’s likely your favorite clothes you wear most often.
- Text someone you trust and send them your SHARED LOCATION until the end of the day when you evacuate. Text them your car description and plate number.
- Have evacuation location set up and have backup just in case. Download map in case you lose service. Map marked with at least two evacuation routes
- Save all your receipts for hotel/gas/food while evacuated.
- If you have to abandon car for any reason pull car off the road and don’t block traffic. Leave keys in the car if you’re stuck and everyone’s abandoning cars.
__________________________________________
IF YOU HAVE 1-2 HOURS BEFORE EVACUATION INSIDE THE HOUSE (if there is time- if you are still in a safe / not in emergency mandatory evacuation area but you feel you will evacuate during the night)
- LOCATE PETS & put into crates or get into car. Give calming treats if you have them.
- Shut all windows and doors (interior too) and leave them unlocked.
- Remove combustible window shades and curtains; close metal shutters if you have them.
- Turn off pilot lights
- Shut off a/c/heat & propane tank
- Attach hoses to spigots
- Leave indoor and outdoor lights ON- it can be hard to see where homes are in thick black smoke so solar lights really save homes.
___________________________________________
OUTSIDE & IN NEIGHBOURHOOD
- If you have a swimming pool write a note on cardboard with an arrow pointing in direction for firefighters
- Move propane BBQ away from structures.
- Place combustible outdoor items (patio furniture, toys, doormats, trash cans, etc.) in the garage or 10m from structures (optional: place in a pool).
- Shut off gas at the meter or propane tank; move small tanks at least 15’ away from combustibles.
- Connect garden hoses with squeeze grip nozzles to outdoor spigots for use by firefighters.
- Fill water buckets and place them around outside of the house, especially near decks and fences for animals & firefighters.
- Back your car into the driveway, loaded, with doors and windows closed.
- Prop open fence and side gates.
- Place ladder(s) at the corner(s) of structures for firefighters.
- Patrol your property and monitor conditions. Leave if spot fires ignite or conditions change.
- Put a ladder at the house corner for firefighters access. Also leave garden implements like rakes etc at the front of the house for firefighters.
- Wear protective clothing and bring respirators or a good mask/bandanas for face.
- Close doors inside the house to prevent draft.
- Fill & ready any gas-powered water pumps.
- DISCONNECT automatic garage doors so they can open by hand (close door).
- Notify an out-of-area contact of your phone number, location and status and share location with them when you evacuate. Update them as you can.
- Leave a note with your contact info and out-of-area contact taped to fridge or inside a front window.
- Check on or call neighbours to alert them to prepare at first sign of fire.
- Set up security/wildlife cameras so that you can stay updated from afar- this helped fire-survivors greatly in our area
- Put “Grab bags” in your vehicle.
- Get in the practice of parking the car so that it is facing the direction off your property for faster escape