Prepare for an Emergency - Survival Items

Family with their survival items

Prepare for an emergency by putting together some survival items or buy a Grab&Go kit, and stock up on drinking water.

Emergency Survival Items

In a major emergency, your family may need to survive at home without help for a few days. Your family should have these survival items:

• water: 3 litres per person per day for at least 3 days, but more is better
• food: 3 days' supply of food that will keep such as tinned food and dried fruit
• alternative cooking source and utensils - BBQ, can opener, knives
• clothing and sturdy shoes - be prepared for wind, rain and sun
• emergency blanket
• important family documents
• medications, baby supplies
• soap, wet wipes, toilet paper
• torch with spare batteries
• radio with spare batteries
• fire extinguisher
• notebook and pen

Grab&Go Emergency Kits

We've put together a backpack full of useful items and some first-aid supplies as, in an emergency, you may need to quickly leave your home, work or vehicle with little or no warning. There's room in the backpacks for you to add your jacket, shoes, food and essential medicines.

Keep a Grab&Go kit under your desk at work and in the boot of your car. The kits cost $60 (plus delivery):

Buy now

You can also buy these kits at the Council's Service Centre, 101 Wakefield Street.

The backpack kit contains:

• dynamo-powered torch and AM/FM radio with siren
• multifunction knife (with can opener)
• 5-in-1 survival whistle (whistle, compass, signal mirror, waterproof match holder and flint)
• drink bottles and light sticks
• emergency blanket and rain poncho
• dust masks and leather work gloves
• water purification tablets
• deck of playing cards
• zip-lock plastic bag for important documents
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• civil defence check-list brochure
• survival instructions
• first-aid instructions
• accident evaluation form
• tweezers, small scissors and safety pins
• resuscitation mask
• alcohol pads and antiseptic swabs
• disposable vinyl gloves
• fabric dressing strip - wound plaster
• bandages, sterile pad and first aid tape roll

For more information about the size of the backpack and what it contains see:

Grab&Go Emergency Kit Flyer (598Kb PDF)

Water Containers

Water supplies could be affected in a disaster so it is essential you have a supply of stored water. You need to have at least 3 litres of drinking water for each person for at least 3 days. You will also need water for cooking and washing.

The Council sells 10-litre plastic emergency water containers at cost to the public for $5 each.

The containers are made from a durable clear plastic that is recyclable. The bottles are designed for easy pouring and you can fill them to the top so that no air is trapped - helping to keep the water fresh.

You can buy these containers at the City Service Centre at 101 Wakefield Street. They are also available at local branch libraries and selected community events.

If you want a large quantity of water containers or want to provide them at a community event, phone the Wellington Emergency Management Office on (04) 460 0650.

Related Links

• Emergency Management Publications
• Emergency Water
• Service Centres

Department Details:
Emergency Management