What you can do to be ready for space weather
What you will find on here
What is space weather?
The information on this page is about being ready for space weather.
Space weather is when the sun gives out a lot of energy all at once.
Space weather is sometimes called a solar storm.
What happens during space weather / solar storm:
Space weather will not hurt:
- people
- animals.
Space weather can damage the electricity network.
The electricity network is all the powerlines / cables that take electricity:
- from where it is made
- to the places it is used like houses.
After a very big solar storm the electricity network could stop working for up to a week.
The electricity network not working is also called a power cut.
Very bad space weather does not happen often.
What can happen during space weather
Space weather can damage the electricity network.
If space weather is coming Transpower may turn off the electricity network.
Transpower is the organisation that:
- owns the electricity network in Aotearoa New Zealand
- makes sure the electricity network keeps working well.
Turning off the electricity network stops it getting damaged in ways that will take a long time to fix.
Having no electricity makes it hard to do things like:
- cook
- wash things like dishes
- have a shower / bath
- keep warm.
Having no electricity may also cause problems with things like:
- using EFTPOS / a card to pay for things
- putting petrol in your car at a service station
- supermarkets having enough food / supplies.
Having no electricity can also cause problems with things like:
- having water in your taps
- sewerage.
Sewerage means the pipes that take away wastewater like when you flush the toilet.
How to get ready for space weather
You can make a household plan so everyone in your house knows what to do when there is space weather.
There is Easy Read information about making a household plan on the Get Ready website:
To make a plan for space weather think about all the things in your home that use electricity.
You may need to find out if there is anything that would not be safe in a power cut.
You may also need to find out if a power cut would stop you:
- getting into your home
- using alarms like fire alarms.
When the electricity comes back on it can damage things like:
- washing machines
- computers
- TVs.
It is a good idea to unplug as many things as you can when there is a power cut.
Some people are medically dependent on electricity.
Medically dependent means you need electricity to run important medical equipment like:
- oxygen if it is hard for you to breathe
- a dialysis machine if you have kidney disease.
If you are medically dependent on electricity you can make a plan for when there is a power cut by talking to your:
- electricity company
- healthcare provider like your doctor.
There is information about getting ready for power cuts when you are medically dependent on electricity on the Electricity Authority website at:
This website is not in Easy Read.
What to do when there is space weather
During space weather you can listen to the radio to get information from:
- emergency services like the fire service
- civil defence.
Civil Defence supports people when there is an emergency.
You can listen to the radio on a:
- battery powered radio
- solar / sun powered radio
- car radio.
These radios will work during:
- space weather
- a power cut.
Electricity that does not come from the electricity network is likely to work during space weather.
You will be able to use electricity that comes from:
- solar panels
- generators.
Generators are machines that make energy.
Generators use fuel like diesel.
There is information about how to use a generator safely on the WorkSafe website at:
This website is not in Easy Read.
You can use things that run off gas like:
- barbecues
- heaters.
It is dangerous to use outdoor appliances like barbecues indoors.
You should only use barbecues outdoors.
Your mobile phone might not work at the start of space weather.
Mobile phones will work again:
- after a little while
- before the electricity comes back on.
You can use your car to charge your mobile phone.
Landline phones will not work when there is a power cut.
Food that is in your fridge / freezer may go off if it gets too warm.
Food that has gone off can make you very sick.
If there is a power cut eat the food that is in your fridge first.
Next eat the food from your freezer.
Last eat the food from your:
- cupboard / pantry
- emergency kit.
An emergency kit is all the things that you need to get by in an emergency.
There is Easy Read information about the things you may need in an emergency kit on the Get Ready website at:
Do not eat any food that:
- smells bad / funny
- looks different from usual.
If food in your freezer has defrosted / thawed all the way it is not safe to freeze again.
There is information about keeping food safe on this website:
This website is not in Easy Read.
What to do after space weather
After space weather is over you should follow advice from:
- emergency services
- civil defence.
You can find information about civil defence near where you are at this website:
This website is not in Easy Read.
There may be more power cuts after the electricity comes back on.
When there is a power cut the electricity could come back on at any time.
It is a good idea to switch appliances off when you are not using them.
It is important to always be careful around things like:
- powerlines
- power sockets / plugs.
What to do in an emergency
There are a lot of hazards in New Zealand. A hazard is something that can cause danger or put people at risk.
