If you have to evacuate in an emergency

Evacuate means to get to a safe place away from danger.

In an emergency you might have to leave home very quickly to stay safe.

If you need to evacuate:

• where will you go?
• what will you take with you?
• what will you do with any pets / animals?
• do you have any neighbours who might need your support?

If you are told by official sources to evacuate you must do so.

Official sources might be:

• your local Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
• emergency services.

You should talk to everyone in your house about what to do if you need to evacuate.

You should have a grab bag ready for everyone who lives in your house.

Your grab bag should include:

• some warm clothes
• a bottle of water
• some food / snacks
• copies of important documents like bank account / insurance details
• copies of photo ID like your passport / driver's licence
• any medicine you need.

Other things you should have are:

• a first aid kit
• a torch and spare batteries
• a radio.

You should keep these things in a place where you can find them quickly if you are in a hurry.

You should make a plan with everyone who lives in your house so you all know where to go if you have to evacuate.

This is called your evacuation place.

It is likely your evacuation place will be with:

• family
• friends.

If you live in a place that is at risk of tsunami make sure your evacuation place is not at risk.

You can find out more about keeping yourself safe from a tsunami on the Easy Read webpage:

What you can do to be ready for a tsunami

You should take your pets with you if you evacuate.

Make sure your evacuation place will allow you to bring your pets.

It is useful to keep a list of:

• kennels that will look after dogs
• catteries that will look after cats
• motels that will allow you to bring pets.