Prepared communities start with prepared kids

Making sure kids are prepared for when emergencies strike will be at the heart of Get Ready Week, which is held every year in recognition of the International Day for Natural Disaster (13 October).

“This year’s theme for Get Ready Week is Prepared Kids," says Helen Flynn TVCD Emergency Management Officer.

Mrs Flynn says Get Ready Week is a great opportunity for families to take the time to be more prepared at home and at work.

“We know that when kids are involved in preparing for emergencies and learning about natural hazards, they encourage their families to be more prepared and play a more active role in responding to and recovering from emergencies,” she says.

Get Ready tips:

· Talk to your kids in an honest, but not scary, way about what might happen in an emergency, what you can do to keep safe, and what your plan is for if you can’t get home. The more involved they are, the less scared they will be if an emergency does happen.

· Make a list of the people who could help you and those who might need your help in an emergency, write their numbers down in case

· Contact your school or daycare and find out what their emergency plans are. Where will they go if they are evacuated? Who will look after the kids until you get there? Give the school or day care a list of three people who can pick the kids up if you can’t get there.

· Make a list of supplies you might need at home and in your car – have a getaway bag for everyone, with warm clothes, snack food, water, ID, radio, torch and batteries.

Visit www.happens.nz to work through an emergency plan with your family.

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