Infrastructure failure

Our everyday lives rely on infrastructure – we expect to be able to boil the kettle, jump online and have water coming out of the tap when we want it. These lifelines can be vulnerable not just to natural hazards but to other issues such as contamination, maintenance, or cyber-attack.  The consequences of infrastructure failure can be significant – disruption to households and businesses and may result in evacuations, business closures, economic loss, clean-up costs and potential health & environmental impacts.

Critical infrastructure is mainly provided and managed by commercial companies with some being managed by local or central government. Each infrastructure provider is required to undertake asset management planning to reduce the possibility of failure and to ensure that services are re-established as soon as possible it they do fail.

If you are prepared, you can rely on your own resources until the power is restored! Get Home Ready

Power disruption can cause welfare issues, particularly with heating, sanitation and medical facilities for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and sick.

If you are prepared, you can rely on your own resources until the water is restored! Get Home Ready

Disruption to the water supply could mean going without a running toilet, shower, and ways to cook or clean your dishes.

Learning how to turn off your property’s water will help prevent damage caused by broken pipes or by contaminated water getting into the hot water cylinder – which may be your best supply of drinking water for a while.

Things to do before a water disruption:

• Store a minimum of three litres of water per person per day for at least seven days – that is 21 litres per person for drinking and basic sanitation.
• Keep empty bottles and thoroughly clean them. Fill them to the top with regular tap water until it overflows. Store in a cool, dark place. Don’t forget about babies and pets.
• Do not use containers that have had milk in them

Find out more about Storing water

Things to do during a water disruption:

• Boil or treat water if you are advised to do so by authorities or if you are concerned about contamination.
• Use water sparingly if possible

If you are prepared, you can rely on your own resources until communications are restored! Get Home Ready

Emergencies can affect your ability to communicate by telephone especially if electricity is disrupted. Telephone networks require power to operate both for the customer and at the telephone exchange or cell tower.

Things to do before a loss of communication.

• Talk to your family about how you will get in touch and where you will meet up in an emergency if the phones or internet are down.
• Make sure your household emergency plan outlines who will pick the children up from school and provide the names of three people who could pick them up if you are unable to do so
• Have a solar or battery powered radio so you can keep up to date with news and information – remember your car has a radio too!
• Discuss emergency actions with your neighbours and connect with local community groups

Fixed telephones or landlines

• If you have a fibre connection, your phone will not work if the power is off
• If you have a copper connection a wired phone may work but only if the exchange or local cabinet is backed up by generator – note that copper networks are slowly being phased out across New Zealand where fibre is available
• A cordless phone will not work if there is no power
• If your landline phone is not working , you will not be able to use it to dial 111
• The Commerce Commission 111 Contact Code details measures being taken to protect vulnerable customers who may not have access to 111 services in event of a power failure.

Mobile phones

• Mobile phones will work as long as the device is charged and the connecting cell tower has power
• Even if your mobile network says you have no network connection, you may still be able to call 111
• Consider buying a portable power bank for your mobile phone and keeping it charged and in an easy to find place
• Conserve your battery power by avoiding voice calls unless essential. Use TXT messages instead and avoid using data for non-essential communications (eg watching videos!)

Satellite services

• Satellite services require electricity to operate. If you rely on satellite services for connectivity you may wish to consider a generator for power needs at home.
• Satellite services may not function if line of sight with the sky is compromised.

Spark mobile and broadband outages

2degrees mobile and broadband outages

One mobile and broadband outages

If you are prepared, you can rely on your own resources until the roading network are restored! Get Home Ready

In a disaster you may not be able to get to your doctor or pharmacy for several days.

Things to do before roads may be damaged

• Agree on a meeting plan if you can’t get home, it might be a friends place, with family or the school
• Have a grab bag at work or in your car, with walking shoes, warm clothes, water, some snack food, a torch, batteries and small radio
• Learn first aid and have a comprehensive first aid kit
• Keep at least one weeks supply of essential medicines if possible
• Have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it
• Have adequate supplies in the pantry.

Things to do if roads are damaged

• You can find information about State Highway and district road conditions and closures in Otago here: Public information map 
• Following a long or strong earthquake along the coast, consider walking or biking as a means of getting gone.

During an emergency there may be disruption to waste including to sewerage systems meaning you can’t use your toilet and it’s likely that our normal kerbside rubbish collection may not be collected for some time.

Things to do before waste is disrupted

• Have an emergency toilet available or have the resources are required to make one How to make an emergency toilet
• Have an extra supply of large rubbish bags

Things to do when waste is disrupted.

• If official advice is to not flush your toilet, then don’t. What you flush may end up in someone else’s home
• Store filled rubbish bags in a secure area, bury any bio degradable rubbish in your garden, compost it or store it in well-sealed bags with other rubbish, keeping it away from animals
• Listen on the radio or look for information for details about collection resuming.