After an emergency

For more information around drinking water in an emergency visit the Taumata Arowai website. 

Emergencies — Taumata Arowai

You can also download these factsheets:

• Drinking water supplies following a flood event
• Advice for drinking water supplies following a flood event — Bore water
• Advice for drinking water supplies following a flood event — Rainwater

Guidance and resources — Taumata Arowai

The Ministry for Primary Industries website has information about food safety during an emergency.

Food safety in natural disasters and emergencies — Ministry for Primary Industries

Food safety in the home after flooding (PDF, 1,301 KB) — Ministry for Primary Industries

Food safety advice for homekill meat after a natural disaster (PDF, 1,418 KB) — Ministry for Primary Industries

Collecting kai moana

Do not collect or eat kaimoana such as shellfish, ungutted fish, puha and watercress from waterways after an earthquake or flood. There is an increased risk of contamination from stormwater and sewage. 

Do not gather any dead fish or shellfish that have washed up on beaches, no matter how fresh they may look. They can contain harmful bacteria. 

Follow any rāhui in place by local iwi.

Getting rid of rubbish

• Follow instructions from Civil Defence or your local council on getting rid of rubbish.
• Sort rubbish into perishable and non-perishable items, and flatten any bulky items. 
• Bury rubbish away from streams, rivers or other water sources.
• Cover each layer with soil and add lime or disinfectant to reduce smells.
• Mark all burial sites so you can identify them later. 
• Compost organic waste wherever possible. 
• Store rubbish that cannot be buried or burnt in pest-proof containers or tightly tied rubbish bags until it can be collected. 
• Report any rubbish contaminated with hazardous substances, such as asbestos, to Civil Defence.
• Tell your insurance company about any items that have been condemned before you throw them away.
• If you do not have insurance, make a list of everything you are dumping. Ask a responsible person to check and sign the list in case you apply for a relief grant. Take photos if needed to record what you are getting rid of. 

Dealing with pests and rubbish in emergenciesexternal link

Disposing of sewage

• Use makeshift toilets until you are told by authorities that it is safe to use flush toilets. 
• Use disinfectant or garden lime to reduce smells.
• Mark all toilet sites so they are identified later
• Get your septic tank pumped out to remove all silt and sludge if it has been covered by flood water.
• Be aware that septic tanks may not work properly until the underground water level has gone down.

Keeping yourself healthy

• Make sure everyone helping with cleanup wear rubber gloves and wash their hands thoroughly before eating, drinking or smoking.
• Disinfect any cuts and cover with a waterproof dressing. 
• Keep tamariki (children) away during the cleanup phase. 
• Take precautions against insect bites by using repellants and wearing trousers and long-sleeved tops. 
• Wash any clothing, bedding and contaminated materials, such as curtains, using detergent. Rinse in clean water with added household bleach to kill any bacteria. 
• Get rid of contaminated clothing so that people do not find it and put it on. 
• Go back to normal showering, bathing and clothes washing as soon as there is spare clean water.

Accommodation

If you had to leave your house during an emergency, before you return:

• contact an electrician or the electrical supply authority before switching water back on again if water has reached underfloor wiring, wall sockets, or the structure has been damaged by an earthquake
• contact gas supply authorities if the gas meter has been affected by water 
• make sure the local authority health and plumbing officers have checked that the water supply and sewerage systems are safe and working properly. 

Soon after heavy rains have stopped and waters have drained off the ground surface, sewers will generally return to normal function. It is important to clean up drains and dry out the house as quickly as possible. 

'Floods and health' has advice on restoring a house and cleaning out your basement after flooding.

Floods and health