Next72Hours - Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Home
New Zealand
Christchurch
Next72Hours - Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

Next72Hours is a website dedicated to Survival in the modern world. We want to equip people to be confident and resourceful.

It is not hard to see that our planet is suffering more and more from big weather events and natural disasters. It is also clear to see that the majority of people are not prepared for such events. It is now commonly accepted worldwide that in the event of a major disaster, be that localized or nation wide, it may take up to 72 hours (three days) before vital services such as power, sewerage and c

lean drinking water can be restored or until suitable replacements can be found. In some places it can take much longer than this. If the event is big enough, vital services can take weeks to restore - assuming the event is a one off, and not recurrent as in the recent earthquakes in Christchurch. We cannot afford to ignore the changes around us and believe that “it will not happen to me” or “she’ll be right”. When disaster strikes, it is imperative everybody has the know how and supplies to be able to look after themselves and those around them until help arrives. More often than not the initial focus after disasters will be on rescue (such as Urban Search and Rescue teams going though collapsed buildings and Dog teams searching through debris to try to locate people). In many cases there just may not be enough resources to go around. They may be blocked off from accessing your area. Worse yet, in the case of a large scale event, the resources may be wiped out altogether. The smallest amount of preparation can make the world of difference when it comes to coping well in situations like this. We urge you to take steps NOW towards being more independent, resourceful and community minded.

04/09/2026

Well at the 50 Hour mark now and this is still going strong, which is great, just added the extra 10mL of water as suggested to top up the process and we will check back in a couple of days. This really works well, all things considered, I can see this being a valuable bit of kit for emergencies. With its on and off switch, I can turn it off if it is too bright at night time when trying to sleep.

04/09/2026

Its that time of year, as the seasons change, now is a great time to look at your preparedness, what you could or need to change and make sure everything is ready to go when the time comes that you have to leave...

SPRING into preparedness! 🌱
A new season is a great time to refresh the things that help keep you and your whānau safe in an emergency.
This September, we’ll be sharing a few simple ways to:
✅ refresh your emergency plan
✅ check your supplies
✅ connect with the people around you
✅ practise what to do
Start today: ask your household where you would meet if you could not get home? Learn more at getready.govt.nz

04/09/2026

Rain Rain Rain coming our way this Sunday

04/09/2026

Scary statistics - 98%. With all the reports out, this could be a horrible year for wild fires, and one only has to look to Europe at the moment with all the fires that have destroyed huge amounts of land. Please be careful out there folks, its not even summer yet and the chaos has started already.

In August, our brigades responded to 9 vegetation fires across the Nelson Marlborough District, caused by a range of factors including escaped burn piles, old burn piles reigniting, and accidental ignitions. 🚒

As we move into spring, warmer, drier, and windier conditions can quickly turn a seemingly extinguished burn pile into a vegetation fire. 🌿🌞💨🔥

Even when a pile looks out, heat and embers can remain buried deep inside and flare up days or weeks later.

👉 If you have previously burned vegetation on your property, please take the time to:
✅ Turn the pile over
✅ Break apart any remaining material
✅ Soak it thoroughly with water
✅ Check that it is cold to the touch

‼️If it's too hot to touch, it's too hot to leave.‼️

If you're thinking of lighting a fire or carrying out any activity that generates heat or sparks...
📌Check the current fire danger, weather conditions, and fire season restrictions at: www.checkitsalright.nz

04/09/2026

With the double-whammy earthquakes (fun fact, they’re called a ‘doublet’) that happened last night in the Milford Sound, we thought now was a good time to share some tips about being prepared for earthquakes. ⚠️📝

We all know earthquakes don’t exactly give us warning, and that can be a scary thought. But there are some things you can do ahead of time to reduce the impact of them when they do happen, like:

📚 Moving heavy items and books to lower shelves. Use brackets or straps to secure tall and heavy furniture into wall studs.

🖼️ Get hooks for your art and pictures (single nails won’t stay secure).

🫟 Stick fragile objects to surfaces (museum putty/Blu Tack works well).

⚠️ Identify places in each room (at home, work and school) to drop, cover, hold. If you're in a coastal area, find out your tsunami evacuation zones and identify your evacuation route. Remember if it's a long or strong earthquake, get gone.

📑 Have a look at your household and contents insurance policy to see if you have adequate cover.

📝 Make an emergency plan with your household, and make sure your emergency kit is well stocked.

🫨 Check your chimney. Some brick and concrete chimneys are at greater risk of collapsing in an earthquake. Check the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake's hazardous chimneys info for details about how to make your chimney safer (link in the comments).

We’ve also popped some helpful links in the comments for further reading. Stay safe and well out there team! 🫶

03/09/2026

Hmmmm

Tauranga council appointed Meredith Connell just four days after the landslide that killed six people.

02/09/2026

Still some beauty out there, managed this pic of a Swan while at a job this week, beautiful creature with eyes like glowing fire.

Address

Christchurch

Website

http://www.next72hours.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Next72Hours - Disaster and Emergency Preparedness posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.