How to get your community ready
1.Know your neighbours
Neighbours are often the first people who can help in an emergency.
Building strong local connections increases safety and resilience. You may also identify people in your neighbourhood who could need extra support, such as older people, disabled people, those living alone, or people with English as a second language.
Ways to connect
- Share contact details so you can reach each other during an emergency.
- Talk with neighbours about your emergency plans and ask about theirs.
- Create a local contact network to check in with each other and share information.
- Let each other know when an Emergency Mobile Alert has been issued.
2.Create a community emergency plan
A Community Emergency Plan is developed by the community, for the community, in conjunction with your local Council Emergency Management Advisor.
No one knows your community better than the people who live in it.
When developing your plan, consider
- Local risks and hazard history
- Community strengths, vulnerabilities, and local assets or facilities that could be useful
- Alternative communication methods, such as radios, notice boards, or community messengers
- People or groups who may need extra support during an emergency
- Key community connections, networks, and official information channels
A community plan helps everyone understand how to work together when it matters most.
3.Volunteer in your community
Volunteers play a vital role before, during, and after an emergency.
Whether you volunteer regularly or help out occasionally, your involvement helps promote preparedness and strengthens community resilience across the Manawatū-Whanganui region.
Groups and networks in your community may include
- Neighbourhood Support
- Volunteer, church, and sports groups
- Schools and early learning services
- Marae
- Service organisations
Getting involved before an emergency helps communities respond and recover more effectively.