What's the Plan, Stan?
Posted on Wednesday, 22 July 2026 under Health & Safety,
Our health and safety focus for July and August is ‘What’s the Plan, Stan?’ – making sure you are equipped for emergencies at home and at work.
Part of being ready for emergencies is making sure everyone in your household knows what your emergency plan is.
Have a physical copy of your emergency plan in case you lose power or internet, and keep it somewhere safe and easy to find.
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If utility authorities instruct you, or if you suspect there’s a leak or damaged lines, you may need to turn off power, water, and gas. Write down how to turn these off, including the location of any taps outside the house.
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If there’s no power, think about how you’ll stay warm, cook, and see at night. Do you have spare cash in case ATMs aren’t working, and fuel in case pumps aren’t working?
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Make sure you have drinking water stored – around three litres per person per day - including water for pets. Store extra for cooking and cleaning.
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Put together grab bags with supplies for everyone in case you need to evacuate and make sure everyone knows where the bags are. Make sure you refresh them regularly – remember children grow quickly and may no longer fit clothes put aside previously.
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Know where you’ll go if you need to evacuate, how you’ll get there, and what hazards might be on the way. Where will you stay if you can’t get back to your home?
Having a physical copy of your emergency plan is a good idea in case you lose power or internet, so keep it somewhere safe and easy to find. You can find emergency plan templates on the Get Ready NZ website.
By looking after yourself and your household, you'll also be helping emergency services focus on the people who need the most help.
Tell us your top tip for preparing for an emergency, and go in the draw to WIN an AA Grab & Go four-person emergency kit (pictured right) worth $199. Just email your advice to comp@anzcofoods.com. Entries close Friday 31 July 2026.
