Helpful information to support you during this devastating weather event.

Last Friday, Auckland was hit by huge amounts of rainfall in a matter of hours, which triggered major flooding across the city. In the last few days, severe weather has also spread further north and south, creating more devastation in its path. 

With homes left uninhabitable and businesses forced to undertake a massive clean-up, many Aucklanders are scratching their heads, wondering what to do. 

So, we’ve put together a list of some information that we hope will help you during this tough time.

Where To Find Support

Urgent Help

• Currently, the emergency services will be overwhelmed but if your life or someone else’s life is in danger, call 111. 
• For any other urgent concerns related to flooding (including immediate accommodation), call 0800 22 22 00 (Auckland Emergency Management). 

Civil Defence Centres

• If you have been displaced by the floods, you can head to any of the three Civil Defence Centres that have been set up. You can seek shelter or pick up supplies you may require at these locations.  

Locations:

• Massey University’s Albany Campus in the Sir Neil Walters Lecture Theatre (enter through Gate 1 of the Massey University East Precinct, Albany Highway SH17).
• Saint Leonards Road School, 15 St. Leonards Road, Kelston.
• Manu Tukutuku, 32 Riverton Drive, Randwick Park.

*More locations are being stood up all the time. Check online to see up-to-date information about where you can go if you need help.*

Other Assistance: 

• If you need welfare assistance, call 0800 400 100 (Ministry of Social Development).
• For those who need help with the aftermath of the floods, the Student Volunteer Army can help you (when the weather is safe for volunteers). For more information, click here! 
• If there’s any other information you may require, check out local Facebook groups or Neighbourly. You may find some answers to your questions that aren’t available through official channels.  Just remember that not all updates on social media can be trusted. However, we are seeing heaps of local support and people rallying around each other on social media. 

Reporting Issues In Your Area:

• Report any flooding, drain damage or stormwater issues online here!
• Report landslides, slips or manholes on public land to Auckland Council, call 09 301 0101.
• Report any slips or danger to roads to Auckland Transport, call 09 355 355.

Key Advice

Officials recommend that you act quickly if you see rising water levels in your area. Floods can occur very rapidly. So, don’t wait for any official instructions, head to higher ground and away from flood water.  Don’t try to pack a bag or take videos of flooding, the safety of yourself, your family and your pets is what’s most important. 

It is recommended to avoid unnecessary travel at this time. If you do have to travel, plan ahead and check road conditions. 

Keep an eye out for Emergency Mobile Alerts from Auckland Emergency Management. These text notifications will provide you with important information to help keep you safe. 

Need To Clean Your House?

Was your house flooded? Here’s a few tips on what you should do. 

For a full list of everything you need to know about cleaning up your damaged property and making an insurance claim, check this out. 

If you are attempting to start cleaning up your home, make sure to take precautions as flood water could be contaminated. Wear a mask, gloves, and any other protective gear you can find. Also, make sure to thoroughly wash your body after coming in contact with any flood water, due to the water likely being contaminated. As contaminated water is a big issue after flooding, it’s also recommended not to eat any food from your vegetable garden (if it’s been flooded).  

If you need to buy protective gear then head to PriceMe. Find the lowest deal on items so you don’t have to worry about spending more money than you have to, at this already difficult time. 

You can also compare dehumidifiers, heaters, and fans at PriceMe. So you’ll be able to dry your house out in no time. Now is really the best time for you to compare prices and ensure you save as much money as possible, as you go about your property clean-up.

Stock Up On Essentials

Now is a good time to stock up on any essential items or food supplies that you may need in case of any future extreme weather.

It’s a good idea to grab some extra food such as canned goods, protein or muesli bars, or dried fruit. Avoid salty snacks as these will make you thirsty. Also, make sure to get plenty of bottled water. 

When it comes to emergency essentials, you’ll want to make sure you have things like a first-aid kit, torch and batteries, toilet paper, and sleeping bags. 

To start stocking up on these essentials, head to FoodMe. It’s a grocery comparison website where you can compare the prices of groceries. FoodMe will help you save heaps of money, so you can get your essential emergency items sorted out quickly and cheaply. 

Also, officials recommend that if you are in areas that are prone to flooding, that you prepare a bag that you can quickly take with you if you need to evacuate. So then it’s just a matter of grab and go! Items you may want to include in your bag are passports/important documents, warm clothes, medicine, baby supplies, pet food, and torches. 

Trouble Accessing The Internet? 

Due to the stormy weather, you may have experienced problems with your internet. If you’re struggling to get online, then it may be because of the weather. 

Check out our recent article on how to fix your internet issues for more details on what you should do. 

This article outlines what to do if there’s an outage in your area, which can be common during extreme weather events. 

Save On Power Costs

If you’re trying to dry out your home with heaters and fans, you may find your power bill increases dramatically.

The last thing you want to add to your plate at this difficult time are financial worries. So, check out our money-saving tips right here!

When it comes to saving money on power, we recommend taking advantage of free hours of power and comparing your power bill through Power Compare.  If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to our customer support team on 0508 22 66 72. It’s a free call and they’ll help get you connected to a better plan or tell you if you’re on the best plan. 

How to Help Others

During difficult times, Kiwis are great at coming together and helping each other out. So, if you would like to help those in need, here’s what you can do.

Donate! Many different organisations around Tāmaki Makaurau are needing donations to supply resources to people in the community. 

Auckland City Mission has started a fund which people can donate to. If you have any spare change, this is a great way to support others. Heaps of community organisations are in need of donations like kai, clothing, bedding and baby supplies. You can also help with the clean-up by volunteering with the Student Volunteer Army. 

A comprehensive list of all the ways you can help can be found here.

NZ Compare’s Thoughts Are With All Those Impacted

The recent weather events in Auckland and across the country have been devastating for so many people and communities. 

From the entire team at NZ Compare, we hope you and your whānau are staying safe during this time. 

Kia Kaha, Kia Mia, Kia Manawanui. 
Be strong, be steadfast, be willing.