Good and Ready - Connect, Care, Prepare

Being good and ready for disasters isn’t only about water and tinned food, it’s also about being connected in your community.

Good and Ready

Do you want to help your community get better prepared for disasters and emergencies?

The Good and Ready programme aims to enhance community resilience and disaster preparedness throughout communities across Aotearoa.  

By building a network of community-based volunteers and champions across the motu, Good and Ready supports individuals, whānau and communities to cope with and bounce back better when disaster strikes. 

Join us in supporting whānau in your community to be Good and Ready! 

Check out what’s happening with the Good and Ready programme in Tauranga

Get involved

The Good and Ready programme is currently active in a number of areas around Aotearoa including Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Timaru and Dunedin. Find out what each region is doing here.

Other ways you can start getting good and ready:

This year, instead of our own Good and Ready week, we are joining with other Emergency Management partners for a whole month of preparedness.  Please participate in the 2022 preparedness month 2022 with and share the social content the National Emergency Management Agency will make available throughout October.

Remember to join in National Shakeout day on 27 October 2022 at 9.30am.

Connect, Care, Prepare

Communities across Aotearoa are safer, stronger and more resilient if they connect, care and prepare.

Connect with your neighbours and others in your community

Care for others and especially the most vulnerable

Prepare yourself and your whānau

Connect with your community

Thriving communities provide a safe place for people to feel a sense of belonging, to connect and share, and to feel accepted. Here are a few ideas to connect:

  • Simply wave or say hi to someone new
  • Share a cuppa or some kai with your neighbours
  • Organise a street party or neighbourhood event – Neighbours Day Aotearoa is a great excuse!
  • Join a community group, attend community events, participate in a community project – community gardens, sharing produce, volunteer projects

Good and Ready buddy

A Good and Ready Buddy is someone who you can count on to check on you if there has been an emergency! Or you can return the favour … a Good and Ready buddy is someone you will check up on if you know the area they live in might have had an emergency. This can be anything from a power outage, a flood, and earthquake or even if they are staying at home in lockdown. 

We know how powerful staying connected to others are during times of crisis or stress. A Good and Ready buddy helps to keep those connections alive, especially when it’s most needed. 

Some examples of  how to Connect, Care and Prepare with your Good and Ready buddy: 

  • Check up on them if you see that the area they live in has been affected by an emergency or natural disaster 
  • Complete your emergency household plan together with them – and hold each other accountable 
  • Pack your grab bags together – or remind them to keep the items within fresh every 6 months
  • Participate in the NZ ShakeOut earthquake drill together – in person or online! 

A Good and Ready buddy can be a neighbour, whānau member, friend, or work colleague.

Care for your community

In an emergency, most people are helped first by their neighbours. Here are some things you can do to help care for your community:

  • Create an emergency plan with your neighbours
  • Participate in Civil Defence’s community emergency planning opportunities
  • Check on people who might need special assistance before, during or after an emergency. Help them make a plan and prepare their household
  • Join the Red Cross community by volunteering.

Psychological First Aid

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is the mental and emotional equivalent of medical first aid. Knowing PFA can help you provide emotional support to someone immediately after a disaster or traumatic event. Learn PFA with us here.

Some of us have had a really tough time during COVID-19. If you are down or feeling alone, often reaching out is the hardest thing to do. 

Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 anytime.

Prepare yourself and your whanau

Having information and resources can help you and your whānau get through hard times more easily. Here’s what you can do to get prepared:

  • Have a plan: Create your household emergency plan using the Civil Defence template
  • Know about hazards: Download the Red Cross Hazard App to get local information about emergencies
  • Have your stuff ready: Pack/refresh your emergency supplies
  • Be ready to help in a medical emergency: Learn first aid through Red Cross and download the Red Cross First Aid App
  • Make your home safer and more resilient: Check your insurance, fix and fasten items in your home,back-up documents and photos, etc.