There's been a natural disaster or severe weather

This is our general advice for what to do if you’re travelling overseas and there is a:

• Earthquake
• Cyclone (also known as a typhoon, or hurricane)
• Flood
• Volcanic eruption
• Wildfire
• Other natural disaster or severe weather.

Information and advice

In an emergency, local authorities are the best source of current and correct information and advice. Follow the advice from local governments, police, and emergency responders. 

Some governments will have emergency mobile alerts or emergency alert apps that they use to communicate advice and information in a crisis. Ask hotel staff or a local authority how to access official information.  

You can also follow local and international media sources (including social media) for updates.

For more information on what to do in an emergency and how to be prepared:

• see the National Emergency Management Agency Get Ready website
• read our travel advice
• register you details on SafeTravel so we can send information directly to you.

Get to safety

Leave

Follow the advice of local authorities and your hotel or resort management. If you've been given enough warning and it's safe to do so, consider leaving. Contact your airline or transport provider. 

If you decide to leave, act quickly. Demand for flights, trains, or buses out of the area will surge quickly, and it may be weeks or months before you are able to leave if you don’t act early to secure your departure option. Journeys may be cancelled if severe weather continues.  

If you can't leave, get ready to shelter in place and stay in touch with your friends and whānau in New Zealand.  See below.

Evacuation orders

Local authorities may issue an official evacuation order, often on news and radio. If there is a local emergency channel, tune in to that. If local authorities say you must leave, then leave. Staying despite an evacuation order puts your life at risk. It may be illegal to stay. You may void your travel insurance.

Cyclones

Don’t go outdoors during a cyclone, typhoon or hurricane and remain well away from the sea and rivers. Follow the advice of local authorities and your hotel or resort management. 

Earthquakes and tsunami warnings

If there has been an earthquake, there may be a tsunami coming. In the event of a tsunami alert, follow the advice of local authorities and your hotel or resort management. 

If you're near the coast, move immediately to high ground if advised by local authorities or if you:

• feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up
• feel a weak, rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more
• see a sudden rise or fall in sea level
• hear loud and unusual noises from the sea.

Don't wait for official warnings such as alarms or sirens.

Once on high ground, monitor local media.

To prepare yourself for earthquakes and tsunamis, you can:

• subscribe to tsunami alerts from the Global Disaster Alert and Co-ordination system
• get earthquake updates from the US Geological Service
• get tsunami updates from the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.

Shelter in place

If you decide to stay, or you’re not able to leave, you should get ready to shelter in place until it is safe to leave. Hotels and resorts should have plans and supplies for tourists to shelter in place in a crisis. 

If you need to shelter in place, here are some things to prepare: 

• Water and food – get enough bottled water for all the people in your group, in case the water is shut off or unsafe to drink. Make sure you have a supply of long-life food.
• Supplies – get things like torches, batteries, and radios, in case you can’t go outside and the power is out.
• First aid - get a first aid kit and make sure you have a supply of any daily medications you may need.
• Devices – charge your devices and power banks when you have the opportunity, in case the power goes out.
• Sturdy shoes and clothing – if you need to go outside, there may be debris and sharp objects on the ground.

Stay in touch

If the natural disaster or weather event makes the international news, your friends and whānau in New Zealand will be concerned for your safety. Get in touch with them when you can to let them know you’re safe and what your plans are. Texting or social media messaging may work best, if you don't have much time or the networks are overloaded.

You should also register your contact details with us if you haven’t already. We don’t know you’re in a location that has been impacted by a natural disaster if you are not in touch with us. The primary way we communicate with New Zealanders offshore, including sharing information about the local situation and how to stay safe, is sending messages and updates to New Zealanders who have registered with us on SafeTravel.

Register your details