No food, no water, no electricity, then what?
For the majority of the global population we couldn’t see a life without the basic privileges of running water or electricity. More of us now live in urban areas than rural[1] of which is accompanied by services that make our life comfortable. Readily available electricity, water, food, waste management, communication, transport infrastructure and more.While on the other hand the World Bank approximates that 2 billion people do not have access to adequate and safe drinking water.
Our readily available services and lifestyle whether we are rural or urban can change instantly in the event of a natural disaster. Natural disaster can come in different forms and risk depending on where you are in the globe.
According to the World Bank flood risk is already affecting 1.81 billion people[2], where unplanned urbanisation and climate change could worsen exposure.
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Earthquakes are another significant natural disaster risk, a global map of exposure risk to earthquakes is provided by Global Quake Model. In Aotearoa (first name given to what is commonly known as New Zealand) our risk to natural disasters are primarily flooding, landslides, earthquake, fires and volcanic eruption.
The Wellington Shapers Hub is running a project to promote natural disaster resilence and preparedness in the capital of Aotearoa. Home to more than 424,000 people in the metropolitan area. Like much of Aotearoa, a place not unfamiliar with natural disasters yet we’ve been fortunate not to have a significant emergency like other major cities in Aotearoa.
On 27 January 2023 New Zealand’s largest city was hit by a flash flood that put the city into chaos. This happened during the peak of summer, 71 mm in the space of an hour and ~250mm over 24 hours. Setting a new record of rainfall in January surpassing the previous rainfall record from 1869. The following week further south in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne they were hit by Cyclone Gabrielle. One site recorded 546 mm of rainfall over 24 hours with almost 400 mm falling in 12 hours[3].
Natural disasters are costly to rebuild infrastructure and community.? Estimates by Auckland Council have indicated the January 27 flood could be as high as $4 billion[4]. For context, the total cost of the Christchurch earthquake 2011 rebuild was estimated by Treasury in its Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2014 to be $40 billion in 2011 money (over $51 billion today, according to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand inflation calculator).
Whilst there are limited things we can do to reduce the harm of natural disasters whether that be to the community or the financial burden, community preparedness is an proactive immediate response households can take to better parepare themself.
As a way of understanding the impacts of a natural disaster, from the 1st to 3rd of January 2024, I conducted a disaster readiness scenario. No mains electricity or gas, no running water including toliet, no eftpos use and no purchasing of petrol. How would you fare? I choose to do this on those days because I would come home from two weeks away and be stepping into the challenge under prepared and tired from the festive season.
I was not completely underpreoared, earlier in the year i’d organised flat essentials based on the guidelines from our local emergency management office such as a 20 L container of water and a grab bag.
Immediately I found my rural, foraging and outdoor skills of use. Growing up rural we lived within our means, what you need not what you want. My mother and her partners live off grid so what I was attempting for a few days is practically the daily for them. Here’s my experience and insights of what life might be like under disaster circustances.
A BBQ is not only a unique kiwi (What New Zealander’s call ourselves!) summer activity but essential when oven cooking is off the table. I don’t fancy my self with raw cooking and prefered not to light a fire in the hot summer. ?
Down to business, during the pandemic toliet paper became gold as people stocked up and exhausted supplies. It was a frenzy on social media of fear of missing out. With no running water it presented other challenges such as not being able to use your toliet! In this case you are to keep the solids and liquids seperate ideally in one or two buckets. Best of luck for those living in aparements. ?One way to keep the smell away and to allow for natural decomposition is to dig a shallow hole with a layer of soil to cover. ???
If you haven’t done this already, get your water sorted. Minimum 3L per person for 3 days no excuses. For the trampers or active travellers I’ve recently aquired a LifeStraw a useful back up that can filter bacteria, perfect if you are located near a stream or lake. Boiling water or using charcoal are two other approaches to improve water quality. I suggest doing your own research on your local water quality and methods to clean it.
A short fall in my preparedness came at the realisation that my vehicle was below empty in petrol! I certainly wouldn’t have gone anywhere in a hurry or far away. On the flip side we have a push bike and an electric scooter as alternative and climate friendly alternatives for our local needs.
Petrol may not be accessible in a disaster and even so if internet and communications are down you may have to pay with cash. Do you have cash accessible? Starlink’s readily accessible and deployable high speed satellite network may mean you don’t have to have cash on hand.? ?
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Finally let’s make sure you don’t go hungry. We’re fortunate in our flat that we have excess food storage which we’ve filled and have supplies for a few weeks. It would be a shame if our chest freezer did spoil. Don’t be opening it often if the power is off.
If you’re in a 40 m squared apartment like many city dwellers you might need to think how you can store extra reserves. For me, i’d try dried and can food. For those with access to green space try learn more about local foraging or gardening in your back yard. ?
Whilst this was a fun experiment, in the real scenario it could mean going without food and water if you’re not prepared. A report by Wellington Lifelines researched the impacts[5] to the city following a 7.5 magnitude quake highlighted sever consequences as a fault line lies beneath the capital.
·???????? Cut off for four months or more by damage to the main routes and rail lines;
·???????? Most of the region would be without gas for nearly three months and without power and water for at least three weeks.
·???????? Telecommunications services would be out for 10 days.
·???????? Restoring sewerage would take several months.
Do you know what the natural disaster risk are in your city and how would you fare with your day to day services being cut off from you?
The next activity for this project is to host friends, ideally who have a limited understanding of natural disaster, for dinner and talking disaster preparedness!?
Edited: Since writing this article water restrictions have been put in place by the city council. Residents waited up to four hours to purchase discounted emergency water storage, Wellington’s water crisis deepens. The existing water infrastructure is losing 45% of water through broken pipes in the city. There is limited detail on the long-term plan to resolve the lose of water. ?
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Great initiative on promoting disaster preparedness! As Helen Keller once said - Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. Your effort to understand and experience the actual impact firsthand is truly commendable and inspires community resilience ??. Stay safe and prepared! ???