Te Hē o ngā Ratonga Waiwai Lifeline Utilities Failure
Lifeline utilities help keep Auckland running every day. We rely on utilities like electricity, water, internet connection, and transport networks to support our homes, businesses and communities.
While these systems are designed to be resilient, they can be disrupted by natural hazards such as severe weather, flooding and earthquakes, as well as other events including equipment failure, human error, or cyber attacks.
Knowing how to prepare and respond to outages can help you and your community stay safe, reduce disruption, and recover more quickly when the unexpected happens.
Types of Lifeline Utilities
Electricity
Power outages can occur due to impacts from emergencies, technical faults, or from cyber attacks.
Extended outages can disrupt heating, cooling, refrigeration and medical equipment, and can also affect other lifelines like water pumps, telecommunications, and traffic lights.
Water supply
Water pipes and reservoirs can be damaged by earthquakes, landslides, storms, or old age.
Losing clean water access affects drinking, cooking, and hygiene for you and your whānau.
Telecommunications
Phone and internet services can fail during emergency events or due to technical faults.
This can make it hard to communicate with loved ones, or get vital information and updates.
Gas
Gas leaks or supply problems can occur after earthquakes or from damaged pipelines.
These leaks can be extremely dangerous and could lead to fires or explosions.
Transport networks
Roads, bridges and airports may close due to the impacts from emergencies or accidents.
This can limit access to supplies, workplaces and emergency services when you need them most.
What Should I Do?
Before a lifeline failure
Have emergency supplies
Consider what supplies you would need to stay safe and comfortable for at least three days without power or running water.
Include essentials like water, food, torch/batteries, and a first aid kit.
Talk to your neighbours about what they’ll do if the power is out. You might find they have a gas barbecue, and you have enough food and water to share.
Create a household emergency plan
Make a plan and make sure family, friends and flatmates know what you’ll do in case of an emergency.
Think about if you were to lose power, and how this would affect any water pumps or septic systems at your home.
If you're medically dependent on electricity, register with your power company.
If you were to lose phone or internet services, consider how your household would keep in touch and where you could meet.
Remember to include in your plan any pets or livestock.
Stay informed
Know where to get information from official sources if your internet or phone service was disrupted.
Keep your phone charged if lifeline disruption is possible, such as during severe weather.
You can track and report electricity outages to;
Vector (0508 832 867) for most of Auckland.
Counties Power (0800 100 202) for South Auckland.
Auckland Council (09 301 0101) for trees that are down on public land.
During a lifeline failure
NEVER touch or attempt to move powerlines. All electricity lines should be treated as live and dangerous, even those on the ground. Report outages and downed trees using the numbers above.
Heat your home safely
Only use fireplaces that have been safety checked, and follow the manufacturer’s advice when using gas heaters.
Never use outdoor gas heaters or a BBQ for indoor heating, this risks carbon monoxide poisoning.
Layer up, use extra blankets, and close doors and curtains to retain heat.
During a summer power cut, focus on cooling your body rather than the space. Move to the lowest, most shaded level of your home, wear loose and light clothing, and use damp cloths or icepacks to cool your skin.
Manage food carefully
Eat the food from your fridge first, then your freezer. Then eat the food in your cupboard or your emergency kit.
Throw out anything that has thawed or been at room temperature for over two hours. Don't refreeze defrosted food.
Always wash and dry your hands before preparing food. If water is in short supply, keep some in a bowl
with disinfectant.
Pets are just as likely as humans to become ill by eating unsafe food. If you are boiling water to drink, do the same for your pets.
Conserve your phone battery
Limit calls and data usage. If you're contacting whānau, text instead and keep phonelines free for emergency calls.
Use a battery-powered radio to keep up with the latest news and alerts.
If you don't own a radio, you can use the one in your car.
Stay safe around power
Treat all power lines as live and dangerous. Never try to move a tree in contact with lines.
Report outages to Vector or Counties Power, and downed trees to Council using the numbers above.
Unplug or switch off appliances to prevent power surges and damage when power is restored.
Leave one light on to see when the power is back.
After a lifeline failure
Check for damage
Once power is restored, inspect your property for any damage, especially essential services like water, gas and sewerage.
Keep records and take photos of what has been damaged, then report any losses to your insurance company, or your landlord if you're renting.
Check your water supply
If your water supply was impacted, check if you need to boil water before using it again.
Boil water notices will be issued by Auckland Council and will be widely publicised.
In some parts of Auckland, electric hot water is on a separate network to power, which means you may
have power but no hot water.
If your hot water cylinder isn't hot within six hours of power reconnecting, contact Vector or Counties Power for advice.
Reassess your food
After more than two days without power, highly perishable food may be unsafe.
Check for slimy texture, off smell, or colour change before eating anything.
Discard rotten food promptly so it doesn't spoil the rest.
Restock your emergency kit's water, food, batteries, and medication so you're ready for next time.
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