Volcanic Activity

The National Emergency Management Agency’s Get Ready team advises us all to do the following:

If volcanic activity starts in your area

• Stay informed. Listen to the radio or follow your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group online.
• Check on your neighbours and anyone who might need your help.
• Follow official advice from:
  • your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
  • the Department of Conservation (for Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu or Taranaki only)
  • local authorities
  • emergency services.

If ash fall has been forecast for your region

• Before ash fall starts, go home if possible, to avoid driving or walking during ash fall.
• If you have a visual impairment, wear eyeglasses. Do not wear contact lenses because trapped ash can scratch your eyes.
• Bring pets inside and move livestock into closed shelters. Make sure that animals have supplementary feed and access to clean drinking water.
• Close all windows and doors and shut down heat pumps to limit the entry of volcanic ash. Set up a single entry point for your house. Place damp towels at the threshold to prevent ash being tracked indoors.
• Cover sensitive electronics. Do not remove covers until the indoor environment is completely ash free.
• Cover vehicles, machinery, and spa pools to avoid ash causing damage. Ash can corrode metal surfaces and cause abrasion damage to windscreens and paintwork.
• Disconnect drainpipes/downspouts from gutters to stop drains clogging. If you use a rainwater collection system for your water supply, disconnect the tank.
• Check on your neighbours and anyone who might need your help.

During ash fall

• Put your emergency plan into action. Listen to the radio for updates. Follow instructions from emergency services and Civil Defence.
• Stay indoors. Volcanic ash is a health hazard, especially if you have respiratory difficulties such as asthma or bronchitis.
• Do not attempt to clear ash from your roof while ash is falling.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Do not drive when there is ash on the road.
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to ash until it has settled. If you have to go outside, wear protective clothing: 
  • a properly-fitted mask or a cloth if you don't have a mask (preferably a P2 or N95-rated mask)
  • goggles
  • sturdy footwear
  • gloves
  • clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Do not wear contact lenses because trapped ash can scratch your eyes. Wear glasses instead.

The National Emergency Management Agency’s Get Ready team advises us all to:

• Continue to follow official advice from:
  • your Civil Defence Emergency Management Group
  • the Department of Conservation (for Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu or Taranaki only)
  • local authorities, and
  • emergency services.
• If you have evacuated, do not return home until told it is safe to do so.
• Help others if you can, especially people who may need extra help.
• Keep children indoors and discourage play in ash.
• Wash ash off your house and vehicle as soon as practical, especially if it is getting thick. Wet ash will dry into a hardened mass, similar to concrete.
• Keep animals indoors until ash is cleaned up or washed away. If pets go outside, brush them before letting them back indoors.
• If your property is damaged:
  • Do not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage to your property.
  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
  • If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company.
  • Take photos of any damage. This will help to support and speed up assessments of your claims. EQC provides advice on this here.
     
• Check on your neighbours and anyone who might need your help.

If someone you love has died in the volcanic crisis, please also see our sudden death support information here.

Find information on how to clean up ash on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website here.

To prepare and be ready for any future volcanic activity and eruptions, the National Emergency Management Agency’s Get Ready team advises us all to:

• Find out about the volcanic risk in your community. Ask your local council about emergency plans and how they will warn you of a volcanic eruption. 
• Practice your evacuation plan with members of the household.
• Develop a Household Emergency Plan. Assemble and maintain your Emergency Survival Items for your home as well as a portable getaway kit.
• Include your pets and livestock in your emergency plan.

Everyone’s different and will react in their own ways. Being impacted by disastrous volcanic activity is a traumatic experience.

Emotionally it can be hard to believe it has happened. You may feel anxious about your situation and also worried about the impact on others  Common reactions include shock, numbness, fear, ongoing anxiety, being easily startled, on alert for more threats, grief and sadness, anger, resentment, guilt (even when you had no control over the event), helplessness, and powerlessness. Some people can feel very disconnected for a time, not caring about anything or anyone. Others can become so focused on getting through the situations that their emotional reactions can be delayed. It can be a very unpredictable time. It’s common for some people to feel overwhelmed at times.

Physically people can have a range of other reactions, such as difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, body tensions and aches, shakiness, a tight chest, breathing problems, stomach and digestion problems, or headaches, or fatigue and exhaustion. You possibly may also have injuries you need to attend to and recover from. Existing health conditions may worsen.

Mentally people might be distracted, unable to concentrate on other things, or be forgetful. It can be harder to think clearly. Even making decision might be harder for a while. You may find you have disturbing images or memories that keep coming into your mind or have ongoing nightmares or flashbacks (reliving what happened). Other mental health challenges might develop, such as acute anxiety, panic attacks, or depression. You may try to avoid certain places or things that trigger difficult memories.  

Socially you might want to be near other people more – or need more time on your own. For those experiencing increased anxiety, or having responsibility for others’ wellbeing, staying near family and friends more may become especially important for a time.

Life can feel unfair, and you may find yourself thinking about some big life questions. It may be hard to make sense of what happened, especially if people close to you have been injured or died in the crisis. As you try to make sense of what’s happened, you may find yourself asking why questions, such as Why did this happen? People also often have lots of ‘if-only’ questions going round and round in their minds. Some people may blame themselves or others for not responding as they would have liked. The world you knew before can suddenly be turned upside down. It can feel more unsafe and uncertain. The future can suddenly look different.

Later on, certain sights, sounds, smells, sensations, or feelings can remind people of what happened. These can bring new waves of emotion and distress with them. Reminders could be, for example, an emergency vehicle speeding by, coverage of the event on the news, the smell of burning, or photos of the house before any damage. Some people can also find they have vivid ongoing dreams or nightmares, or may experience distressing flashbacks to what happened, as if it’s happening to them all over again. See our info sheet on dealing with flashbacks.

These kinds of reactions are all normal after a traumatic experience.
However they might not feel normal, and they might affect you and others more, and for longer, than you probably expect. See tips below for coping with the impact of your reactions

If children or young people have been affected by what’s happened
See our information sheet for parents and caregivers about Supporting your child or young person after a crime or traumatic event.

If someone you love has died in the disaster
Please see our sudden death support information here.

Most people find that recovering from a traumatic event like this, that can cause fear and also significant change and loss, takes some time – and more than most expect.

Looking after yourself is important
Eat healthy food. Drink enough water. If the local supply is compromised drink water from bottles or a water tank (if supplied). Keep up routines and get good rest and sleep, as best you can. Do some simple exercise. When the air is clear and there is no lingering dust - perhaps inside - take some slow, deep breaths. Spend time with people you can relax with, or with a pet. If you find keeping busy helps, find useful tasks to do. Think about what positive actions have helped you before in hard times and do those things.  See a doctor if you’re unwell, extremely anxious, or are having difficulty sleeping. Draw on any cultural or spiritual beliefs you may have. Accept caring offers from others if that would help. Use your inner resilience. Encourage others who have been affected to look after themselves too.

Flashbacks
A flashback feels as though you’re back in the middle of your traumatic experience or reliving some aspect of it. This can be in vivid detail and during a flashback it can be difficult and confusing to connect back to the present and to what is real. To better understand flashbacks and ways to manage them, see our information sheet Dealing with Flashbacks.

Talk about what happened
When you’re ready, talk to someone you trust about what happened, such as a trusted family or whānau member, a close friend, your doctor, a counsellor, a psychologist, a respected elder, rangatira, or a Victim Support Worker. If any aspects of your story are particularly disturbing, speak to a professional about these things. Talking honestly about how things are can help release the stress and emotional tension inside.

More tips for coping with your reactions
To understand more about trauma and grief, and to learn ways to cope with your reactions, please see:

• Coping with Trauma
• Dealing with Flashbacks
• When you are Grieving

Remember your reactions are normal responses to a traumatic event
Even though it may not feel like it now, they will gradually lessen in the weeks and months to come. If they don’t lessen or get worse and disrupt your daily life and work, it is best to seek the help of a professional who has experience supporting people after trauma Some people may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and need extra support to recover. If you have concerns, see your doctor, a counsellor, a psychologist, or ask a Victim Support Worker about help that is available to you.

If your reactions trouble you
If you have concerns, see your doctor, a counsellor, a psychologist, or ask a Support Worker about help that is available to you. You can call us 24/7 on 0800 842 846 to be connected with a Support Worker.

• Visit your doctor. They can do a health check and support you with any ongoing issues, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, flashbacks, or depression.
• Consider talking with a counsellor or psychologist. They can help you work through your reactions and the impact the crash has had.
• Find a doctor, counsellor, or psychologist here.

If children or young people have been affected by what’s happened
See our information sheet for parents and caregivers about Supporting your child or young person after a crime or traumatic event.

If someone you love has died in the disaster
Please see our sudden death support information here.

We are here for you 24/7
Our Support Workers are available to support you personally, or as family, whānau, friends or a community, for as long as you need us after being harmed or seriously disrupted by a natural disaster. You can call us 24/7 on 0800 842 846 to be connected with a Support Worker.

Our support is completely free and confidential, and available throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.  In times of disaster, our team of Support Workers will be on the ground providing support in the most affected communities.

What we can offer
Our Support Workers can support you with:

• someone to listen, talk with, and support you to cope through the trauma, changes, and losses
• help to understand your rights and make informed choices
• help to access local support services or counselling to suit your situation
• practical support and assistance to deal with things like funeral and coronial processes
• information and help to answer your questions
• someone to assist and support you if you are dealing with investigations or other government agencies.

We are committed to providing quality support to strengthen the mana and well-being of all those affected by volcanic activity that causes harm to people and property.

If you have English as a second language
If you require support in your first language, Victim Support can use Ezispeak to connect with an interpreter over the phone. Call us on 0800 842 846 and let us know. We will try to match you to a Support Worker who speaks your language