Civil defence, Climate change, Extreme weather  |  10h ago

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Residents are being encouraged to take steps to prepare for increasingly severe weather and natural hazards, with Christchurch City Council launching new information to help people ready their homes for the impacts of climate change.

The new ‘Be ready’ information – available at ccc.govt.nz/beready – brings together practical, easy-to-follow guidance to help households prepare for extreme weather events, such as flooding, heatwaves, strong winds, drought, and wildfire. 

Jane Morgan, Council Team Leader for Climate Hazards Adaptation Planning, says the new resources are designed to help people feel more confident and informed about what they can do now to reduce future risks.

“As our climate changes, we’re already seeing more frequent and intense weather events across our district,” Ms Morgan says. 

“These impacts can feel overwhelming at times, but there are many practical, often low-cost actions people can take to better prepare their homes and whānau.” 

The ‘Be ready’ webpages provide tailored advice for different types of extreme weather, outlining simple, low-cost steps residents can take today as well as longer-term, investment options to consider. The information reflects the types of climate-related hazards Ōtautahi Christchurch and Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula are increasingly exposed to. 

Ms Morgan says helping communities prepare is a key part of the Council’s wider climate adaptation work. It is also planning to release more information later this year that will help residents understand the types and extents of natural hazard risks that could affect their local communities. 

“Being prepared can make a real difference – it can reduce damage, speed up recovery, and improve safety and wellbeing when extreme events happen,” she says. 

“These resources are about supporting people to take action early, so they’re not starting from scratch when severe weather hits.” 

The new ‘Be ready’ information is also available in a range of hard-copy booklets at Council libraries and service centres.