Twenty-seven Civil Defence Centres and Shelters will be open from 7pm this evening to provide a refuge for families who need to leave their homes to shelter from Cyclone Gabrielle.
Auckland Emergency Management has established centres or shelters in all Local Board areas across Tāmaki Makaurau.
A further 12 community-lead centres are being stood up by community groups, at marae, in local churches or in local buildings.
Civil Defence Centres, sometimes called a CDC, offer a safe place to eat, sleep and access essential support services. Anyone heading to a local CDC is asked to bring a grab bag with essentials that their whānau will need to get through – clothing, medication, documents and ID, important items for the children or babies. Supplies at CDCs will be limited. Dogs that are on a leash and controlled at all times and contained cats will be welcome at CDC and Shelter sites.
Shelters provide a place to be safe while the worst of the weather passes. Blankets and hot drinks will be available but shelters aren’t equipped for extended stays.
Community-lead centres are supervised by community leaders and are not run by Auckland Emergency Management. People are asked to check the group’s website or Facebook page, if they have one, before you visit one of these community-lead centres.
Locations are listed at www.aem.org.nz.
Anyone needing flooding assistance should call 0800 22 22 00. Please call 111 if your life is in danger.
