The things I wish I'd brought with me to Auckland in the face of Cyclone Gabrielle
Stuck in Tāmaki Makaurau, there's a few items hindsight wishes I had here
Kia ora. How're you doing? It's a bit rotten all this weather stuff going on in the North Island right now, eh? Cyclone Gabrielle is skimming past the east coast and the result is proper minging.
I hope you're holding up alright; I hope your property is too. I'm on a short visit to Auckland to celebrate my nephew's 2nd birthday and greet my parents from overseas. Being here has underlined how lucky I have been getting an actual hot and dry summer, after spending most of January in Central Otago. Sorry if you didn't.
I might be stuck here, I might not. But my time here has had me longing for a few items from my gear that I didn't bring. You know, just in case this impending disaster follows through and becomes an actual disaster.
1. Grayl Ultralight water purifier. Dang it! This device turns any dirty, crusty, sewage swamp water into safe drinking water. The system can be cumbersome and uncomfortable to press after a few goes, but it's worth it to survive. If we get stuck without drinking water, I'll be extra annoyed, since this is exactly one of the reasons I bought it
2. Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). You just never know when you're going to need it! A trip out to the bins could turn suddenly. Or you could need an urgent unplanned trip for supplies and want extra confidence. With a dead cellphone battery or no service, it could be the best little thing you bring. Mine's not with me, I hope we don't need it!
3. My raft! Why did I even buy my fold-up carry boat? To smash down the country's finest whitewater, experiencing excitement beyond belief? To traverse the length of the country from the Cape to the Bluff, on an adventure like no other? Nope! It's to be that guy on the news, paddling in flood waters to the Four Square to stock up the entire neighbourhood with groceries! And now the raft is in Nelson, so I can't. Seriously, though, how good would a packraft be in a flood? Better than a SUP, that's how good.
There are, of course, countless other items that can help or even save you in a disaster. This shouldn't be taken as an exhaustive list! Please put more than this in your ‘grab bag'. Check out this excellent resource on the government's Get Ready website for advice on preparing your household.
Stay safe, please! May this soon pass, so we can re-begin that summer thing for more adventures soon.