Dunedin Civil Defence is ready to answer a call for help from Christchurch.
Trained staff members are mobilising to provide backup for emergency centres when needed.
As well, the organisation has put together rations for St John staff who travelled to Christchurch early yesterday.
Dunedin City Council civil defence and rural fires manager Neil Brown reiterated the message circulated by various agencies that while people might want to help, no-one should travel there unless specifically asked to go.
Clothing and bedding were not needed in Christchurch, but money was.
Donations of money through fundraising appeals would mean Christchurch people could get what they wanted, "not what other people think they want".
Money would also get the Christchurch economy functioning again.
Mr Brown said his organisation had been receiving information on what was required from the National Crisis Management Centre in Wellington, which was co-ordinating the response nationally.
He said 25 people trained in running emergency headquarters - council staff who attended regular training programmes - had been identified and he expected they would start heading north in the next few days to help.
There had been no official notification yet of any evacuees coming to Dunedin, despite the streams of cars reported heading south on Tuesday evening and anecdotal evidence of people travelling here.
Information Centre staff across Otago have been asked to compile a "bed bank" to cater for those affected by the quake.
But Mr Brown said in 90% of cases in events of this nature, people found accommodation with family and friends.
"The city absorbs them."
Commercial accommodation in Dunedin was "reasonably full" this week, but was expected to be less so by the weekend.
