One shake leads to another

by: Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management - 4 July 2012

You’ve had the shake-up, now it’s time for ShakeOut.

In the wake of Tuesday night’s M7 earthquake off the Opunake coast, Taranaki people are being urged to sign up for New Zealand ShakeOut, billed as the country’s biggest-ever earthquake drill.

“Fortunately Tuesday’s quake was deep-seated and caused little damage and no reported injury,” says Taranaki’s Senior Emergency Management Officer, Shane Briggs. “But it was a reminder – and New Zealand ShakeOut is a perfectly timed opportunity for people to learn more about earthquakes, how to prepare for them, and what to do when they occur.”

Registrations are open now for ShakeOut, which aims to have 1 million people involved in an earthquake drill at 9.26am on 26 September (9:26-26:9). By registering now at www.getthru.govt.nz, participants will get news and advice on earthquake preparedness, and will be counted among those taking part.

Mr Briggs hopes Taranaki people will take advantage of the opportunity.

“Taranaki has a reputation for punching above its weight, and we’d like to see this region among the leaders in terms of ShakeOut registration,” he says.

As a result of the ShakeOut campaign, one website now provides a way to easily access information about regional earthquake hazards across New Zealand. Go to http://www.shakeout.govt.nz/whyparticipate/ and select a region under “New Zealand earthquake hazards”.

The Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management, John Hamilton, said New Zealand earthquake hazards draws together information from the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, GNS Science, the 16 regional Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups, and the local authorities that make up the Groups.

“We often receive questions from families, students and businesses asking about earthquake hazards in their area,” Mr Hamilton said. “New Zealand earthquake hazards will make it easier for them to find that information.

“Better understanding of a hazard is a step towards preparedness.”

For this region, the New Zealand ShakeOut site links to earthquake and tsunami information in the Civil Defence Emergency Management section of the Taranaki Regional Council website (http://www.trc.govt.nz/civil-defence/).

As well as providing regional earthquake hazard information, each region’s page on the New Zealand Shakeout website also links to the Get Thru website, which gives information that can be used throughout the country to prepare for emergencies, including earthquakes.

Mr Hamilton urged caution to people visiting New Zealand earthquake hazards and seeing their region faced lower earthquake hazards than others.

While earthquake hazard varies from region to region, all of New Zealand is prone to earthquakes. Also, New Zealanders are mobile. You could be anywhere when an earthquake strikes - at home, at work, at school or on holiday. Know what to do, Drop, Cover and Hold.

This advice has been reviewed by New Zealand and international researchers in light of the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 and is still: If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then:

• DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),
•
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
•
• HOLD on to it until the shaking stops.
•
Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. In most buildings in New Zealand you are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops.

ends

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