BOP New website provides all regions’ earthquake hazard information

The following comments from Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Joint Committee Chairman John Forbes provide a regional perspective on a national media release (see below) sent out earlier today by the Ministry for Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
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Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Joint Committee Chairman John Forbes said the new website was a fantastic tool, which the public could use to better inform themselves of the earthquake hazards in our region.

“The Bay of Plenty has the largest hazardscape in New Zealand,” Mr Forbes said. “More than 22 hazards are possible in the Bay, including natural hazards like volcanic and geothermal activity, earthquake, tsunami, flooding and major storms.”

Mr Forbes said that it was timely to remind our community of the steps that they should take to be prepared for an emergency. He also encouraged people to register for Shakeout, which is New Zealand’s largest ever earthquake drill.

“Our residents can take some easy steps to get ready for an emergency and two of the easiest ones, that will make a big difference, are having a household emergency plan, and ensuring you have enough emergency survival items to cope for three days or more,” Mr Forbes said.

“In a region with so many natural hazards and the number of flooding issues we have had during the past couple of years, it is important for our community to not think if, but when so that they are ready and can get through.”

Mr Forbes said national exercises including Shakeout are really important opportunities for civil defence to test its ability, but they are also a great opportunity for the community to build awareness about what they should do. “In an earthquake, you should drop, cover, hold – its important information that could save lives,” Mr Forbes explained.

“We already have more than 13,000 registrations in the Bay of Plenty, but we need many more people to register and participate in the exercise at 9.26am on Wednesday 26 September.”

To register for Shakeout, visit getthru.govt.nz now.

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MCDEM Media release:
Subject: Media release: New website provides all regions’ earthquake hazard information
[MCDEM letterhead]

Media Release, 4 July 2012

New website provides all regions’ earthquake hazard information

Last night’s earthquake off the coast of Taranaki showed all of New Zealand is prone to earthquakes.

For the first time one website now provides a way to easily access information about regional earthquake hazards across New Zealand. Go to http://www.shakeoutgovt.nz/whyparticipate/ and select a region under “New Zealand earthquake hazards”.

The initiative is part of New Zealand ShakeOut, a campaign to have 1 million people involved in an earthquake drill at 9:26am 26 September (9:26-26:9)

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.”

As well as providing regional earthquake hazard information, each region’s page also links to the Get Thruhttp://www.getthru.govt.nz/web/GetThru.nsf website, which gives information that can be used throughout the country to prepare for emergencies, including earthquakes.

A word of caution – not all regions are equal, and people move

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.

New Zealand ShakeOut

New Zealand ShakeOut is a national campaign aimed at having 1 million people involved in an earthquake drill at 9:26-26:9 (9:26am 26 September). The drill is supported by:
• a dedicated website (get to it from www.getthru.govt.nz)
• Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/NzGetThru )
• Twitter account ( https://twitter.com/#!/nzgetthru)
• paid advertising and promotional activity.

ENDS

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