With one month to go, nearly half a million people have already signed up for New Zealand ShakeOut 2024, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says over 480,000 people have signed up to Drop, Cover and Hold and practice their tsunami hīkoi on Thursday 24 October at 9:30am. You can join them and sign up at www.ShakeOut.govt.nz.
NEMA’s Director Civil Defence Emergency Management, John Price says it’s fantastic to see almost half a million people already signed up, and he encourages schools, businesses, community groups and whānau to sign up if they haven’t already.
“All of New Zealand is at risk of earthquakes and tsunamis at any time. Shake Out gives us the chance to practice, exercise and test the correct actions to take during an earthquake and tsunami.
“A large earthquake such as an Alpine Fault rupture will be a defining event for all of New Zealand. We need to be ready.
“By practising Shake Out each year, knowing what to do to stay safe in an earthquake and tsunami will become second nature. Exercising regularly improves our ability to cope on the day and keep ourselves and our communities safe.”
Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake Chief Resilience and Research Officer, Dr Jo Horrocks says they are proud to support ShakeOut again. “At NHC Toka Tū Ake, we’re working really hard to minimise the impact of future natural hazards on communities. Our beautiful land is one of the highest-risk countries in the world for a range of natural hazards, but there is a lot we can all do to prepare for them.”
Dr Horrocks is pleased to see that almost half a million Kiwis have already signed up for ShakeOut and is hopeful more will join the challenge. “Taking a bit of time to think about how hazards could affect us at home, work or school, and then taking steps to prepare – these are things that will make a big difference in a disaster.”
John Price says, “Before the drill, check your tsunami evacuation zone using our map and make plans for your tsunami hīkoi if you are in a coastal area. (ref. https://getready.govt.nz/en/emergency/tsunami/tsunami-evacuation-zones/ )
“Remember that no matter where you live, visit, work or play – if you are near the coast, or any large body of water and you’re in an earthquake that is strong enough to make it difficult to stand up, or lasts a minute or more, you should immediately head inland or for higher ground. Remember, if it’s long or strong, get gone.”
New Zealand ShakeOut 2024 is sponsored by the Natural Hazards Commission and supported by New Zealand Red Cross. The drill is taking place on Thursday 24 October 2024 at 9:30am.
New Zealand ShakeOut is based on the highly successful California ShakeOut which began in 2008 and has now expanded to numerous other US states and countries such as Canada and Japan.
Sign up and go into the draw to win a prize pack! Find more information at www.ShakeOut.govt.nz.
