Earthquake drill in New Zealand.

New Zealand is not called the 'shaky isles' for nothing. There are earthquakes all the time, often small ones that no one feels, but often big enough to shake the house, and sometimes some real doozies. I have been through a few whoppers in my time. Once living in Napier, around 1970, there was a really big one. I had a baby in the cot and I rushed in to get her out if necessary. As I looked out the window the power lines were banging into one another, sparking and spitting. My sister said she watched the road and it was moving in waves, you could see the waves coming along the road.

So New Zealanders are very well educated about earthquakes. I think that if the Japan earthquake or the big one off Indonesia in 2004 had happened in New Zealand, everyone would head for the hills, we know the signs of the tide receding before a tsunami.

However there is no way of foretelling accurately when an earthquake is going to hit, so you just have to wait til it comes, see how big it is and react accordingly.

We know about the big earthquake that his Christchurch last year. It has caused massive damage, and the aftershocks are still rolling around. We have friends there and keep up to date with how things are going.

So, New Zealand decided to have an earthquake drill today.  This is the article from Stuff.co.nz, a news website we often use to get NZ news. Here is the link:

www.stuff.co.nz/national/7728746/Kiwis-get-set-for-morning-throwdown


"Kiwis get set for morning throwdown
Last updated 05:00 26/09/2012

Nearly 1.3 million people will drop, cover and hold this morning in
New Zealand's biggest emergency drill.

The New Zealand ShakeOut will start at 9.26am, with people in offices, schools and homes around the country sliding quickly under the nearest table.

Civil Defence director John Hamilton said the Canterbury quakes had showed that many people still did not know how to respond during a quake.

"People don't always do what the best practice indicates they should," he said. "By doing this en masse we can capture those people on the fringes."

Civil Defence was hoping for more than 1 million participants but by yesterday nearly 1.3 million people had already registered.

"It has been an absolutely fabulous response across the country."

Civil Defence had based the ShakeOut on similar drills in California, where as many as 8 million people participated, he said.

Wellington has emerged as a huge supporter of the drill, with more than 170,000 residents in the area registering.

A mass drill will be held at Wellington International Airport.

Quake-weary Cantabrians were less enthusiastic, with only 15 per cent of Christchurch residents signing up.
Many Wellingtonians who spoke to The Dominion Post said they would participate despite not registering, meaning that the final number taking part could be much higher.

However, others said they would not be joining in, either because they would be asleep or working.
Surprisingly, while many people said they'd be participating in the drill, few had taken other safety measures such as having emergency kits or stored water.

QUAKE REFUGEE READY FOR DRILL
Sam Etheredge left Christchurch to escape the quakes but this morning he will be braced against the doorway again.

After the February 2011 quake struck, Mr Etheredge packed his car and abandoned his damaged central Christchurch home.

"I just couldn't really live there. You can't sleep because of the shaking, thinking it might be another big one," he said.

More than a year later, he is taking part in the nationwide earthquake drill, New Zealand ShakeOut, from his Wellington home.
"I just feel it's something I should do."

When the earthquake struck last year, Mr Etheredge was working at Christchurch casino and watched dozens of people flee outside, contrary to prevailing wisdom that you should never leave a building during an earthquake.

"The place just emptied. I ran out of the building too."

This time around, he is planning to do it right - "although I still don't have water stored away".

WHAT TO DO IN AN EARTHQUAKE

DROP on to your hands and knees (before the earthquake knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.

COVER your head and neck under a sturdy table. If there is no shelter nearby, get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands. If you are outside move no more than a few steps away from buildings, trees, or power lines, then drop, cover and hold. If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops.

HOLD on to your shelter until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

BE READY FOR THE BIG ONE

Every earthquake kit should at least contain:
Torch and radio with spare batteries
Wind and waterproof clothing, sun hats, and strong outdoor shoes.
First aid kit and essential medicines
Blankets or sleeping bags
Pet supplies
Toilet paper and large rubbish bags for your emergency toilet
Face and dust masks
Non-perishable food for three days
Food, formula and drinks for babies and small children
Water for drinking for three days, with three litres a person, a day
Water for washing and cooking
A primus or gas barbecue
A can opener
- © Fairfax NZ News"

I thought the whole idea was really good. I lived in Wellington for some time and worked in a nine story building and we had a 6.3 quake one day. I was surprised at how well the building coped, but they are forecasting a 'big one' one day, and that would not be a nice place to be.