With a week to go, almost 23,000 Taranaki people have signed up so far for New Zealand ShakeOut, the national earthquake drill.
At 9.15am next Thursday, 15 October, hundreds of thousands of people around the country will ‘Drop Cover Hold’ in unison, practising the technique that saves lives when an earthquake strikes.
“We had nearly 29,000 Taranaki people taking part in the last ShakeOut in 2012, and we’re aiming to better that this time,” says the Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Controller, David Lean. “It’s easy to register – just go to www.shakeout.govt.nz and click on the yellow button in the banner.”
‘Drop Cover Hold’ involves dropping immediately to the floor when an earthquake starts, protecting yourself from injury by sheltering under furniture or at least covering your head and neck with your arms, and holding on to a solid piece of furniture.
Nationally, the goal is to have 1.5 million people taking part in NZ ShakeOut next week, up from 1.3 million in 2012.
Registration categories include individuals, families, schools and workplaces.
Mr Lean says the exercise emphasises the need for New Zealanders to understand what they should do in an earthquake, and to be prepared for when disaster strikes. See www.shakeout.govt.nz andwww.getthru.govt.nz for more information.
Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management Group is made up of the Taranaki Regional Council and the New Plymouth, Stratford and South Taranaki District Councils
