Get a rattle on and sign-up for ShakeOut

Published on 03 October 2019

ShakeOut is the annual New Zealand-wide earthquake drill and tsunami hikoi (evacuation). This year’s event takes place on Thursday, 17 October at 1.30pm and is intended to remind and educate people about the right action to take in the event of an earthquake and tsumani.

Whanganui District Council’s Emergency Management team will be out and about at schools around Whanganui during the week of ShakeOut to get the “Drop, Cover and Hold” and “Long or Strong, Get Gone” earthquake and tsunami messages across to tamariki and beyond. The Rapid Relief Team charitable organisation will also provide catering support during the drills.

Council Emergency Management Officer, Anthony Edwards, says, “ShakeOut is a very effective way to educate our tamariki, and people of all ages, about the need to be prepared in the event of a major earthquake and coastal inundation.”

The schools being visited by the Council’s Emergency Management team during ShakeOut week are:

Putiki area – Monday, 14 October 2019 at 11.00am – evacuation muster point is at the top of Putiki Hill Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Atihaunui-A-Paparangi, Putiki Kindergarten, Putiki Wharanui Te Kohanga Reo – up to 100 children and staff
Castlecliff – Tuesday, 15 October 2019 at 11.00am – evacuation muster point is to Lee Street Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tupoho, Castlecliff School, Marie McFarland Kindergarten – up to 450 children and staff
Castlecliff / Gonville – Wednesday, 16 October 2019 at 11.00am – evacuation muster point is at the end of Rogers Street Te Kura o Kokohuia, Barsanti Kindergarten, Te Heti Kura Te Kohanga Reo – up to 260 children and staff

The Council’s Emergency Management team urges all Whanganui schools, households, businesses and other organisations to sign-up to this year’s ShakeOut so that they have a plan in place to protect and evacuate themselves in the event of an earthquake and tsunami.

To sign-up to ShakeOut 2019 and for more information, please visit: www.shakeout.govt.nz