Our national ShakeOut 2024 earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (walk) took place on Thursday 24 October. Ahead of the official ShakeOut day - our Emergency Management Officer (EMO) Toka Wolfswood, visited Springdale School to talk all things ShakeOut and how to best prepare for an earthquake.

During the short presentation the Springdale tamariki learnt about the two main fault lines in our district, Kerepehi and Te Puninga which aren’t too far from their school. They also dived into the additional impacts of an earthquake, such as landslides, tsunamis, fires and liquefaction. Most importantly, they practiced the correct actions to take during an earthquake whether at school, in bed, or in a car.

''It's really important to have these conversations with our kids,” said EMO Toka Wolfswood. ''Understanding the basics and knowing how to respond can make all the difference. I encourage the students to share what they've learned with their families and work together to create a safety plan that works for them.''

During the interactive session, Toka surprised the students with a practice earthquake drill. Putting them to the test, the kids quickly dropped to the ground, took cover under desks and held on for 60 seconds. Running regular practice drills ensure our tamariki understand exactly what to do in the event in of an earthquake, which is why participating in the annual ShakeOut is important.

Springdale School principal Michaela Webb said ''we gained a deeper understanding of the specific risks we face in the Waikato and understanding how our area could be affected by a sizeable earthquake''. Personally, it reiterated my responsibility as a Principal to get our school better prepared for an earthquake by working with our board and wider community.''

It's not too late to get involved for ShakeOut 2024. If the date or time didn’t work for you, you can still take part in ShakeOut. Sign up and do your drill anytime in the next two weeks and you will still be counted and entered into a draw for prizes from Civil Defence New Zealand.

For more information and resources such as family household plans, survival kit checklists and more earthquake safety tips visit getready.govt.nz. For ongoing updates and guidance be sure to follow the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Matamata-Piako District Council on our website or Facebook page. By staying connected, you'll get informed with the most up to date information on what's going on in our district.