New Zealanders in first national quake drill
- 12 years ago
"Drop, cover and hold," the slogan of a new campaign from New Zealand's Civil Defence, aiming to teach people how to respond to an earthquake.
As part of the initiative, more than 1 million New Zealanders took part in the country's first-ever nation-wide earthquake drill on Wednesday.
School children made up the largest group of participants, but drills were also held at Auckland Zoo, parliament and Wellington Airport.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CIVIL DEFENCE NATIONAL CONTROLLER, JOHN HAMILTON SAYING:
"The first bit is to make sure that we keep drumming home that drop, cover and hold is the drill to do in an emergency and I will make sure we follow up with encouraging businesses and homes to take that preparedness message to check their kids and to make sure that they are prepared at home and at work."
New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is hit by thousands of earthquakes a year, most of them minor.
But in February 2011 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city, Christchurch, killing 185 people.
As part of the initiative, more than 1 million New Zealanders took part in the country's first-ever nation-wide earthquake drill on Wednesday.
School children made up the largest group of participants, but drills were also held at Auckland Zoo, parliament and Wellington Airport.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CIVIL DEFENCE NATIONAL CONTROLLER, JOHN HAMILTON SAYING:
"The first bit is to make sure that we keep drumming home that drop, cover and hold is the drill to do in an emergency and I will make sure we follow up with encouraging businesses and homes to take that preparedness message to check their kids and to make sure that they are prepared at home and at work."
New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is hit by thousands of earthquakes a year, most of them minor.
But in February 2011 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit New Zealand's second biggest city, Christchurch, killing 185 people.