How to ShakeOut
Me pēhea te Whakahaumaru
Find basic instructions on how you can get prepared and take part in New Zealand ShakeOut.
Before the drill
- Sign up to ShakeOut – it only takes two minutes.
- Make a note of the date and time in your calendar – 9:30am, 28 October 2021. If the date and time don’t work for you, you can ShakeOut any time within two weeks of the national drill and still be counted.
- Know your tsunami evacuation zone. Make plans for tsunami hīkoi if you are in a coastal area.
- Learn about the earthquake and tsunami risk in your area and other parts of New Zealand.
- Share the ShakeOut – use our resources to get the people around you involved.
- Download and share our Drop, Cover and Hold and Long or Strong: Get Gone posters to remind yourself and others what to do in an earthquake or tsunami.
Sign up for New Zealand ShakeOut
ShakeOut is held across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake — Drop, Cover and Hold — and to practise a tsunami hīkoi (evacuation) if in a coastal area.
Sign up
Information for schools, businesses and individuals
- Find ShakeOut information for schools and early childhood centres. We know that when kids are involved in preparing for emergencies and learning about natural hazards, they encourage their families to be more prepared and play a more active role in responding to and recovering from emergencies.
- Find ShakeOut information for business and organisations. An emergency plan is a health and safety requirement. Not having one is a big risk for your business and the people in it.
- Find ShakeOut information for individuals, households and families. Taking part is a great way for your family, and the people you care about, to learn the right actions to take before, during and after an earthquake and tsunami.
Doing the drill
ShakeOut is a self-run drill. You can start it in whatever way works for you. You could use a bell, whistle or alarm, play the New Zealand ShakeOut Announcement over your PA system, shout “EARTHQUAKE DRILL” or tune in to our Facebook livestream.
Drop, Cover and Hold for 30–60 seconds:
- DROP down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling but lets you move if you need to.
- COVER your head and neck (or your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you). If there is no shelter nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
- HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it.
While you are doing the drill, take note of what might be happening around you in a real earthquake. Think about what you might need to do to prepare for a real earthquake.
This New Zealand ShakeOut audio announcement can be used to facilitate your Drop Cover and Hold earthquake drill. Play it through a speaker or PA so everyone knows the correct action to take.
| shakeout-drill-day-audio-en-jul19.mp3 | mp3 | 1.9 MB |
Tsunami hīkoi
If you are in a tsunami evacuation zone you should practise your evacuation route, or ‘tsunami hīkoi’. A tsunami hīkoi is a walk that takes you along your tsunami evacuation route either inland or towards high ground.
Find out more
After the drill
After your ShakeOut drill and tsunami hīkoi:
- Talk about what you learned with your family, workmates, flatmates or friends.
- Make changes or add to your emergency plans if you need to.
- Share your ShakeOut photos, videos and stories on social media.
Say thanks to kids for participating in New Zealand ShakeOut by giving them our New Zealand ShakeOut 2021 certificate.
| ShakeOut-2021-Blank-Certificate-of-Participation.pdf | 140 KB |
| ShakeOut-2021-Generic-Certificate-of-Participation.pdf | 184 KB |
Resources
Download this factsheet that explains why Drop, Cover and Hold is the right action to take.
| drop-cover-right-action-fact-en-apr15.pdf | 160 KB |
Drop, Cover and Hold is the right action to take in an earthquake. It stops you being knocked over, makes you a smaller target for falling and flying objects and protects your head, neck and vital organs. Videos produced by the Southern California Earthquake Center.
Drop, Cover and Hold is the right action to take in an earthquake. It stops you being knocked over, makes you a smaller target for falling and flying objects and protects your head, neck and vital organs. Watch this short video to find out more about Drop Cover and Hold.
For a local source tsunami, which could arrive in minutes, there won’t be time for an official warning. It is important to recognise the natural warning signs and act quickly. Remember, Long or Strong, Get Gone.
Download and share this factsheet in English on what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
| drop-cover-earthquake-happens-fact-en-dec16.pdf | 2 MB |
Download and share this factsheet in Te Reo Māori on what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
| drop-cover-earthquake-happens-fact-mi-jan17.pdf | 117 KB |
Download and share this helpful factsheet in English about what to do before, during and after a tsunami.
| long-strong-earthquake-fact-en-dec16.pdf | 1.9 MB |
Download and share this helpful factsheet in English and Te Reo Māori about what to do before, during and after a tsunami.
| long-strong-earthquake-fact-mi-jan17.pdf | 104 KB |
Translated resources
Download, print and share our ShakeOut 2021 poster and social media images in 24 languages to help promote New Zealand ShakeOut 2021.
Download, print and share our Drop, Cover and Hold factsheet and posters in 24 languages to learn what to do during an earthquake.
Download, print and share our Long or Strong, Get Gone factsheet and posters in 24 languages to learn what to do during an earthquake.
318,932 participants
Currently registered nationwide