How to ShakeOut

Find basic instructions on how you can get prepared and do the drill. Taking part in New Zealand ShakeOut is easy and a great way for you and your family (or flatmates) to learn the right actions to take before, during and after an earthquake and tsunami.

Before the drill

• Sign up. You can register everyone in two minutes.
• Share the ShakeOut and get others involved.
• Note the time and date in your calendar. If you cannot do the drill, you can choose a time to suit you within two weeks of the drill and still be counted.
• Make plans for a tsunami hīkoi if you are in a coastal area.
• Find tsunami evacuation zone maps for your region.
• Learn about the earthquake and tsunami risk in your area and other parts of New Zealand.
• Download and print our Drop, Cover, Hold and Long or Strong, Get Gone posters to remind yourself and others what to do in an earthquake or tsunami.

Doing the drill

There are lots of ways to start the drill, play the announcement recording over your PA system, blow a whistle, shout ‘earthquake drill!’ or watch official videos. 

Do the Drop, Cover and Hold drill 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).
• 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, imagine that it is real and what might be happening around you. Think about what you might need to do before a real earthquake happens to help protect yourself.

After the drill

After your drill is complete:

• talk about what you learned;
• make changes to your household emergency plan, business emergency and continuity plans or school / early childhood centre emergency plans if you need to; and
• share your ShakeOut photos, videos and stories on social media.