26 September 2012

Otago community responds well to earthquake drill

More than 50,000 Otago people took part in today’s nationwide Shakeout earthquake drill, making it one of the biggest public education exercises seen in the region.

Otago Civil Defence Emergency Management Group public information manager Peter Taylor said the exercise was a simple way for people to practice taking urgent action in the event of an earthquake.

Dunedin police participated in the event. District operations manager Inspector Dave Miller said the exercise went smoothly and was a good opportunity for police to test their response plans for an emergency.

Central Otago District Council (CODC) staff were prompted to perform the Drop, Cover and Hold drill through automated computer messages. Immediately after the drill, the CODC emergency management staff practiced using a new emergency management information system. They also completed a table-top exercise with other Otago emergency management agencies to create a district-wide situation report that would be used to help coordinate and manage the emergency response in a real event.

CODC emergency management officer Hamish Keith said the coordinated effort reinforced how agencies can work together to deliver an effective response.

Similar exercises were held by Waitaki District Council and Clutha District Council where the emergency operations centres were activated and staff practiced their response procedures.

Queenstown Lakes District Council and Dunedin City Council staff held forums to discuss earthquake response procedures and the likely environmental, social, and infrastructural impacts on their areas.

Mr Taylor said the Shakeout exercise and Christchurch earthquakes should combine to make people more aware of the need to take personal responsibility for their preparedness for emergencies and also aware of how their local councils would respond.

“Planning and responding to a large scale emergency, one way or another, involves everyone, and we are all better off for participating in this exercise ‘’ he said.
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