Local community gets chance to participate in earthquake drill

WREMO are hosting an earthquake drill in Raumati

The Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) is running a free event to help communities get better prepared for an earthquake.

An earthquake scenario, along with a free sausage sizzle, will be held on Sunday, April 18 at Raumati South School – one of Kāpiti’s local Community Emergency Hubs.

WREMO Emergency Management Advisor for Community Resilience, Renee Corlett, says in disasters such as a big earthquake, emergency services will be dealing with the most urgent matters first.

“The people you live nearest to will be your most immediate and ongoing source of support.

“We saw in the Canterbury earthquakes and other disasters around the world that communities naturally come together to help each other, so it is important for people to know where to go to offer and receive support,” Renee says.

Community Emergency Hubs are places where people in each neighbourhood can share ideas, skills and resources to help each other get through an emergency.

“Your local hub will be opened and run by people like you, utilising the skills and resources that you already have available to you. The earthquake scenario drill on April 18 will teach you steps you can take to be better prepared as a community.”

Drill attendees will find out in a practical way how the Community Emergency Hub works, and get hands-on experience solving issues that might arise in their neighbourhood following a disaster.

The earthquake drill will be held from 12.30pm – 2.30pm at Raumati South School. All are welcome to this fun, family-friendly event.