Janine Krippner
I met with a group of science communicators, a mix of science writers and scientists who also do communication work like me. I love hearing what other people are learning and working on and over three hours I left with a bunch of new fun facts.
Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Trina Snow, pexels.com
Sitting in Wellington, with notable faults and the Hikurangi subduction zone nearby, the conversation landed on how we might experience a large earthquake and what we do to prepare.
It is interesting to see how our behaviours have changed with information, which includes stories from people who have been through in these events. We know that information on how to be prepared means little if we do not act on it.
For the Hikurangi subduction zone, there is a 25% chance of a major event in the next 50 years.
Janine Krippner
For the Alpine Fault there is a 75% probability of an earthquake occurring in the next 50 years. Those do not sound like insignificant odds to me, that is a real possibility.
We are also very aware that the earthquake itself would only be the beginning. Significant earthquakes can lead to tsunamis, landslides, liquefaction, and fires. The recovery after a major event is long and tough. We saw this with Christchurch.
Those of us who work in disasters fields know that we can’t expect to receive help for a while.
Emergency response crews cannot get around to everyone in a matter of days, they must set priorities with their limited funding and resources. International help may be required. There may also be physical barriers to getting to your location.
We know that our neighbours will be our first responders, and we will be theirs. We cannot change the hazard, but we can change our behaviours. This is where our power lies.
I am mostly settled in Wellington now and am slowly working on collecting things for an emergency kit. So far, this has been grabbing the extra item when out shopping and looking for items like a battery-operated radio.
I have plenty of cat food and litter, and I am stocked up on medications. Having cash is important in case power or internet goes down and we cannot use electronic payments.
Someone suggested a rope ladder for those of us in apartment buildings, and another already had rope in her kit. Others hadn’t thought about preparing it at all. I urged them, like I do with you, to check out getready.govt.nz and go through the list of recommended items. We can also get to know our neighbours, something I have not yet done.
Another suggested masks and eye protection, like simple swimming goggles, to protect from dust if we find ourselves working with rubble. I recommended having shoes near the bed in case broken glass ends up on the floor. Simple actions.
While this often passes through my mind here, especially having felt three earthquakes since I moved, the point isn’t to be stressed or anxious. It is calm preparation, just in case. It is knowing that these simple actions I take now could make a big difference if a large earthquake or other event hit. It is empowering myself.
