Many people know to “drop, cover and hold” if an earthquake strikes – but what should people do if they’re asleep when the earth starts moving?
Most of the thousands of people who felt the 5.7 magnitude earthquake near Wellington early Sunday morning would have still been in bed at the time.
And the safest thing for all those people to do was to stay in their beds until the shaking stopped, said Tom Wilson, Chief Science Advisor at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“If you’re in bed when an earthquake happens, stay in bed – stay, cover and hold,” he said. “Cover your head and neck with your pillow [and] hold on until the shaking stops.”
ACC injury data shows people are far more likely to get injured while trying to get elsewhere during an earthquake.
“Moving around during an earthquake increases your likelihood of getting hurt,” Wilson said.
“This is why we urge people to drop, cover and hold – or if you’re in bed, stay, cover and hold.”
After two strong earthquakes struck Wellington and Hawke’s Bay over the weekend, GNS Science senior seismic advisor Jonathan Hanson explained what caused the tremors, and whether they were connected. (Source: Breakfast)
Quake-proofing the bedrooms
People can take other measures before an earthquake hits to try and better protect themselves in the event of a night-time shake, said Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake Chief Resilience and Research Officer, Jo Horrocks.
“If you know your baby’s nursery is secured, for example, you’re less likely to feel the need to rush in during the shaking,” she said.
“Simple actions like securing heavy furniture and removing items that could fall above your bed can make a big difference in preventing injuries.
“By preparing your home now, you’re helping to keep everyone safe when the next earthquake hits.”