Hello, Dusty Cat here with an update on the dramatic 7.5 that shook New Zealand this month. 

If you haven’t heard about our big adventure (where were you?) let me explain the importance of three words :- Drop, Cover, Hold after our scare this month (November 2016). It’s quite a story for Middle-Earth……..

‘Drop Cover Hold’ or………

‘An Earthquake Drill with Dusty’

If you live in an area not prone to quakes Drop, Cover, Hold might not be familiar. Let me explain then.

It is a simple, effective set of rules for everyone from school children to seniors. Basic advice to keep people safe, and preserve lives.

When the quake struck New Zealand it was midnight, Mum and Dad were shaken awake by a low rumbling growl that rapidly became a very VERY loud grumbly roar. Mum was on her feet as she was waking up, and her first thought was us cats and our safety. Then she asked ‘what the heck is going on’? 

Mum strode quickly (not easy when the floor is moving!) into the living room with the rumble still going on around her. She stopped and looked at me in astonishment. I had performed the perfect Drop, Cover, Hold, and was sheltering safely under the sturdy coffee table, not far from my snuggle spot in the living room. Mum called to Dad to come and see how well I had done. They were impressed!

Naturally, as I am a Kiwi cat, I know my earthquake drill!

Why Drop, Cover Hold makes sense for safety

Remember, when you are executing this drill ‘for real’, with shaking buildings, unstable floors and unsteady roof fittings you won’t have time to think. You get down to keep your centre of gravity low so you won’t fall over, you get under safe cover so you don’t get hit by anything, and you grab hold of  your cover with your paws. 

Simple put it’s :-

• DROP to the ground 
• Get under COVER or cover your head and neck against falling debris
• HOLD until the shaking stops.

In 2015 there was a worldwide event called ShakeOut.  It was meant to raise consciousness about safety in quake prone areas worldwide.  Weta Workshop and Thunderbirds were brought in to get the message home to youngsters and their families in a fun video.

Take a look, because although it does refer to the event that took place in New Zealand it’s a lot of fun and worth a minute of your time, you learn a lot! 

We are OK here, and will keep up with friends in Twitter, Facebook and here on the blog.

We will finish our quite serious report with a bit of quick fun. Dad’s cd collection is in custom shelves and, thankfully, they are tightly packed so they just moved out a couple of inches or about 5 cms. He has to push them all back – like this!

CD’s stirred but not shaken! from Marjorie Dawson on Vimeo.
Dusty Cat
Drop Cover Hold Adviser