17 September 2012

Under the table discussion all above board for Regional Councillors

Under the table discussion will be all above board for Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillors at their monthly meeting next week on Wednesday 26 September - although the talk is most likely to be about earthquake safety.

At 9.26 am Councillors will temporarily halt meeting proceedings to ‘Drop Cover Hold’, along with over one million other New Zealanders.

New Zealand ShakeOut is the country’s first nationwide earthquake drill, and people are still being reminded to register and take part.

More than 34,000 people in the Hawke’s Bay have so far signed up to practise ‘drop, cover, hold’ – that includes about 84 schools and 21,500 pupils. HBRC’s Chairman Fenton Wilson is urging the community to join them and help reach the Hawke’s Bay target of 35,00 people taking part.

HBRC’s monthly council meeting coincides with the nationwide earthquake drill, so the meeting will stop while Councillors and others in the Chamber ‘drop, cover and hold’. HBRC will then practise a full earthquake drill with all staff, councillors and visitors in the Dalton Street building evacuating the building to their designated gathering place.

Chairman Wilson says it will add something different to the monthly Council meeting.

“It is something quite novel, which is providing a serious message about how people can protect themselves during an earthquake.”

He says Exercise ShakeOut also aims to raise general awareness among New Zealanders about the need to be prepared for an emergency.

“Hawke’s Bay is a seismically active region and an earthquake could happen at any time, so now is the time for people to discuss what they need to do to be prepared.”

To take part in New Zealand ShakeOut, register online at www.getthru.govt.nz

ENDS

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