How might NZers respond to an early earthquake warning?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-07-19 11:04

New Zealand

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Researchers surveyed Kiwis about their previous experiences and knowledge about earthquakes to see if this affects what they would do if they got a heads up from an early warning system. They found that doing exercises or drills did not seem to prompt the right actions for earthquake warnings, such as drop, cover, and hold. Instead, the more personally relevant a person's experiences were – like having a family member previously injured from a quake – the more likely they were to intend to take a useful action when they got an alert. Regional experiences with bigger quakes also seemed to play a part: people in Canterbury and Wellington reported a greater likelihood to mentally prepare for a quake if they got an early warning. The authors say early warning systems often offer only a couple of seconds of warning, so it’s important people respond correctly, and that this research could inform future public education initiatives.