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What should I do if there is an earthquake while I am driving?

Pull over to a safe place and stay in the car until the shaking stops. Afterwards, expect aftershocks. They can happen minutes, days, weeks, months or even years later.

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From the guide “Getting ready for earthquakes, tsunamis and other emergencies”Last verified Official pages checked daily

Official figures

What to do in an earthquake
Drop, Cover and Hold: drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck (get under a strong table if one is within a few steps), and hold on until the shaking stops1
Tsunami rule
Long or Strong, Get Gone: if an earthquake lasts more than 1 minute, or is so strong it is hard to stand, move inland or to high ground2
Local tsunami
Forms close to New Zealand and may arrive within minutes2
Regional tsunami (for example, from Tonga, Samoa or Vanuatu)
May take 1 to 3 hours to arrive2
Distant tsunami (for example, from Chile, Alaska or Japan)
May take 14 hours or more to arrive2

Official sources

  1. EarthquakesAuckland Emergency Management (Auckland Council) · aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz
  2. TsunamiAuckland Emergency Management (Auckland Council) · aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz
  3. Emergency suppliesAuckland Emergency Management (Auckland Council) · aucklandemergencymanagement.govt.nz
  4. Staying informed during an emergencyWellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) · wremo.nz

Read the full guide: Getting ready for earthquakes, tsunamis and other emergencies →

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