Are you all set to ShakeOut at 9.15am on 15 October?

The ShakeOut website – www.shakeout.govt.nz/resources - has a heap of resources to help you. Holding your drill and follow up activities is a great place to start.

If you need any help, please email us at shakeout@dpmc.govt.nz.

To celebrate our one millionth sign up, we’ve launched a competition on Facebook and Twitter.

Post your photo or short video showing Drop, Cover and Hold, use the hashtag #showusyourshakeout and be in to win an iPad mini. Winner drawn at random, competition closes 28 October 2015

You can also share your drill day stories and photos at www.shakeout.govt.nz/share.

To help us evaluate the success of New Zealand ShakeOut, and to learn what could be improved in the future, we’re searching for volunteers to observe the ShakeOut drill in their organisation or wherever they will be at the time.

GNS Science has an online observer survey for people to fill out, so it’s nice and easy! We ask for a good, wide, logical distribution of observers if there is more than one per organisation. 

You can complete the survey online (including on your mobile device) during the drill at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZNPCYTY. It’s quicker and easier for us if you use the online option, but you can download an Observer form that your can print off, complete and send in if you can’t use the online option. Please read the Information for observers guide and decide who will be the observer during your ShakeOut.

If you have a disability, or are a support person for/employer of someone with a disability, these emergency preparedness and earthquake resources are for you:
- Earthquake advice for people with disabilities
- Get Ready for an Emergency pictorial resource

Have a look at the options for Triggering Your Drill to see which triggers are appropriate for your circumstances. For example, if you are deaf, you could set a calendar reminder on your phone to vibrate at 9.15am.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence has also created a fantastic booklet called Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities, available on their website.

Shakeout is a great time to make sure your insurance is in place, you are adequately covered, you can reach your broker in an emergency, and you know what to do if you need to file a claim.

This week:

• Read your policy and make sure it reflects your current business circumstances.
• Contact your broker – make sure you have their emergency contact information.
• Make sure your insurance arrangements are included in your business continuity plan and there is someone on your team assigned to managing your claim.

More information about selecting and getting the most from commercial insurance can be found at www.resorgs.org.nz/cover-your-assets.html

This tip was developed by Resilient Organisations (www.resorgs.org.nz), visit their website and download Shut Happens, their guide to making plans and developing practices to make your business more resilient. 

For more business tips, visit the www.shakeout.govt.nz website.