Kiwi legend Taika Waititi has produced some unique tips for ShakeOut, watch the video and share it on our Facebook, Twitter or YouTube channel.

If you're in the process of planning your drill, follow these easy steps:

1. Announce the start of the drill (see below for ideas).
2. Drop, cover and hold for one minute.
3. Call the end of the drill and take part in a few of the follow up activities.
4. Complete and send in your observer survey so you can let us know how it goes – you can fill in the observer survey online (on your phone or computer) or download and print out a copy. See the Information for observers guide to find out more.
5. Share your stories with us – post photos and stories of your drill at www.shakeout.govt.nz/share after the drill.

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

Next week is ShakeOut. So, why not use the opportunity to not only test your earthquake drill but some of your other plans.

After practicing Drop, Cover, Hold, get your team together to discuss what would happen next in a real event:

• How would staff get home? 
• What would you do if your building was unusable?
• How would you ensure the wellbeing of your people

Test some of your Business Continuity plans e.g.

• Trial a restore of your data
• Try working without cellphones for a morning
• Try working at home

For more information on what to expect after a disaster, see www.resorgs.org.nz/first-aid-business.html.  Keep a copy handy – just in case.

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. You can find all our ShakeOut tips for businesses on the resources page of the ShakeOut website.

Take a look at the Triggering your drill guide on our resources page, or try one of these options:

• Listen to radio or watch TV - Radio stations across the country (including The Hits, The Breeze, ZM, Radio New Zealand National) will trigger the drill live at 9.15am on 15 October and TVNZ's Good Morning will have a live segment on their show. We are working with other networks to have them join in too. 
• Make some noise - Use an air horn, voice command, whistle, announcement over a PA system, use our video or audio broadcast files - download them from www.shakeout.govt.nz/resources
• Get smart – Send a meeting invite, set mobile phone alerts, have a ShakeOut image pop up on computer screens (talk to your IT team) or download the Hazard App by New Zealand Red Cross.

New Zealand Red Cross's Hazard App provides advice on how to respond to natural disasters including earthquakes and features the steps you need to be ready for ShakeOut! At 9:15am on 15 October 2015 the Hazard App will send users a ‘General’ alert to advise them of the start of a national earthquake drill ShakeOut.

A plea from the New Zealand Fire Service

Do not use your building fire alarm to signal the beginning of the Drop, Cover and Hold drill.

The New Zealand ShakeOut Team and the New Zealand Fire Service agree that a fire alarm should never be used for anything other than an evacuation of a building.

Using the fire alarm to trigger the drill has the potential to cause confusion and potentially a number of unnecessary (and costly) call-outs of the Fire Service!