It may be just just a drill, but it’s good emergency preparedness training at 9:30 today.

Those who live in Wellington get used to the real thing, particularly those who inhabit tall buildings.

Fortunately, the last significant earthquake in 2016 occurred in the small hours so office workers weren’t affected, except of course those whose newer office buildings weren’t as good at coping as people thought they would be.

The two mantras are:

• Drop, cover, hold
• If it’s long or strong, get gone — for those who live on or near the coast

And it’s also a good reminder to ensure framed pictures and heavy items of furniture will stay put by securing them to the wall; and that there is enough food and drink to last three days, emergency flashlights and first aid supplies retained in your house!

See the earlier posts on the subject.