u/scoutriver

What was the prize? Explaining what it was to the kids who are very curious, but I never got to do the race so have zero recollection of prizes.

Please find out if you live in a tsunami zone, and figure out your evacuation routes - if it's long and strong get gone.

Please look up your local hazards. Your regional or district council has information available to help you know the risks and hazards for your area.

Please make sure to the best of your ability that you have ways to find out information that are not the internet. In some disasters, you might be cut off from internet, power, and phone coverage. Last night, clear and repeated updates were shared by RNZ, who are our national civil defence broadcaster.

Please meet your neighbours. Build a relationship. Know who is in your community. Think about who might need support in an emergency.

Please talk to your family and household. If a big earthquake happens, where will you meet? If your house is damaged do you know anyone you could ask to stay with?

Please think about and prepare a grab bag. Information is available from CDEM about what to include. Think about a disaster kit too. Some disasters will prevent your local supermarket from being able to stock up.

Irrespective of whether the CDEM website should have worked for last night's tsunami warning, there are going to be future disasters which are projected to cause massive damage. AF8 is just one example and it's not a case of if, it's when. You need to know what you will do if no one in a government agency is able to reach you to tell you.

Civil defence is all of us. It is what every single one of us can do. If something happens and no one can come to save you, or you can't find information, you do need to know what you might do. It might save your life.