All Shook Up

To hear the news media tell it, you’d think mass panic broke out in Auckland following three small earthquakes last night. “Three quakes have Aucklanders running into streets,” screemed the Stuff website. The New Zealand Herald’s website had a more sedate headline, “Earthquakes shake Auckland region”.

It’s important to remember that earthquakes are rare in Auckland, unlike other parts of the country. RONZers (Rest Of New Zealand) in those more active regions are probably aching with laughter to read reports implying that minor tremors caused panic in Auckland. Wellington, for example, is waiting for “The Big One” and has far more geologic activity than Auckland does.

The news media have probably exaggerated the response among Aucklanders. Still, the 4.5 tremor at 9pm last night was, according to One News, the strongest in Auckland in 116 years. It’d be natural for people unaccustomed to earthquakes to be a little freaked.

Auckland sits on top of a volcanic field, and the eruption of a new volcano (or several at once) is generally thought to be the main threat facing the city. The last major eruption was some 700 or so years ago when Rangitoto emerged from the Hauraki Gulf.

As long as people have their emergency kits ready, they’re as prepared for disaster as they can be. If so, there’s little reason to get worried about something that may never happen. Without the prudent preparations, however, a real disaster just may send people running into the streets. We won’t be among them.