Hurunui residents will have a chance to hear from leading earthquake scientists when the award-winning AF8 [Alpine Fault magnitude 8] Roadshow visits Hanmer Springs as part of it's South Island tour.
The “AF8 Roadshow: The Science Beneath Our Feet” features public science talks and interactive classroom sessions designed to share the story of the Alpine Fault, the impacts and consequences of a future magnitude 8 earthquake, and how people can become better prepared for it.
AF8 Programme Lead, Alice Lake-Hammond says “We live in a stunning part of the world and while the thought of an AF8 earthquake is scary, if we didn’t have an Alpine Fault we wouldn’t have the beautiful South Island landscape as we know it today. Understanding our home and its vulnerabilities, raising awareness and sharing knowledge are essential in building our collective preparedness for future events.”
The Roadshow arrives in the Hurunui on the 31st
of March, with a public meeting in the Hanmer Springs Memorial Hall at 7pm and a
stop at Amuri Area School the next day.
The Hurunui’s Emergency Management
Officer, Dean Eades, explains the district’s history makes the AF8 Roadshow
extremely valuable. “Our communities have endured
isolation from earthquakes and wildfires, so the possibility of an AF8
earthquake really hits home for some. It’s vital our communities not just
understand the geology beneath their feet but also what science has to say
about how to respond, so we can prepare and take action.”
EQC Head of Resilience Strategy and Research Dr. Jo Horrocks says it’s vital that South Island communities continue to connect with information about the risks posed by the Alpine Fault and how they can prepare. “The Alpine Fault is one of Aotearoa’s most well-known natural hazards. We’re proud to support AF8’s outreach work to help us translate knowledge of the risk into preparedness actions that will make our homes and communities more resilient when future quakes occur.”
AF8 Science-lead, Dr. Caroline Orchiston agrees “While we can’t predict when earthquakes will occur, scientific research has shown that the Alpine Fault has a history of generating regular, large earthquakes. The next major Alpine Fault event is likely to occur within the lifetime of most of us, or of our children and young people, for whom it will have major short and long-term impacts.
This year’s Roadshow will tour the South Island from 17 March until 8 May 2020, and has been made possible with funding from the Earthquake Commission (EQC). Public events are being held in 12 communities, including 15 school visits, around the South Island, with leading scientists talking about the work they do and sharing the Alpine Fault hazard and impact science. The full itinereray is available here: https://af8.org.nz/af8-roadshow/
You can join the Hanmer Springs AF8 Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/870485356737598/
