During An Earthquake 

A major Alpine Fault earthquake will shake Hāwea violently for up to two minutes. That is a long time. Buildings will flex, furniture will move, items will fall from shelves, windows will break. Roads will begin to crack and move during the shaking itself. 

The advice on this page covers what to do depending on where you are when the shaking starts. 

What the shaking will feel like 

In a major Alpine Fault earthquake: 

• People on their feet will find it difficult to stay standing 

• People in bed may not be able to get up or stand 

• If driving, it may be difficult to keep the vehicle on the road 

• Loose objects will fly, shelving will fall, windows will break 

• The shaking will last far longer than most people have experienced — up to two minutes, not seconds 

This is not the kind of earthquake most Hāwea residents will have felt before. Plan accordingly. 

In Hāwea, significant earthquakes are often preceded or accompanied by a loud rumbling noise — described by residents as similar to a large truck or train approaching down the lake. This is the sound of seismic waves moving through the water and the surrounding rock and valley. If you hear this sound, a major earthquake may be seconds away. Do not wait to feel the shaking before acting. 

If you are near the lake when you hear this sound, treat it as your warning. Move to higher ground immediately — do not wait for the shaking to confirm it. You can come back down once it is clear nothing followed. You cannot undo waiting too long. 

If you are indoors 

Drop, Cover, Hold On. 

Drop to your hands and knees 

• Take cover under a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby, or move against an interior wall away from windows 

• Hold on and stay there until the shaking stops 

• Stay away from glass windows and external walls 

• Do not run outside during the shaking — most injuries happen from falling while trying to move 

If you are in bed when shaking starts: 

• Roll onto your stomach 

• Place your pillow over your head 

• Hold on until the shaking stops, then assess before getting up — floors may be covered in broken glass 

If you have a wood fire operating: 

• Once shaking stops, check the fire is upright, the flue remains connected, and the door glass is not broken 

Do not use candles, matches, or open flames during or after an earthquake — gas pipes may have ruptured. 

If you are outdoors 

• Move away from buildings, trees, power lines, and walls — the greatest danger outdoors is falling debris from these 

• Get into an open area if possible and drop low to the ground 

• Stay away from steep slopes, cliffs, and the lake edge — landslides can begin during the shaking 

• If you are near the lake or on a beach, see the section below 

If you are at Lake Hāwea or on a beach 

This applies to anyone at any Lake Hāwea beach — Scotts Beach, the Esplanade Reserve, Gladstone Beach, the boat ramp, John Creek, or anywhere along the shoreline. 

If you hear a sudden loud rumbling — like a truck or train approaching down the lake — treat it as a warning and move to higher ground immediately. Do not wait for shaking to begin. This sound has been reported by Hāwea residents before and during significant earthquakes and is the earliest warning you will get if you are near the lake. 

In a major earthquake, landslides into Lake Hāwea can generate large waves — lake tsunamis — that reach the shore within minutes. There is no official warning system. By the time you can see a wave, there is no time to move. 

During the shaking: 

• Drop, Cover, Hold On — even outdoors, drop low and protect your head and neck with your arms. Do not try to run while the ground is moving. 

As soon as the shaking stops: 

• Get everyone out of the water immediately, including children 

• Account for everyone in your group before moving 

• Move uphill, away from the lake edge, as fast as you can 

• Take only what you can carry quickly — do not wait to pack up gear 

• Do not stop to take photos or watch the lake — the water may look normal until a wave is too close to escape 

• Aim to be on higher ground within five minutes 

If you can see the lake from where you are, you are not high enough. 

After the initial wave, the lake may continue to oscillate dangerously for hours — a phenomenon scientists call a seiche. Do not return to the lake edge until several hours have passed without aftershocks and the lake surface has been calm for an extended period. 

If you are on the lake in a boat: 

• Stay in deep open water — do not head for shore 

• A boat in deep water will ride over a wave as a swell; the danger is in the shallows where waves break 

• Help anyone in the water get into a boat if you can 

• Wait at least an hour before approaching shore, and then approach cautiously 

• Watch for debris — fallen trees, structures, or material from landslides 

For residents of John Creek — the most exposed lakeside settlement — see the John Creek — Warnings page for daily-life planning specific to their area. 

For visitors at the lake in summer — tell your guests this advice before they need it. Most visitors will not know about the lake-wave hazard. 

If you are driving 

• Brake as safely as you can, pull over to the side of the road, and come to a complete stop 

• Do not stop on bridges, beneath underpasses, or underneath steep rock slopes 

• Avoid stopping under power lines or next to poles 

• Stay inside your vehicle until the shaking stops 

• If a power line falls on your vehicle, assume it is live. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Wait for help, or exit carefully without touching both simultaneously. 

• After shaking stops, be aware of fallen trees, broken road surfaces, downed power lines, and debris before moving off 

After the shaking stops 

Aftershocks will follow — possibly for weeks or months. Some may be strong enough to cause further damage. Expect them and prepare for them. 

When shaking stops: 

• Check yourself and others for injuries before moving — adrenaline can mask pain 

• Do not re-enter a building that looks structurally damaged 

• Check for gas — if you smell gas, do not use light switches or anything that could spark. Open windows and leave immediately. Do not re-enter until the smell has cleared. 

• Even if you cannot smell gas, turn off the LPG valve at the external tank as a precaution — turn the valve clockwise to close - Assume tap water is unsafe until officially confirmed. See Food and Water. 

• Do not use the Hāwea River or riverbank as a route — see Identify Your Risks for why 

If you are at lake level — John Creek, any beach, or anywhere at the water's edge — move to higher ground before checking anything else. This is your first action, not your last. 

Related information 

• Identify Your Risks — the hazards specific to Hāwea, including road access and lake-edge wave risk 

• Lake Hāwea — Warnings — for anyone at the lake or on a beach during shaking 

• John Creek — Warnings — for residents of the most exposed lakeside settlement 

• Cannot Get Home — if you are away from home when the earthquake strikes 

• Food and Water — water safety after a major earthquake 

• Family Whereabouts — how to reconnect with family after an event 

Last reviewed: May 2026.