Our Earthquake Stories

We wrote about our Earthquake experiences. 

We also posted them on http://whenmyhomeshook.co.nz/ where you can leave us a message.

When the earthquake hit I was in the playground and I couldn’t stand up. I went down like a turtle. When I saw Marshall I went to tell a teacher he got hurt. We lined up and I felt safe with my class. After a long time we got cold so we went inside. Then another big earthquake hit. I ducked down and I listened to the teacher. The lights were swinging in the classroom and it wasn’t safe. I was a turtle under the table and I was holding on. Mrs Mac said it was safe and we had to wait for our parents to come.

 Cameron 6 years

When the earthquake hit I was playing outside and we were all safe because we were in our turtles. We did the roll and we waited for the teacher to tell us if we were allowed in the class. When we were back inside there was a really big earthquake and we weren’t allowed to stop to get our shoes on. We weren’t allowed back in the class. Mum came and got me and took me home.

Ben 6 years

I was on the playground and everything was shaking on top of the monkey bars. I was shaking and everyone was shaking. I got down and I sat down under the seats. I got up and came to the teachers. I hugged the teachers. Then I was moving really fast to get safe. Then I went home and there was another earthquake. We had to sit under the trampoline. I saw a lot of stuff fall down. A big high shelf fell down and the house moved into another house.

Jimmy  6 years

I dropped down under the table. I felt OK because I was safe. Then I went outside and I waited for my Mum and my sister. I went home.

Lance  5 years

I was in the school playing when the earthquake came. Then I went with everyone to the concrete. Then we played I spy. My Dad came and picked us up.

Peiai  6 years

In the earthquake I was skipping with the duty teacher. I felt the earthquake and ran to the yellow line. Then Mrs Craib came to the class. I was safe in the earthquake because the duty teacher was there and I knew what to do. Mum came to pick me up. She was crying because she was in a big building. Mum took us home and there was a little earthquake. I went under the table.

Tamzin 6 years

In the earthquake I was playing. I turned into a turtle in the earthquake and we were safe when it happened. Some buildings were broken. Lights were wobbling but we were still safe. Mrs Craib did the roll and we were all here. Some people were brave. We had to sit on the yellow line. Some people were crying and some other people were looking after them. Our mum and dad took us home.

Katy  6 years

In the earthquake I was skipping. The earth was shaking when the earthquake struck. Room 4 was safe and I felt happy. I got into a turtle to be safe. We lined up with my classroom. I got a fright when the earthquake hit. Mr Leslie got into a turtle to be safe. The school was safe. I was not scared. Liquifaction came back up again. Some buildings shook and broke.

Aleesha   6 years

 
In the earthquake we all got into turtles and this is how the story begins. Earthquake. The ground is shaking. We get into a turtle. Everybody in the classroom was holding onto a desk. When we went outside and Mrs Craib called the roll. I said here. Then my dad got here and I went home. There were a few earthquakes after that. The earthquake was a big tremor. Lots of people in the central city died. My mum was at polytech. She was right next to a clock tower. The clock tower was rattling. There were cars under the clock tower trying to get out. There were people trying to avoid being crushed by the falling bricks. Lots of building came down but our school didn’t, even though it’s made of bricks.

Kester   6 years

When the earthquake happened I was in the class. In the classroom the lights were swinging. I was in the class with Mrs Craib and with my friends. I was safe because I went under the table and did a turtle. My dad was in a traffic jam. It took him a long time to come. We played I spy while I waited for Dad.

Jamie    6 years

When the earthquake happened I wasn’t here and I got in a turtle and then I was safe at home. Before that I was watching TV and a little earthquake happened and we went to get Issy. I felt safe because I was with Issy and my Mum.

Arvid    6 years

When the earthquake struck the class shook. The earthquake shook everything. I was in the playground playing with the double car with some seniors and when the 5.5 earthquake hit I got under the chair. The whole playground shook. When it ended I came over to the concrete. I was really freaked when the earthquake struck and so was everyone else. We lined up and Mrs Craib called the roll. The children were all here. We were safe.

Jordan   6 years

The earthquake was wobbly. I was skipping when the earthquake happened. I fell down. Then I found Cillapri and we held hands and went in to the line. We waited for the teacher to do the roll. When my name was called out I held my hand up. I felt a little bit scared when the earthquake came. Mummy came to get me and I had a play date with Izzy.

Emmerson  6years

I was skipping when the earthquake happened. I nearly fell over. I caught myself and then I did the turtle. I lined up with Emmerson, Aleesha, Tamzin and Katy. I felt scared and I got a cuddle from Mrs Craib. When Mum came and picked me up we saw a broken pole.

Cillapri   6 years

 
In the earthquake I was on the mat. The earthquake happened and we went under the table. Mrs Craib said drop and I did the turtle under the table. I felt safe because we were under the table. I went onto the concrete and waited for my Mum to take me home. We played I spy.

Jayda   6 years

We were watching Suzy's world and then it went off because the earthquake started. Mrs Craib started laughing because the power was off and she didn’t notice. The lights were swinging. Kester went under the table and the chair went flying. We had to wait for Mrs Mac to say we could come out. We went outside and I waited for Dad. When I was going across the road Dad had to carry me because the light weren’t working. I showed my little brother how to do the turtle and he showed Mum and Dad.

Nikolas   5 years

 
In the earthquake I was sad because the earthquake shook. I was at school working and my teacher said Tommy Turtle and we went under the table. The lights were swinging and the ground was shaking. After we lined up at the school door and went outside to the concrete. When the earthquake shook we came outside and we played I spy. I waited for Mum to pick me up.

Lourelle   6 years

I was playing on the playground when the earthquake shook. I got off the playground and went into a turtle. I lined up on the concrete and waited for the teacher to call my name. We played I spy. I was waiting for my Mum.

Kahu   5 years

It was scary in the earthquake because the earthquake shook the classroom. I was sitting in the classroom and the ground shook. I ducked down under the table and listened to the teacher. Then we went outside and played I spy. I had to wait for my Dad to pick me up.

Monique  6 years