Eruption of emails makes virtual volcano

Mount Taranaki erupted this morning - in cyberspace. But while the eruption was virtual, the thousands of people looking on were real.

The "eruption" was heralded by 1,200-plus emails, special lessons for scores of schoolchildren, radio announcements and tweets on Twitter.

It was all part of Taranaki Blowout, the region's unique community exercise based on an eruption scenario that's been played out on the internet over the past month.

Today's event followed a build-up of volcanic activity under and on the mountain, with Taranaki Blowout's 1,250 subscribers getting email alerts whenever new information was posted on the web page.

More than half the region's schools have also been taking part, using teaching units especially developed for the exercise.

"The aim has been not only to give people a better understanding of volcanic processes, but also to give them advice and information on what they can do now to be better prepared for an eruption, or any other large-scale emergency," says Taranaki Blowout spokesman Mike Langford.

"The response has been fantastic. The subscriber base represents households totalling more than 3,000 people, and classes in 56 Taranaki schools are also taking part. We've also got more than 170 subscribers in the business category, and we've been feeding them specially tailored preparedness information."

Mr Langford says more than 9,000 emails have been sent so far in the campaign, with very low "bounce" and "unsubscribe" rates. Traffic has "gone through the roof" on the Taranaki Regional Council website, where Taranaki Blowout is based.

Today's "eruption" was deliberately timed for Get Ready Week (formerly Disaster Awareness Week). Taranaki Blowout will continue for another week, with information yet to come on ways of adapting to life with an active volcano.

The exercise has been organised by the region's Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, with whom Mr Langford serves as the Taranaki Regional Council's Senior Emergency Management Officer. The New Zealand Red Cross New Plymouth branch is a partner in the exercise, which is also being supported by GNS Science, the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, M&O Pacific, Powerco, Methanex, Pace Engineering, Classic Hits and More FM.

For more information, go to www.taranakiblowout.org.