I absolutely LOVE the museum! Every time I go along I get excited about going into the 'volcano' house. Although this time the main reason for going was to see the Outrageous Fortune set (totally amazing!) I still managed to visit my favourite part.
If you have been inside the house and watched the video and felt the shakes you will know what I am talking about... Its kinda lame I guess but its fun at the same time. For 5 minutes you get to be a resident in a house that has got to be on Paratai Drive with a killer view of the Auckland Harbour and Rangitoto Island- its not all joy and fun though because as you are watching the news warning of increased volcanic activity in Auckland, steam starts to rise from the water in front of the Island. Suddenly huge amounts of volcanic crap start exploding out of the water and it eventually reaches your house in which time the TV and lights have cut out and then the whole room shakes. After all of this and everything has cleared up you are shown a small volcano has formed in front of Rangitoto and everything is looking pretty desolate but TVNZ still manage to sort their stuff out and air some more news and tell you what has happened!!
So the whole thing seems a little unrealistic, but how can we be sure this wont happen in Auckland? A sign outside the house stated "Not If but When" in regard to a volcano erupting in Auckland....
Why the heck do we live in a city that is riddled with volcanoes? Just the other week scientists discovered another volcano under the inner city suburb of Grafton- I can't help but think maybe there is more?!
I was talking to a friend who is writing a blog on whether we would cope with a volcanic eruption in Auckland and it got me thinking and questioning whether we would?
I have absolutely no idea what to do if a volcano erupts... does anyone else? I always just assumed you are screwed if you happen to be in one. So i did a bit of research and found this US site with tips on what to do if you happen to get stuck near a volcanic eruption: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/volcano/vo_during.shtm and another site hints at staying inside... All I can think of with that is when Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886 people got trapped in their houses because of the lahar?
Kind of a dreary blog this time round... but I think it is important that we think and talk about it if what I saw in the museum is true and its a matter of when rather than if!!
ALSO, I think it is awesome that Auckland has such a cool museum. Its something free and entertaining... and if you don't know about the volcano house I was talking about then you should really go check it out (also if you like Outrageous Fortune you should definitely check that out!!)
Good on you for raising it Claire about both the museum and volcanoes. I’ve always been surprised at the lack of info available about Volcanoes. As you mentioned we are riddled with them and we live in what is known as “The Ring of Fire”. It really is a matter of not if but when =/. As for the museum.... Yup great place, a shame more Aucklanders don’t use it. Especially now it is free =)
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