Sunday, October 11th, 2015 was a big day. We prepared ourselves very early in the morning, 5am, to ‘shake’ the heart of Solo City. With the enticing sounds of Gejog Lesung, a Javanese traditional music performance, the crowd of Solo Car Free Day started to line up in front of our earthquake simulator house. More people were about to join the crowd as the sun went higher.
Took place on Jl. Slamet Riyadi, right at the city centre, the event of Solo Car Free Day gave us, ASB Indonesia, a big chance to meet and interact with the society through a warm atmosphere. Not less than 400 people participated in fun trial with earthquake simulator house. Some of the participants were afraid to give it a try at first, but most of the children were over excited. Lots of youths and adults also interested to join. We even had some elderly to try the simulator house.
This activity aimed to promote Drop, Cover, Hold On as a common message for earthquake safety tips. We brought the simulator house all the way to Solo to help the society there to have a higher awareness and better understanding of what to do when an earthquake hits. From the testimonies we collected, the simulator house helped them to be fully aware that ‘run’, the common reaction towards earthquake, might not be the best way to safe life in an earthquake. The questionnaires filled by participants also shown that most of them were having difficulties to stand in a steady position when the ground was shaking. Some of them convinced that if an earthquake happens they need to be in a stable position during the quake and protect their body, especially head and neck. Solo Car Free Day had made it possible for Drop, Cover, Hold On promotion to meet its success.
Also featured in that morning, were music, clown and mime performances from ASB’s collaboration with Deaf Art Community Yogyakarta. Hundreds of merchandises: mugs, t-shirts, tumblers etc also been handed out to all participants to show our gratitude for their supports. This activity also promoted the event of national commemoration of Disaster Risk Reduction Month held by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in the respective week in Solo. Supports from Deutsche Telekom and Aktion Deutschland Hilft were ones which help us made the accomplishment.
Thank you Solo for the warm welcome.
Earthquake? Drop, Cover, Hold On!
