For some, it was a stark and frightening reality check.
For others, yesterday's International ShakeOut earthquake drill was a good opportunity to get to know their work colleagues a little better.
At 9.15am more than one million people across New Zealand practised their preparedness for a major earthquake by dropping, covering and holding.
About 74,000 took part in the Otago drill.
It was a testing time for many across the region - particularly for about 100 pupils at Columba College who had an extra five minutes added to their three-hour exam yesterday, to test their earthquake preparedness.
Just as the supervisors collected the last of the exam papers, they sprung a surprise with the words ''earthquake drill'', which sent all the pupils diving under their desks.
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake centred near Wanaka in May this year was a strong reminder for Central Otago and Lakes district residents of the need for an earthquake plan for workplaces, schools and families.
