The commotion brought on by an assortment of emergency and evacuation management services for the South Alive Evacuation Management day drew a crowd of onlookers.
The cold and the rainy day did not deter parents, caregivers and early childhood centres from bringing their children to the annual event.
Now in its third year, this free event was a chance for the community to meet emergency services such as Evacuation Management, Red Cross Invercargill, FENZ and the police," South Alive community development and operations manager Courtney Ellison said.
"Emergency Services Day is part of our school holiday programme and a good, fun, way for our tamariki to learn about what all the emergency and evacuation services do."
On arrival, locals were met by FENZ blaring their sirens while flashing lights on a police car drew a crowd of toddlers to the vehicle.
An earthquake simulator set up by Emergency Management Southland had a queue of adults and children wanting to test it.
"We’re promoting earthquake safety," Emergency Management Southland adviser Jayne McAllister said.
"This is an earthquake simulator, otherwise known as a shaky trailer.
"We do education with the schools and preschools of Southland.
"The Emergency Services Day is important because we’re promoting that safety around being prepared and being prepared for a big event like an earthquake." she said.
"Most kids already know what to do because we’ve visited their school or their playcentre and it’s nice seeing that message is being conveyed to the parents as well."
Red Cross had stretchers laid out on the court where tamariki were being taught how to assemble and learn how people were put on to the beds.
Further activities held inside the South Alive building included playing with Lego and drawing.
