Long or strong, get gone

If it’s long, or strong, get gone – that’s the message from Civil Defence around tsunami evacuation after an earthquake.

Following the Kaikoura earthquake last week, Christchurch Civil Defence Emergency Management has launched a campaign to help people understand what to do in the event of a local source tsunami, where a strong earthquake off the coast of New Zealand triggers a tsunami. Although this is a low risk for the Christchurch coast and Banks Peninsula, a local source tsunami would quickly reach the shores here, and evacuation would need to take place quickly.

Long, or strong, get gone is the message in this case, says Head of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Alicia Palmer.

“If you’re near the sea, and you’re in an earthquake that is strong enough to make it difficult to stand up, or a weak, rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more, you should immediately head inland or for higher ground,” she says.

The greatest tsunami risk to our region’s coastline comes from a distant source tsunami, where a tsunami is generated from an earthquake some distance from New Zealand, such as South America. There would be time for an official warning, with evacuation taking place over several hours

Ms Palmer says people living and working in coastal areas should have an evacuation plan.

“Firstly know if you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone. You’ll find tsunami evacuation zone maps at ccc.govt.nz/tsunami, then make an evacuation plan for your family and pets, decide now where you’ll go, and which route you’ll take, should you need to evacuate. With road works still commonplace in our city, take note of roads that are closed, and plan alternative routes. Happens.nz has some great information on putting together a plan and getaway kit.

“If you feel a long or strong earthquake, don’t wait for the sirens to sound, get yourself to higher ground, or inland to a safe place. And look out for your neighbours, and family and friends in coastal areas, if you hear official tsunami warnings, tell others.”

“The likelihood of a local or regional source tsunami is very low, but the difficulty in assessing tsunami risk after an earthquake nearby means that people might be evacuated on several occasions, only for no tsunami to eventuate, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

For more information go to ccc.govt.nz/tsunami or happens.nz

- ends -

© Scoop Media