30 September 2009

Waikato Civil Defence stands down from monitoring role - 4.50pm

Waikato Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group has stood down from its monitoring role after confirmation that there is now no further tsunami risk to New Zealand after the earthquake in Samoa. The confirmation has come from the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management.

Civil Defence in the Thames Valley and Waikato Valley areas, which cover the east and west coasts of the Waikato region, were activated after a tsunami warning earlier today. People were urged to leave low-lying areas.

However, they were allowed back after the warning was scaled down.
Waikato CDEM group controller Scott Fowlds praised members of the public and the media for their co-operation over the tsunami warning, and thanked emergency services and Civil Defence staff for all their efforts today.

“Staff in the Thames Valley and Waikato Valley have handled their response to the situation very well, as have emergency services who were asked for assistance.”

He urged people to heed Ministry warnings to remain alert for unusual sea activity and to keep monitoring news services.

“Hopefully we won’t have any more problems but, as this alert shows, there is potential for disaster to strike at any time. People generally need to remain vigilant and be prepared for emergencies by having home evacuation plans and emergency supplies ready.”

Earlier Waikato CDEM chairman Peter Lee said: “It’s events like these that show how important thorough Civil Defence planning and systems are. We all need to be well prepared for when disaster strikes.”

ENDS

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