2 April 2014

Daylight Saving’s end means tsunami warning testing

Christchurch’s tsunami warning siren system will be tested at 11am this Sunday 6 April 2014, with the sirens sounding for one to two minutes. This testing is in keeping with Christchurch City Council’s twice-yearly testing of the sirens on the Sundays that Daylight Saving begins and ends.

The sirens will only be heard within a few blocks of the beach along the coastline from Waimairi Beach to Sumner, as these are the areas most at risk from a possible tsunami.

Manager of Civil Defence Emergency Management Murray Sinclair says, “This is an ideal opportunity to make sure you have an evacuation plan in place for you and your family, and all the essential supplies ready.

“We are advising residents not to panic when they hear the siren as this is just a test to ensure the system is working. By having the tsunami warning tests on the Sunday at the beginning and end of Daylight Saving, we are aiming to introduce twice-yearly recognition by residents in the areas most at risk that they need to have an evacuation plan in place in the unlikely event of a tsunami.”

The tsunami warning system is designed to forewarn of ‘distant source’ tsunamis that would take more than three hours to reach our coastline. In the event of an actual tsunami, along with the sirens, Civil Defence and the New Zealand Police services will alert residents via radio, TV and local community groups in the most at risk areas.

A comprehensive guide to all information surrounding tsunamis and the Christchurch and Banks Peninsula coastline is available on the Christchurch City Council website. There is also a list of frequently asked questions available on the website to assist with any tsunami warning system testing queries.

To view please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/index.aspx

ENDS

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