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Consultation is underway for Auckland Council’s Tsunami Work Programme to prepare Auckland for a tsunami emergency.
Council has developed recommendations for all local boards in order to prepare their communities during an tsunami emergency and is asking for feedback. The aim is to grow tsunami resilience before and after an emergency, and ensure everyone is properly educated on the risks and tools available in the case of a tsunami on the coast.
About 8500 residents in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area live in “high” or very “high risk” areas, and the entire coastline of the Hibiscus Coast is at risk of a tsunami of any size. Orewa Central, Orewa South and Manly have additional risk factors such older populations who may need more time and support to evacuate.
Risks also increase during the summer months when people are camping and congregating on the coastline.
The main locations of very high risk are Orewa central, Orewa south, Manly east, Tāwharanui Peninsula and Aotea Great Barrier.
The council survey found that 91 per cent of Hibiscus Coast residents either live, work or enjoy recreational activities in active tsunami evacuation zones, and that 79 per cent felt that they knew what to do in a tsunami.
The recommendations are separated into things that may already be happening, but should be enhanced or updated, and new initiatives that should be developed. This includes emergency mobile alerts, and expanding the alert network, working with local networks, iwi and local boards, improved education and public awareness programmes, and permanent alerting infrastructure in vulnerable communities.
Consultation is open to the public until May 2.
For further information and to comment, visit Auckland Council’s ‘Have Your Say’ website and www.aem.govt.nz
