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Northland’s tsunami sirens will be tested at 10am on Sunday April 5, marking the end of daylight saving. The network of more than 90 outdoor sirens in coastal communities across Northland is tested twice a year to ensure it remains ready to alert communities in the event of a tsunami.
During the test, sirens will sound for up to two minutes, emitting the familiar siren tone followed by a voice message: “Test only, test only. This is a test of the Northland tsunami siren network; no action is required.”
While the indoor siren network will not be activated during this test, residents with indoor sirens are encouraged to manually check their devices by pressing the test button, similar to testing a smoke alarm.
Residents can provide feedback on the day via forms available on the Northland Regional Council (NRC) website and the Civil Defence Northland Facebook page.
The message is: “Could you hear it? Was the message clear? Let us know.”
Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group chair Colin (Toss) Kitchen reminded Northlanders of the importance of recognising natural tsunami warning signs, especially in coastal areas where local-source tsunamis might arrive before any official alert.
“If you feel a strong earthquake that’s hard to stand in, one that lasts longer than a minute, or notice unusual sea behaviour, such as a sudden rise or fall or strange noises, don’t wait for an official warning, move inland or to higher ground immediately,” he said.
To check if you live, work, or play in a tsunami evacuation zone, and to plan your safest route, visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/evacuationzones
To hear what the sirens sound like, visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/tsunamisirens
