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Tsunami sirens at Ōrewa will sound at midday this Sunday as part of a routine test of the local warning system.
Adam Maggs, general manager of Auckland Emergency Management said the drill is routine and no action is required from the public.
“We carry out tests each year on the sirens to ensure they are working properly. No action is required from the public and there’s no cause for alarm during the testing,” he said.
Located at Ōrewa beach, the sirens give a combination of alert sounds and voice instructions advising what actions residents should take in a real emergency. Samples of the siren sound can be listened to on the Auckland Emergency Management website.
Ōrewa is the only location in the Auckland region which has tsunami sirens following the decommissioning of sirens at other sites in December 2023 due to vandalism, theft and outdated technology, making them unreliable as part of our tsunami alerting system.
The two sirens at Ōrewa (installed in 2020) are newer than the decommissioned sirens and haven’t suffered vandalism or thefts.
Maggs said the test at Ōrewa is also a good prompt to remind all Aucklanders that there will be timely communication in the event of a tsunami threat.
“An Emergency Mobile Alert is the primary way of alerting the public to a tsunami threat.
“An EMA will be broadcast to all capable mobile phones in the event of a tsunami threat. News media and social media channels will be used to alert Aucklanders as well,” he said.
What are the natural warning signs for tsunami?
If you are near the shore and experience any of the following, take action. Do not wait for official warnings:
- Feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand or a long earthquake that lasts more than a minute
- See a sudden rise or fall in sea level
- Hear loud or unusual noises from the sea
- Remember! If an earthquake is LONG or STRONG, GET GONE and move to higher ground
