Around 3500 people, most of them school children, will take part in a walk along tsunami evacuation routes, from sea level to higher ground, in Orewa next week.
The Orewa community, including all the local schools and kindergartens, owners and staff of local businesses and representatives of organisations such as fire, surf lifesaving and Police are taking part in the walk.
The tsunami drill, on May 25, replicates an evacuation on foot should a tsunami be expected to hit Orewa Beach. It follows the provision of evacuation signs and blue lines to indicate ‘safe zones’ recently installed around Orewa by Auckland Council.
The drill will demonstrate the practicalities of large numbers of people heading to higher ground and is a pilot that could be rolled out throughout the region (HM March 2). Orewa was chosen because it is particularly vulnerable to tsunamis.
Auckland Civil Defence’s head of emergency management operations, Aaron Davis, says that as well as raising awareness of uphill routes, the organisation hopes that the drill will provide a better idea of time frames and difficulties associated with evacuating Orewa. He says if a tsunami were on its way, walking and cycling are the best ways to evacuate, with only the most vulnerable people needing to drive. “If everyone gets on the road, it will grind to a standstill,” he says.
He says that once the May 25 drill has been assessed, there may be adjustments made to the suggested evacuation routes and a further drill held to test these.
The two main threats for Orewa are a close source tsunami, from an earthquake in the Kermadec Trench that would take around an hour to reach Orewa Beach, or one resulting from a more distant source, such as in Chile, which would allow for many hours’ warning.
Mr Davis says although the likelihood is low, the consequences of a tsunami would be devastating and everyone needs to be prepared. Because the first tsunami could arrive at Orewa Beach within an hour of a large earthquake, Civil Defence says it is vital for residents to have an evacuation plan and know their nearest safe zone – these are indicated on maps placed at Arundel Reserve, Western Reserve, Orewa Beach Reserve, Orewa library, Orewa Community Hall and Orewa Top 10 Holiday Park.
He says that tsunami may not come with an official warning, therefore people must act on natural warnings and head to high ground if they feel a long or strong earthquake or see unusual wave and tidal processes such as sudden water retreat or unusual currents.
Sirens on and off again
The installation of sirens that can transmit a voice message was considered by Auckland Civil Defence back in 2013 and rejected a year later. At the time, they were described as not effective compared with technology such as email, SMS or texting.
Those sirens are back on the table now, being considered as part of a review into upgrading and extending emergency warning systems. As a high-risk area, Orewa may get the sirens but that will not be known until the review is complete in the next month or two. Mr Davis says sirens have a role to play, especially if the threat comes in the middle of the night. “At 3am, people are not checking their emails or text messages but they may hear a siren,” he says.
Taking part in the drill
The mass tsunami drill takes place on Wednesday, May 25, from 9.30am–11am. Residents are encouraged to join in by identifying and walking the nearest evacuation route (info:aucklandcivildefence.org.nz) on the same day, or whenever possible.
The largest group will leave Orewa College, in Riverside Road, at 9.30am. College principal Kate Shevland says that her whole school (around 2000 people) will take part, accompanied by Police, the fire service and surf lifesaving personnel. She says that the college has been doing regular “tsunami runs” since the tsunami hit Japan in 2011.“We decided that as we are at sea level and between the sea and the estuary we should develop plans to practice a response to such an event,” she says.
Hibiscus Matters will take part in the mass evacuation drill, and post video on our website. Provided the weather is suitable, we will be accompanied by our digital consultant and drone expert, Craig Powell, who will supply unique footage from the air.
