Viewpoint – Warning blast needed

Twelve emergency evacuation sirens originally planned for Orewa and Whangaparaoa in 2013 have never been installed with Auckland Council now preferring to rely upon radio announcements and electronic alerting systems, including SMS or texting, to warm of a civil emergency.

The sirens blast out a loud and distinct warning sound, similar to the Word War II air raid sirens, to alert residents of approaching, life threatening emergencies. Without them people could well be caught off-guard with their safety seriously compromised.

I would like to see these sirens installed. The electronic systems should also remain in place.

Last week a tsunami drill was held involving Orewa College, Orewa Primary and Orewa North Primary schools in an attempt to increase the preparedness of these children with the hopeful knock-on affect that they will inform their parents about what to do.

Despite the government spending millions a year educating the public to be prepared with household emergency plans and three-day survival kits generally New Zealanders are not well prepared. The council’s civil defence department has identified a monster storm, with its associated damage to power-lines, telephone-lines, and flooding affecting roads and water supplies, as the emergency most likely to affect the Hibiscus Coast. A tsunami is less likely, but if one did occur, it would seriously affect the low-lying coastal areas of Orewa, Big Manly and Stanmore Bay.  

To warn Coasties of localised emergencies, I think that seven sirens should be located across Orewa, along with one in Wairewa and four along the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Rodney already has early warning sirens at Point Wells, Whangateau, and Omaha at an average cost of $15,000 each.

A tsunami generated from the Pacific can be detected by seismic detectors and deep ocean buoys which are monitored by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii. These could give between one and three hours warning for Hibiscus Coast residents. However, a tsunami generated closer to New Zealand in the Kermadec Trench, would allow only minutes for evacuation and this is when a siren warning system would be of the utmost importance. If you feel a substantial earthquake, hear a roaring from the sea, or the tide suddenly goes in or out you have less than an hour to get to high ground. Yes – less than 60 minutes!

We can’t rely on the authorities having enough time to alert us via radio or texts. Get to safety. Don’t delay. I believe a locally activated siren system would help more people get out more promptly, especially if an emergency occurs in the middle of the night. Auckland Civil Defence is currently re-considering the installation of sirens.