Media Release
07/06/2013

Tsunami Warning Signs Go Up in Southland

Tsunami warning signs have been posted in prominent coastal areas around Southland as a gentle reminder for people to act, if a big earthquake strikes.

Emergency Management Southland has been organising the posting of 44 of the signs during the past few months on sites such as walkways, beaches and tourist hotspots, including Oreti beach, Waipapa Point, Colac Bay, Sandy Point, Sterling Point, Taramea Bay and Stead Street.  

Emergency Management Southland manager Neil Cruickshank said the signs are not designed to frighten people, but simply to remind them to act.

“The type of earthquake we are talking about is one that lasts for 30 seconds or longer, which people find difficult to stand up in. After an earthquake like that, we want people in low lying coastal areas to move inland or get to high ground, and then find out more about what’s going on through the media or by tuning in to local radio stations,” he said.  

A local tsunami that would hit Southland would most likely be produced by an earthquake on the Puysegur Trench off the South West coast of New Zealand, said Mr Cruickshank. However, a national risk assessment report on tsunami, due to be released shortly, would give a clearer steer on what the risk is for the Southland coast and may lead to more work such as public education, modelling of likely areas to be affected, and possibly the creation of evacuation zones, he said.

“Any further work would be done in conjunction with the people who live in the coastal communities and would serve only to supplement our key message, which is to act and get to safety. In other words, use the earthquake as the warning for a Tsunami,” said Mr Cruickshank.

ENDS

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