Review of the Tsunami Evacuation 2017

1:24am
Text message from Mary Richardson to Mayor – “Advise is Tsunami threat people are advised to
stay off beaches and out of water. No evacuation required at this stage”.
Mary
Richardson, CCC
Interview with the Mayor
1:29am
Email received by CDEM Duty Officer re “National Warning: Tsunami Threat No 2” advising
“MCDEM has issued a tsunami warning for Eastern coast of North and South Island including the
Chatham Islands. It may arrive in the Eastern Coast of the North Island shortly. Move inland or
to higher ground immediately. A tsunami is possible. The first wave activity may not be the most
significant. Tsunami activity will continue for several hours and the threat must be regarded as
real until this warning is cancelled. MDCEM is still assessing the threat and will provide more
information within the next hour. People in coastal areas should: stay out of the water, stay off
beaches, do not go sightseeing, follow instructions of local civil defence authorities. Warning will
remain in effect until a cancellation message is issued by MCDEM”.
National
Controller,
MCDEM issued
email.
Interview with
Interview with
Copy of email subject line:
“National Warning:
Tsunami Threat - No:02”.
First notification advising to “move inland or to higher ground immediately” but other than
advising that the warning covers the “Eastern coast of North and South island including Chatham
Islands”, it doesn’t specify exactly which or if all coastal areas should be evacuated and no
mention of “land threat” to alert readers that the tsunami threat is not just to marine and beach
areas.
1:30am Text alert received by CCC staff directing them to check email – “National Warning: Tsunami
Threat No 1”
1:30am Text message from to Mayor – “CD CHC just done update to say no marine threat
here but to stay off beaches etc”.
MCDEM issued
text
CCC
Screen shot of text from
mobile phone
Interview with the Mayor
Interview with
1:30am Telephone call from Police District Communications Centre through CCC Call Centre re MCDEM
information is different from local information issued by CCC on CDEM Facebook page. Police
asked if CCC was asking residents to evacuate. Advised no CCC was not asking residents to CDEM
evacuate because information received from MCDEM advises it’s only a marine and beach
threat.
1:32am Text message from Mayor to – “Not updated on MCDEM website”. Mayor of
Christchurch
City
Interview with
Interview with
Christchurch
Police
Interview with the Mayor
Interview with
32