Review of the Tsunami Evacuation 2017

5:04am Telephone call to (Welfare Volunteer in Akaroa) confirming consent to tea and
coffee being provided to evacuees in Akaroa
5:14am Telephone to (CDEM Manager at Waimakariri DC) to discuss whether sirens
still sounding in Waimak DC. Yes, sirens continuing to sound and will not be deactivated until
notification from MCDEM that there is no land threat
5:44am Text alert received by CCC staff directing them to check email – “National Warning#7 Tsunami -
Threat to Marine and Beach Areas”
5:44am Email received by CDEM Duty Officer re “National Warning#7: Tsunami – Threat to Marine and
Beach Areas” advising “MCDEM has issued a tsunami warning (marine and beach threat) for the
East Coast of New Zealand, from East Cape to Southland, and also the Kapiti Coast and Tasman
Bay/Marlborough Sounds. See the attached map for affected areas. The Chatham Islands and
the region between Blenheim and Banks Peninsula is still prone to a marine and land threat, and
future maximum wave amplitude of approx. 1-3 meters can still possibly be expected to occur.
Areas under “Marine and Beach Threat’ can expect unusually strong currents and unpredictable
water flows near the shore. This means a threat to beach, harbor, estuary and small boat
activities. The severity of currents and changing water flows will vary within a particular coastal
area and over the period this warning is in effect. Current assessments indicate that coastal
inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected but this assessment may
change. People in coastal areas should: stay out of the water, stay off beaches, do not go
sightseeing, follow instructions of local civil defence authorities, if beach threat is forecasted for
your area, take evasive action. Warning will remain in effect until a cancellation message is
issued by MCDEM. Local civil defence authorities will interpret this information for their areas
and advise public action.
Map attached highlights Christchurch and Banks Peninsula as subject to a tsunami threat at a
level of 3-5m.
CDEM
CDEM
MCDEM issued
text
National
Controller,
MCDEM issued
email
Mobile phone records
supplied by Spark
Interview with
Interview with
Mobile phone records
supplied by Spark
Interview with
Interview with
Screen shot of text from
mobile phone
Interview with
Interview with
Copy of email subject line:
“National Warning#7:
Tsunami – Threat to
Marine and Beach Areas”
44