Review of the Tsunami Evacuation 2017

6.15am
Notification title has changed from “marine and land threat” and does not make it clear that
those areas should continue to move inland or to higher ground.
Message posted on CDEM Facebook page advising “People living in white areas shown below
may return home provided they do not need to pass through a cordoned area…”
PIM
CDEM Facebook page
Interview with
6:36am Telephone to (Canterbury CDEM Group Team Leader) requesting update on
whether sirens still need to continue sounding
CDEM
Mobile phone records
supplied by Spark
Interview with
Interview with
6:56am
Email received by CDEM Duty Officer re “National Warning: Tsunami – Threat to Marine, Beach
and Land Areas No 8” advising “MCDEM has issued a tsunami warning (marine, beach and land
threat) for the East Coast of New Zealand, from East Cape to Southland, and also the Kapiti
Coast and Tasman Bay/Marlborough Sounds. The Chatham Islands and the coastal areas
between Blenheim and Banks Peninsula are 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, harbour, 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. A land threat still exists and these areas may result in
coastal inundation to land areas near the shore. Current assessments indicate that wave
amplitudes of up to 2m can be expected in some areas (Chatham Islands and the coastal areas
between Blenheim and Banks Peninsula). 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 appropriate 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.
National
Controller,
MCDEM issued
email
Interview with
Interview with
Copy of email subject line:
“National Warning:
Tsunami – Threat to
Marine, Beach and Land
Areas No 8”
Map no longer attached.
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