It's World Tsunami Awareness Day, so here are some tips that could help save you and your family if a tsunami strikes.
New Zealanders' knowledge about how and when to evacuate during an emergency has dropped, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Its annual Emergency Preparedness Survey shows that the number of people who know that a long or strong earthquake means they need to evacuate immediately has fallen from 87% last year to 75% this year.
Those statistics are concerning, NEMA chief science adviser Professor Tom Wilson said.
He said that in a local-source tsunami - like one caused by an earthquake on the Hikurangi fault along the North Island's East Coast — evacuating the area immediately is key.
NEMA is encouraging New Zealanders to take a few moments today to work out a plan for surviving a tsunami by following these five steps:
1. Know your zone
Look at these maps to see if the places you live, work or go to school in are in a tsunami evacuation zone.
Even if you've checked the maps before, they're worth another look, especially if you live in the Bay of Plenty. The region's Civil Defence team recently released new tsunami evacuation maps.
2. Have a 'prep talk' with your whānau
If the maps show you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone, work out a plan for evacuating if the time comes. This includes how to evacuate the area without using your car.
Other practicalities to discuss include things like organising a meeting place if you're separated and can't contact each other, someone to pick children up from school if their parents can't, and whether household members will need to take medical devices with them.
3. Learn the natural warning signs i.e. Long, Strong, Get Gone
If you're living near the coastline and feel an earthquake that is either long (more than a minute) or strong (where it's hard to stand up), then get gone to higher ground straight away.
Don't wait for an official emergency mobile alert.
Aucklanders should also note that many of the region's tsunami warning sirens will be deactivated and decommissioned over the next few months — so don't wait for them either.
4. Work out what you need in your grab bag
You should get grab bags ready for everyone in the whānau.
These small bags should have walking shoes, warm clothes, a raincoat, hat, water, snack food, hand sanitiser, a portable phone charger, cash, and copies of important documents and photo ID. Remember to also grab any medication you might need.
5. Practise your tsunami hīkoi
A tsunami hikoi is the walk or bike ride you would need to take to head inland or reach higher ground.
If the weather's nice today, practise that route. It might mean a nice bit of exercise today — and could potentially save your life in the future.
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