28 April 2014

Auckland prepares with new tsunami maps

Auckland now has its first set of comprehensive tsunami evacuation maps for the entire region’s coastline.

Produced by Auckland Civil Defence and Emergency Management, the 233 easy-to-read online maps identify risk areas and explain the ideal evacuation zones in the event of a tsunami.

Civil Defence Director Clive Manley says the maps will help Aucklanders understand the risk to their local community and help prepare them to react effectively in an emergency.

“While most of Auckland has low tsunami risk, it is still important for the region to be prepared. These maps will assist us in refining emergency response plans for each community allowing each of them to be better prepared in the case of an incident,” he says.

“Auckland Civil Defence is working with local boards and communities to help them understand the risk, and working with them to identify evacuation routes, signage and public alerting options going forward.

“These maps give communities the localised information they need to be able to plan and prepare.”

The maps are based on information from the 2013 Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management study into New Zealand’s tsunami risk.

To view the tsunami evacuation maps and for more information on community response plans go to http://www.aucklandcivildefence.org.nz/community/tsunami-evacuation-maps/

A video explaining Auckland’s tsunami risk is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfAjBGFlBxY

ENDS

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