Tsunami Sirens will be tested on Friday September 23, 2016 at 12:00 PM

A continuous siren tone will sound at the following locations on the Coromandel Peninsula and on the Firth of Thames;

Cooks Beach, Coromandel, Hahei, Kuaotunu, Matarangi, Pauanui, Port Charles, Tairua, Tapu, Thames, Turua, Whangapoua, Whangamata and Whitianga.

The sirens will sound for approximately 2 minutes.

"This is just a test and is not to be taken for a real tsunami warning," says TCDC Area Manager and Civil Defence Local Controller Garry Towler.

He says the exercise is co-ordinated with the help of rural fire stations.

"The rural fire stations will help report on the siren activations and can isolate the system if they fail to shut down after the two minute test period.

"You do not need to evacuate for the test. But in a real event the sounding of a single tone siren for 10 minutes or more indicates there is a tsunami threat and you need to evacuate immediately," he advises.

A number of communities on the Coromandel have installed tsunami warning sirens. These are only activated on official notification from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management. These sirens rise to a single tone and operate for 10 minutes.

This differs to the siren sounded by volunteer fire brigades around the Coromandel to alert their members to fire callouts. This siren rises and falls and usually only operates for a few minutes maximum before it is silenced by the brigade members when they arrive at the station.

Mr Towler says currently, our communities have determined that if you hear the tsunami sirens you must evacuate immediately to your predetermined safe location taking some food, water and suitable clothing with you.

In the event of a real tsunami threat however it is highly likely that mother nature will give you some immediate clues to the potential for a destructive tsunami, Garry says.

"A procedure is in place to ensure there are a number of people with the authority to activate the sirens if any of the nature signs occur or if advice is received from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management indicating evacuation should occur.

"There may be no official warnings issued as impact can occur within minutes so people need to recognise the natural warning signs."

Natural warnings are personal observations of natural occurrences.

With a tsunami originating from a source within a few hundred kilometres, or less than one hour travel time from a given coastal point, travel times to shore may be less than 30 minutes and as short as a few minutes.

Natural signs can include any of the following;

1. Strong earthquakes (it’s hard to stand up)
2. Weak earthquakes lasting for a minute or more
3. Strange sea behaviour, such as the sea level suddenly rising and falling; or
4. Hearing the sea making loud and unusual noises or roaring like a jet engine

"If you experience any of the nature warning signs you must evacuate immediately to high ground and or move inland as far as possible," says Gary. "So you need to have a self-evacuation plan in place for home work and play. You should have a Plan A and Plan B as you may not be able to drive to a safe location but have to walk on foot."

Staying Safe in a real event

Tsunami wave activity can last from several hours to days and the largest wave to arrive on sure may not be the first to arrive. So once you have evacuated - stay put until you are officially advised it is safe to return.

If a warning is issued, listen to radio, television and official social media sources and follow the advice of Civil Defence Emergency Management.

Stay away from beaches and cancel your boating trip for now.

Meanwhile prepare your self-evacuation plan now and discuss it with the other people in your household.

Also prepare a Go Bag with essential items of food, water, adequate clothing including shoes and medications if you or others are dependent on them.

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