Napier Intermediate School teacher Ash Thompson leads children out of the school for a tsunami hikoi to practise their emergency evacuation route. Photo / Duncan Brown
Napier Intermediate School teacher Ash Thompson leads children out of the school for a tsunami hikoi to practise their emergency evacuation route. Photo / Duncan Brown
Hawke's Bay residents are being urged to establish and practise tsunami evacuation walks in light of the upcoming anniversary of the 2011 Japanese earthquake.
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management is encouraging businesses, schools and childcare centres to identify their nearest safe zone and do a ''tsunami hikoi'' and walk the route to higher ground during the week of March 10 to 15.
The week encompasses the seventh anniversary of the deadly offshore earthquake in Japan that triggered a tsunami and killed about 18,000 people on March 11, 2011.
Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Manager Ian Macdonald said although such disasters were rare events, earthquakes and tsunamis had the potential to devastate coastal communities.
"That's one of the reasons Hawke's Bay Civil Defence is placing a strong emphasis on preparing for a tsunami evacuation as part of the anniversary of the Japanese earthquake."
Ian Macdonald, civil defence controller, Hastings. Photo / File
Napier Intermediate School principal Wendy Gray said the school did a practice walk out of their evacuation zone with all 400 students and 36 staff members every year.
"We do an earthquake drill, say 'long and strong' and that's the signal for staff to head up the hill."
"We're not that far from the Hikurangi fault so we're not going to get a lot of warning because it's quite close so it's very important. If it happens we'll be doing what we do."
Tsunami evacuation zones were introduced in Hawke's Bay in September 2015 and some communities had since developed resilience plans, preferred evacuation routes and safe meeting locations.
However, Mr Macdonald did not think most people in the region had a strategic plan about what actions to take in the event of an emergency.
"These events happen really quickly which is why we encourage people to be prepared before it actually happens.
"One of the key things for us is people identifying if where they work or live is a tsunami evacuation zone. You can't go on to the internet after a major earthquake to find out. By then it's too late, you have to do it before the actual event happens."
Most Hawke's Bay people live near, or visit, places that are at risk of tsunami and it was vital they knew the right action to take, he said.
"For a local source tsunami, which could arrive in minutes, there won't be time for an official warning. It is important to recognise the natural warning signs and act quickly."
He said anyone on the coast should immediately move to the nearest high ground or inland if they felt a strong or long earthquake, saw a sudden rise or fall in sea level or heard loud and unusual noises from the sea.
In the same way New Zealanders practise "drop, cover and hold" and fire drills, the community should also practise "long or strong get gone" and evacuation routes, he said.
• For more information about tsunami evacuation zones and the upcoming tsunami hikoi week running from March 11-16 visit www.hbemergency.govt.nz.
