KEY POINTS:
A tsunami evacuation plan for Christchurch would have all emergency services mobilised within an hour, police and civic officials said today.
The plan, already unveiled to coastal communities between the Waimakariri River, north of the city, and Taylors Mistake, on Banks Peninsula, has been developed jointly by police and Christchurch City Council staff.
Canterbury district police operations manager Inspector Craig McKay said all "at-risk" areas for the 23,000 residents along the coastal strip had been identified.
"Evacuation teams consisting of police, Fire Service, city council and Civil Defence rescue staff will be mobilised within an hour of the decision being made to evacuate," Mr McKay said at a briefing in Christchurch this morning.
Sirens, public address systems and door-to-door canvassing would be used in any emergency evacuation in Canterbury, which could benefit from having up to several hours' warning.
Mr McKay said most residents were likely to "self-evacuate" to stay with friends or family outside any affected areas.
A welfare centre for residents without an alternative safe place would be set up when required at the Addington Raceway and Westpac Centre, in the city's southwest.
- NZPA
