Revised tsunami evacuation maps for the Ōpōtiki District are being erected in key locations along the coastline this summer, providing clear information for visitors and locals on the zones that would need to be evacuated.
The new online maps have a simple ‘blue zone’ showing all the areas that could be affected by a tsunami, making it easier for everyone to understand where to self-evacuate from if a tsunami threat occurs.
Previous maps had red, orange, and yellow zones to reflect different tsunami sizes, however for a long or strong earthquake, people in all evacuation zones have always been advised to move inland or to higher ground immediately and the new blue zone makes this quicker and easier to understand.
Ōpōtiki Civil Defence Controller, Ant Campbell, said it made the message very simple and easy to understand: “blue means go.”
“With tsunami, we could be dealing with very short timeframes and people will need to pay attention to the natural warning signs – Long Strong, Get Gone. The next message should be just as simple: get out of the blue,” Ms Campbell said.
Ms Campbell said in most cases the boundaries of the tsunami evacuation zone (the blue zone) will be the same on the updated maps. But for region-wide consistency, some evacuation zone boundaries have changed, so people should have a good look at their updated local map.
There is also a new QR code that people can scan for ‘you are here’ imagery and other tsunami information.
“People who live in coastal areas around Ōpōtiki are already pretty well-versed in what to do in a tsunami and probably know how far they might have to go during a tsunami threat. But it is worth double-checking the updated information online in case anything has changed.
“The general advice for what to do in a tsunami hasn’t changed: Know your zone, have a plan of where to go and how to get there, and have a bag of essentials ready to go. Pay attention to the natural warning signs and know how you will be informed if there is time for official warnings. If there is time for official warnings, know how you will be kept informed (particularly Emergency Mobile Alerts) and how you might share this with others,” Ms Campbell said.
Tsunami sign boards at beaches and waterways are being updated by council or by impacted organisations such as kura, marae and businesses. If someone has been in touch about the new signs, you can pick those up from the Ōpōtiki isite, and you can permanently attach them in a location that is easy to find by members of the public.
Bay of Plenty is not the only region to adopt the colour blue for the tsunami evacuation zone: Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Group also has a ‘blue zone’ on its maps, and in Wellington, there are blue lines on roads to show tsunami evacuation safe zones.
Tsunami evacuation plan
Check maps if you are in an evacuation zone.
Know an escape route and practise it.
If in an evacuation zone, leave immediately after a long strong earthquake – a quake that is either longer than a minute or strong enough that it is hard to stand. Do not delay waiting for official warning.
Head inland or to higher ground on foot or bike. Stay there until official all-clear.
Learn about how you will stay informed in an emergency and how you can plan and prepare
