Ōpōtiki District plans tsunami education campaign
28 Apr, 2021 08:38 PM
2 minutes to read
A deserted Ōpōtiki on the day of the Tsunami alert. Photo / File
Opotiki Civil Defence is planning to run a tsunami education campaign following last month s national evacuation.
Following the evacuation civil defence staff have been approached by several groups including rest homes, schools and neighbourhood support to provide advice for tsunami evacuation planning.
As a result, local civil defence is now planning a district-wide education campaign to ensure everyone knows what to do should they need to evacuate again.
Ōpōtiki District Council planning and regulatory group manager Gerard McCormack told councillors at a recent meeting that a tsunami hikoi would be planned within the next two to three months.
Opotiki
Photo: By Ulrich Lange, Dunedin, New Zealand - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
At the end of last week a severe earthquake near the Kermadec Islands sparked tsunami alerts around the Pacific and left thousands of New Zealanders fleeing to higher ground.
It was a second warning for those from Te Tairāwhiti who fled to higher ground earlier in the morning of 5 March following a 7.2 magnitude earthquake off the East Cape.
The East Coast was at risk of tsunami so iwi Whakatōhea organised an event to remind people of how best to be prepared in an emergency.
Te Pou Oranga o Whakatōhea and Civil Defence workers were there to debrief with the community about how last week played out and what services they can provide in any future emergencies.