The tsunami sirens are intended to be used as a warning when a distant tsunami approaches the shoreline. The primary focus of the sirens is to warn those who are outside in the inundation zone or those who are on the beach. If you hear the REAL TIME evacuation tone, it is your signal to get to higher ground.
What does the siren mean in New Zealand?
The use of sirens for emergency management purposes is a long-established practice in New Zealand. In most areas around New Zealand sirens are used as a back-up to paging, but in some remote areas that have poor communications coverage, they are still used as the primary means of alerting.
What does 4 sirens mean NZ?
Q: When the siren sounds, do the number of up/down tones mean a different emergency, eg: 3 times means car accident, 4 times means fire, 5 times means medical, etc? The number of up/down tones doesn’t reflect the type of emergency at all. The siren automatically turns off after 1 minute if it isn’t manually shut down.
What does a long siren mean NZ?
The signal is used to notify that the threat of a tsunami has passed. Residents should respond by: Returning to their home or business, if not affected. Following the directions of the emergency services in affected areas.
How loud is a tsunami siren?
To do this, studies have shown that the siren must exceed the ambient noise level by 9 decibels. Anderson (2006) states the Page 17 Tsunami Warning-Sirens 17 standard rule for overcoming background noise is 10 decibels over the ambient noise level, and that normal surf and wind is approximately 70 decibels.
What do you do if you hear a tsunami warning siren?
When the siren is heard, “Get inside, Stay Inside, Stay tuned.” As practical as possible enter a structure, be prepared to spend 14 days within that structure, and stay tuned to your radio, television of any local station and listen for emergency information and instructions.
What happens if you hear a siren?
When you hear emergency sirens, you are ultimately responsible for your actions, so be sure to follow every step safely. If you are approaching an intersection and hear a siren, then you should not enter or cross it. Slow down and wait until the emergency vehicle has passed, and then you may continue on your route.
What happens if you hear a loud siren?
In short, it means that something life-threatening is happening and you should go indoors and get more information. The specific guidelines (tornado, hail ,wind, etc.) for sounding sirens varies by jurisdiction, so check with your local community to find out the specifics if you are interested.
What do Tsunami Warning sirens sound like?
During a tsunami warning, the sirens will play a “wailing sound,” followed by a message in English and Spanish telling people to evacuate immediately and get to high ground away from the waterfront.
Where are sirens used for tsunami warnings in New Zealand?
The use of sirens for tsunami warnings in New Zealand, December 2013 Page 7 The use of vehicle and helicopter-mounted Public Address (PA) capable systems has grown since 2000, and these systems are primary used along the south and east coasts of the North Island – from Wellington City to the Bay of Plenty.
Are there tsunami sirens in Manor Park and Wainuiomata?
There are sirens in Manor Park and Wainuiomata, which are not in any tsunami evacuation zone. If these sirens are activated, they tell you that something is happening, is going to happen, or has happened and that you should listen to the radio and seek further information on your local council websites, wremo.nz, or on social media.
What do the strobe lights on the tsunami sirens mean?
Tsunami sirens and their strobe lights are a strong signal to seek more information. When there is a tsunami warning the siren will sound intermittently. The strobe light will flicker throughout the event, from beginning to end.
When was the first siren installed in New Zealand?
In the early 1980s, electronic siren systems were installed in Whanganui District and Invercargill City as the result of a swarm of offshore earthquakes and a major flood event respectively. Upgrades to existing mechanical systems around New Zealand took place throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
