Media release

MEDIA RELEASE
www.getprepared.co.nz I 0800 496 734

National Warning: Tsunami threat to the Wellington region – Official evacuation notice.

For immediate release

Date: xx/xx/xxxx Time: xx:xx

Media release #:

A National Warning – Tsunami Threat to NZ is in effect in New Zealand. The warning will stay in effect until it is either downgraded or a cancellation message is issued by the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM).

Scientific advisors are closely monitoring the situation in order to determine whether a tsunami has been generated and to assess the severity of the threat to the Wellington region.

Historical data and scientific expertise suggests that if a tsunami has been generated, the first wave may arrive in the Wellington region in the areas around [insert place] at approximately [insert time NZDT/NZST].

The first wave may not be the largest and waves may continue for several hours.

Actions Required

Based on the information available to local Civil Defence authorities, official evacuations of the selected zones will commence at the following times:

Wellington City	[red/orange/yellow zones]	Commence at [insert time]
Hutt City	[red/orange/yellow zones]	Commence at [insert time]
Wairarapa Coast	[red/orange/yellow zones]	Commence at [insert time]
Porirua and Kapiti Coast	[red/orange/yellow zones]	Commence at [insert time]

If you are outside of the evacuation zones listed above, you do not need to evacuate. Stay where you are, to help reduce traffic congestion for those who must evacuate.

Detailed evacuation advice and or safety advice will come from local councils and emergency services in the area. People should act on it promptly. If told to evacuate they should, where possible, take a radio and cell phone with them and check for updates.

Please note all public transport will cease to operate and main arterial routes will close at [insert time]. Therefore, we advise that you do not leave you travel arrangements until the last minute. If you are able to evacuate now, you should do so.

As a precaution, people in coastal areas should:

1. 
   Follow instructions of your local Civil Defence authorities.
   
2. 
   Stay off beaches
   
3. 
   Stay out of the water (sea, rivers and estuaries, including boating activities)
   
4. 
   Do not go sightseeing
   
5. 
   Share this information with family, neighbours and friends
   
6. 
   Listen to the radio and/or TV for updates
   
7. 
   Have your Getaway Kit ready in case you need to evacuate in a hurry.
   

For more information please contact, or visit your local council’s website.

Earthquake Information

Parameters of the earthquake are as follows:

Origin time:	[insert UTC, ZULU or GMT time and date]
NZ time:	[insert NZST or NZDT time and date]
Co-ordinates:	[insert]
Depth:	[insert]
Location:	[insert]
Magnitude:	[insert]

The above magnitude is provisional and may be increased or decreased as more seismic data becomes available.

This emergency announcement was issued by the Wellington Region Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Group Controller.

ENDS

Media Contact: [insert name] PIM Manager

Phone: [insert no]

Email [insert]

MR4 – Tsunami

Z/04/02/04 –v1 Doc # 753578 30 June 2010