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The Auckland Council has advised coastal Aucklanders not to be alarmed when the region’s tsunami sirens have one of their twice-yearly tests at noon on March 31.
Coinciding with the end of daylight savings, the test sequence will have three sets of tones, each signaling a specific action.
According to the council, the sirens will sound for one minute each and there will be 15 seconds between each set. In an emergency, tones will sound for a longer period.
“It’s important to regularly test the sirens to make sure they are working and so that Aucklanders know what they sound like,” Auckland Emergency Management director John Dragicevich said. “There is no cause for alarm when the sirens are tested and the public aren’t required to do anything.
“We normally test the tsunami sirens on the Sunday of the daylight savings weekend but because this year it also happens to be Easter weekend and April Fool’s Day, we are holding the test on Saturday.”
The council said the sirens are one of several technology-based public warning systems that Auckland Emergency Management has in place for the entire region. They are located in Rodney at Point Wells, Whangateau, Omaha and Waiwera. In Waitākere sirens are located at Bethells Beach Te Henga, Piha North, Piha South, Karekare, Whatipu, Little Huia, Huia, Te Atatu South, Harbour View Road, Te Atatu Peninsula North, Westpark Marina and Herald Island.
Dragicevich noted that people can also subscribe to SMS text messaging or email alerts, the Red Cross Hazard smartphone app or engage with the council via Twitter and Facebook. Messages will be sent to those signed up to emergency alerts, letting them know the siren being sounded is a test.
“It is important to be prepared for emergencies like a tsunami by having a think about what to do, where to go and where you would meet up with family and friends,” he added. “The tsunami siren test is an ideal time to have a chat about what your plan is if a natural disaster occurs while you are at work, at home or out and about.”
