Testing of the two tsunami sirens at Ōrewa will take place on Sunday 27 September, at midday – the second and final test of the year.
The sirens are tested bi-annually, and as with the last test in April, Adam Maggs, General Manager of Auckland Emergency Management says no action is required from the public.
“To ensure the sirens work effectively in a real tsunami emergency we need to carry out this testing. There is no cause for concern during the testing and no action is required from the public,” Mr Maggs says.
Located at Ōrewa Beach, the sirens give a combination of alert sounds and voice instructions advising what actions residents should take in a real emergency.
Ōrewa is the only location in the Auckland region which has tsunami sirens following the decommissioning of sirens at other sites in December 2023 due to vandalism, theft and outdated technology, making them unreliable as part of our tsunami alerting system. The two sirens at Ōrewa (installed in 2020) are newer than the decommissioned sirens and haven’t suffered vandalism or thefts.
The test at Ōrewa is also a good prompt to remind all Aucklanders that there will be timely communication in the event of a tsunami threat.
“An Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) is the primary way of alerting the public to a tsunami threat. In the event of a tsunami threat an EMA will be broadcast to all capable mobile phones. News media and social media channels will be used to alert Aucklanders as well,” Mr Maggs says.
What are the natural warning signs for tsunami?
If you are near the shore and experience any of the following, take action. Do not wait for official warnings.
- Feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand or a long earthquake that lasts more than a minute
- See a sudden rise or fall in sea level
- Hear loud or unusual noises from the sea.
Remember! If an earthquake is LONG or STRONG, GET GONE and move to higher ground.
Be prepared
Prepare your household emergency plan and practice it so everyone knows what to do in an emergency and what you need to take if you are evacuating.
Check out Auckland’s Hazard Viewer for updated tsunami evacuation maps.
Check the tsunami preparedness tips and what to do before, during and after a tsunami.