What Should I Do?
In the event of a Civil Defence Emergency...
LISTEN TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION
Siren Advice
Oamaru utilizes the Fire Service siren in Thames Street as well as its own portable Civil Defence siren to alert residents of an impending emergency along with key media messages. Fire Service station sirens utilized as Civil Defence sirens will also be used in other parts of the Waitaki district for extended periods to advise the community of an imminent emergency. The Kakanui and Hampden fire sirens have been modified to operate in Civil Defence mode. They will sound a continuous monotone siren sound for at least 10 minutes and repeated at 30 minute intervals.
Typical emergencies where the Civil Defence siren will be sounded will include flashfloods, severe windstorms, tsunami alerts and toxic chemical spills, significant urban or rural interface fires and Civil Defence declarations. (The sirens will not be sounded for earthquakes but will be if a Civil Defence declaration occurs from the earthquake event). The fire station sirens when used for Civil Defence will be a continuous rise and fall siren noise for a minimum period of 10 minutes or until the at risk area has been sufficiently warned. On hearing a continuous siren for greater than 10 minutes the public must tune into their local radio station(Port FM(100.0FM &97.1FM), Radio Network(1395 AM & 98.4FM), and Puketapu Radio (954AM), or watch televisionnews or access news bulletins via their computer links to listen for the key Civil Defence messages. During an emergency Police, fire and ambulance vehicle electronic sirens may be heard as well. They are not to be confused with the main Civil Defence siren sound.
Radio messages will be prefixed by the playing of the Stinger Civil Defence sound for urgent public messages.
The Oamaru public alerting Civil Defence warning system will be extended in future years as funding becomes available.
Sting siren example (mp3)
Public alert siren example (mp3)
Tsunami Advice
If you feel a strong earthquake or notice the sea receding, immediately make for higher ground – at least 35 metres above sea level is advised.
If you cannot go higher, go inland at least 1.5 kilometres. You may have only a few minutes.
Do not return for at least an hour, or until told by authorities.
Do not wait for a tsunami warning.
Avoid rivers and inlets, which magnify tsunami waves.
Warnings for long-distance tsunamis come from the Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center in Hawaii. They will be passed on using local radio, a loudhailer or warning siren.
Turn on the radio, follow all instructions, and take essential items if you are told to evacuate.
Do not go to the beach to watch the waves.
If on a boat, stay on the water. Do not return to port, where the water levels and currents will be unpredictable.
Sector Posts to validate GIS Data (pdf)
Educational Facility Contact Details
School Contacts List (270k pdf)
Your Emergency Guide
The Users Guide to Civil Defence Emergencies contains details about 'what to do if...', contact details, and Survival Kit, and Evacuation checklists, contact details.
"What to do if..." covers:
Earthquake
Storms
Flooding
Tsunami