Tsunami safety

Step 3. Know how to stay safe from a tsunami

The best way to stay safe from a tsunami is to be informed and know what to do so you can quickly get to safety. Follow the actions below if you are in a tsunami zone or near the coast.

1. Recognise a tsunami warning - LONG or STRONG, GET GONE!

A LONG (more than one minute) or STRONG (enough to make it hard to stand up) earthquake can cause a tsunami and might be your ONLY warning to evacuate as soon as the shaking stops, move inland, uphill or to the fifth floor or higher.  

Leave quickly - if you feel a LONG or STRONG earthquake, the first tsunami wave may arrive in as little as ten minutes. There is no time for an official warning; you must evacuate out of all tsunami zones as soon as the shaking stops. Every step towards a tsunami safe zone counts. Stay out of the tsunami evacuation zones until officials say you can go back in.

There are no tsunami sirens in the Wellington Region (read more about tsunami sirens on wremo.nz).   

Evacuate tsunami zones by foot or bicycle, don't drive - this is because roads may be blocked by debris or a traffic jam. For those who can't walk or cycle, trying to drive out is their only option, and you could be preventing them from evacuating safely. If you need help evacuating or know someone that does, have a conversation with your neighbours about how everyone can get out safely.

Evacuating to a higher floor - we recommend evacuating out of all tsunami zones (red, orange and yellow) rather than staying in your building. However, we do understand that some people who are in a high rise building may decide it is safer to stay there. If you do stay, you need to be on the fifth floor or higher. This is called 'vertical evacuation'. There are several factors to consider, and this is something you and your household or workplace will need to discuss and decide. Read more about vertical evacuation (wremo.nz).

Official tsunami warnings - if a tsunami is generated by a distant earthquake, such as in South America, then Civil Defence will have time to send an official warning. If you receive an alert, follow the instructions and stay informed. Read more about emergency information and mobile phone alerts.

2. Check tsunami zones in the Wellington Region 

Check if the places you live, work, or play, are in a tsunami evacuation zone. 

Enter your home and work address in the box in the top right corner of the map. Alternatively, view a PDF map for your area (wremo.nz).

NOTE: The above map uses ARCGIS online, a system which is not hosted on the same system as this website. If it is slow to load, then PDF maps are available on wremo.nz.

Open larger map [opens in new tab/window - zoom out and move around to see other areas].

Tsunami zone colours

The tsunami zones are red, orange and yellow. The yellow (outer) zone has been defined by modelling a nine magnitude earthquake - the worst-case scenario modelled for the Wellington Region. 

• If you feel a LONG or STRONG earthquake, evacuate all of the tsunami zones (red, orange and yellow) as soon as the shaking stops. 
• If there is an official warning, then only evacuate from the zones stated in the warning - either red or orange zones.
• If you are not in a tsunami zone, then you don't need to evacuate to higher ground. However, you must not enter a tsunami evacuation zone (even if it is your only route home) until the all-clear is given. 

Read more about the different colour zones (wremo.nz) 

3. Know and practise your routes to safety 

Now you know your tsunami zones, you can work out your best and quickest routes to safety from home and work - either far enough inland or to higher ground. 

• Where do you need to go? Look at the map and identify places which are out of the tsunami zones. Tsunami activity can last for up to 24 hours, so think about where you could stay or take shelter if needed. 
• What are your routes? Some routes might be faster, while some routes might be safer because they have fewer dangers (e.g. bridges, bottle-necks, falling debris). Consider these factors when planning your evacuation routes from your home and work. 
• How long does it take? Time yourself and see how long it takes you to get to safety. You should factor in how long it takes you to leave your home and look at how you do this as quickly as possible.
• What do you need to take? Keep essential supplies near the door. Have an emergency grab bag, as well as some comfortable shoes and warm/waterproof clothes ready to take with you. This will help save time if you and others in your household need to leave quickly.
• Who else needs to know? Get your household, workplace and maybe some of your neighbours involved. Make sure everyone knows the routes and the meeting point, in case you can't communicate.

Read more about tsunamis (wremo.nz)