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If you are in Christchurch’s red or orange tsunami evacuation zone and feel a long or strong earthquake, protect yourself during the shaking, then leave as soon as it stops. Do not wait for a siren, an Emergency Mobile Alert or someone else to tell you to go: a nearby tsunami may reach the coast before an official warning can be issued.
What “long or strong” means
The National Emergency Management Agency’s public message is “Remember, LONG or STRONG, GET GONE.” A strong earthquake is one that makes it difficult to stand. A long earthquake lasts a minute or more, even if the shaking is not strong. Near the coast, a sudden rise or fall in sea level, or loud and unusual noises from the water, are also natural tsunami warnings. NEMA’s tsunami response guidance and tsunami key messages describe these warning signs.
What to do when a natural warning occurs
- Protect yourself during the earthquake. Drop, Cover and Hold while the ground is shaking.
- Leave when the shaking stops. If you are in a Christchurch red or orange evacuation zone and the earthquake was long or strong, evacuate immediately. Do not pause to wait for a siren or check whether an alert has arrived.
- Move out of the evacuation zone. Go to high ground or as far inland as possible, beyond the mapped zone. Walk or cycle if you can; roads and bridges may be damaged, and driving can add to congestion.
- Stay away until authorities give the all-clear. Follow local Civil Defence instructions and do not return to the zone before an official all-clear.
A grab bag is useful only if it is immediately at hand. Do not go back into an evacuation zone to collect a bag or belongings. NEMA sets out these actions in its response guidance.
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Why you should not wait for a siren
Environment Canterbury says sirens can help in some circumstances, but people should not use them as the signal to begin evacuating. Waiting to hear one can delay departure, and a tsunami from nearby may leave too little time for sirens to be sounded. In Christchurch’s red and orange zones, natural warnings take priority. If a siren does sound, follow its message; if it is a tone-only siren, check the local council website or social channels, or tune in to local radio. See Environment Canterbury’s tsunami evacuation and warning guidance.
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Check your zone and route before an event
Use the Christchurch City Council Civil Defence page to access the local tsunami-zone map. It currently shows red, orange and yellow zones. Check your home, workplace, school and other places you regularly visit, and learn an evacuation route from each. NEMA’s tsunami readiness guidance stresses knowing routes in advance.
Christchurch-specific advice cited here tells people in red and orange zones to evacuate after a long or strong earthquake. Do not assume the same colour meanings or zone instructions apply elsewhere; consult the current local map and warnings for the place you are in.
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Christchurch’s zones and the national transition
Christchurch currently uses red, orange and yellow zones on its local map. NEMA’s national guideline sets out a simplified public-facing Blue Zone approach. Existing zones, maps, routes and signs are to conform by 1 July 2031, so the transition is gradual and some places may show mixed approaches in the meantime. Until a current local map or official message says otherwise, use the local information available for your location rather than assuming the future convention is already in place. See NEMA’s 08/25 Tsunami Evacuation guideline.
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Once you are moving toward safety—or after you have reached a safe place—check Canterbury Civil Defence and council websites or social channels, local radio, or television for updates. NEMA advises checking a warning’s accuracy only if doing so will not slow your evacuation. A battery-powered or hand-crank emergency radio can be part of your preparedness kit, but it is not a reason to delay leaving or a substitute for knowing your route. Prepare an emergency grab bag and supplies in advance; never return to an evacuation zone to retrieve them.
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