New Zealand Tsunami Evacuation & Coastal Safety Checklist: 22 Items
Prepare coastal tsunami routes and practise prompt evacuation for long or strong earthquakes and official New Zealand warnings.
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๐บ๏ธ Know your coastal exposure
Notes: Identify whether home, school, work or a holiday address lies in a tsunami zone.
Identify whether home, school, work or a holiday address lies in a tsunami zone.
Notes: Mark the quickest safe pedestrian direction from your usual locations.
Mark the quickest safe pedestrian direction from your usual locations.
Notes: Learn long or strong shaking and unusual sea level or sounds.
Learn long or strong shaking and unusual sea level or sounds.
Notes: Save region-specific public warnings and advice.
Save region-specific public warnings and advice.
Notes: Large lakes can also have tsunami risks under some conditions.
Large lakes can also have tsunami risks under some conditions.
๐ถ Set evacuation arrangements
Notes: Roads can be blocked by cars or quake damage.
Roads can be blocked by cars or quake damage.
Notes: Choose an alternative if a bridge or path is unavailable.
Choose an alternative if a bridge or path is unavailable.
Notes: Account for people starting from school, work or home.
Account for people starting from school, work or home.
Notes: Identify assistance and accessible paths for people who need them.
Identify assistance and accessible paths for people who need them.
Notes: Avoid returning to find animals if it delays evacuation.
Avoid returning to find animals if it delays evacuation.
๐ Prepare essential items
Notes: Walking may be safer than driving after a major earthquake.
Walking may be safer than driving after a major earthquake.
Notes: Include water, basic medicines and essential accessible supplies.
Include water, basic medicines and essential accessible supplies.
Notes: Phone maps and mobile networks may become unavailable.
Phone maps and mobile networks may become unavailable.
Notes: Evacuation can require waiting outdoors for an extended period.
Evacuation can require waiting outdoors for an extended period.
โ ๏ธ Practise urgent decisions
Notes: Protect yourself from falling debris until shaking stops.
Protect yourself from falling debris until shaking stops.
Notes: A long or strong coastal earthquake means leave once shaking stops.
A long or strong coastal earthquake means leave once shaking stops.
Notes: Local tsunami may arrive before any official warning can be issued.
Local tsunami may arrive before any official warning can be issued.
Notes: Prioritise leaving the evacuation zone without delay.
Prioritise leaving the evacuation zone without delay.
Notes: Use the safest viable route away from coastal water.
Use the safest viable route away from coastal water.
โ Stay safe after evacuation
Notes: Do not return until Civil Defence gives an official all-clear.
Do not return until Civil Defence gives an official all-clear.
Notes: Use emergency radio or official messages when available.
Use emergency radio or official messages when available.
Notes: Update maps when access roads, schools or homes change.
Update maps when access roads, schools or homes change.
Complete Guide
Why natural warnings matter
A locally generated tsunami can arrive rapidly. New Zealand Civil Defence teaches people to act on a long or strong earthquake or other natural warning signs without waiting for a siren.
Map the actual places you visit
Tsunami zones vary by coast and locality. Check the official map for home, workplace, school and holiday accommodation rather than assuming distance from the shoreline is enough.
Plan a route that works without a car
Walking routes, alternative paths and accessible assistance can help a household leave promptly when roads are damaged or congested.
Respond safely to earthquake shaking
Protect yourself during shaking with Drop, Cover and Hold. Once it stops, move immediately toward safe ground if you experienced long or strong shaking near the coast.
Protect the evacuation itself
Do not collect nonessential belongings or turn back for pets if doing so delays escape. Avoid damaged structures and fallen power lines, and use official information where available.
Wait for a formal all-clear
Multiple waves and dangerous currents may persist. Returning because the first wave has passed can be hazardous; local emergency authorities determine when it is safe.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait for a tsunami alert after a strong coastal earthquake?
No. Get Ready says long or strong shaking near the coast is a natural warning; leave for higher ground or inland as soon as shaking stops.
Can I drive to safety?
Walking, running or cycling is often preferable when practical to avoid congestion, damaged routes and blocked roads.
When is it safe to return?
Return only after an official all-clear from Civil Defence, even if the water appears calm.
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