Tsunami evacuation maps for Kāpiti updated

Kāpiti Coast District Council has updated its tsunami evacuation maps for Kāpiti and is encouraging residents to get prepared and know their zone.

Corporate Services Group Manager Wayne Maxwell says the demarcations for the red, orange and yellow evacuation zones on the Council’s maps are now consistent with the zones identified on Wellington Regional Emergency Management Office’s (WREMO) maps for Kāpiti.

“Both sets of maps are based on the same science so it makes sense for the tsunami evacuation zones to be the same,” he says.

In Kāpiti, the red tsunami evacuation zone is the beach and sand dunes. The orange zone is the dune adjacent to the beach and the streets closest to the beach and rivers. The yellow zone is a further 200 to 300 meters inland from the beach and includes low lying areas close to rivers.

Mr Maxwell says irrespective of what tsunami evacuation zone people find themselves in they need to be prepared and know where their nearest evacuation route is.

“There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to tsunami threats but the general rule of thumb is if you are in a tsunami evacuation zone and you feel a long or strong earthquake, get out of the tsunami evacuation zone and head inland immediately – do not wait to be told.”

The updated tsunami evacuation maps for Kāpiti can be viewed on the Council’s website at www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/tsunami