Is the Tsunami Warning System Adequate?
We have been approached by a number of residents on the matter of tsunami sirens or the lack of them. This issue was actually raised before the recent South Island earthquake so is not a knee jerk reaction. We post a submission received from one resident and we would appreciate comments.
SUBMISSION
It will take a disaster and significant loss of life before we take the threat of tsunamis seriously. It may not happen in our lifetime or it could happen tomorrow.
We have heard from some that we are protected by the Hauraki gulf islands. This is not a fact. Waiheke could actually act as a magnifying glass and combine the waves that come around it’s ends to amplify the resultant wave action!
Cellular texts is not the answer and will not work at night when people are sleeping and certainly not for the elderly who do not text. But, as a temporary stop gap this would take only one week to program the cellular provider’s computer to send a pre-set message to all users in range of selected cell towers defining the area of alert.
Sirens are not costly at $6,000 each installed on existing infrastructure. These can be activated individually by radio, cellular or satellite based on area of alert. Sirens were installed and still exist by the Rodney and Waitakere Councils before amalgamation into the Auckland Super City. There also installed at numerous locations around the country including Pauanui.
The Civil Defence which relies on government funding want to placate us with a tsunami warning based on cellular texts. Their explanation is that we are not capable of understanding the following signals:
1. Alert signal (dash – dash – dot – dot) sounded for 15 minutes
2. Evacuate signal (dot-dot-dot) sounded in continuous burst for 15 minutes
3. All clear signal (a continuous tone for five minutes)
Best way to use leftovers?
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⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️