21/18 Assessment and Planning for Tsunami Vertical Evacuation
Director's Guideline for Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups [DGL 21/18]
All New Zealand’s coastline is at risk from tsunami. Timely evacuation is the best way to keep people safe from a tsunami.
Vertical evacuation is a last resort in a tsunami. But it is something a CDEM Group may want to consider. Especially when it is likely that not everyone at risk will be able to evacuate before tsunami waves arrive. Evacuation out of tsunami evacuation zones is always preferable. But local conditions like short wave arrival times and large inland evacuation zones can make this difficult.
This guideline covers the first phase of a two-phase process. Phase One includes:
- understanding the hazard,
- assessing the risk, and
- evaluating different risk management measures.
It includes a step-by-step methodology for:
- assessing tsunami life safety risk,
- considering possible measures for improving tsunami evacuation, and
- evaluating whether options for tsunami vertical evacuation need to be considered.
Download the Assessment and Planning for Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Guideline
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have developed Phase Two. This technical information informs the design, construction and operation of vertical evacuation structures
Read phase 2: Tsunami loads and effects on vertical evacuation structures