Latest news with #emergencyAlerts
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
5 Things To Ask Aging Parents About Emergency Evacuations
Recent wildfires in Los Angeles, floods, extreme heat, tornadoes and other emergencies are getting more frequent in our country. If it hasn't happened to you or your aging loved ones yet, you may put off talking about it. It's scary. We don't like to think about these things possibly affecting us personally, but we must. A conversation with aging loved ones could save their lives. If they don't live with you, it's time to have in mind a basic list of questions to ask so that all in a family can plan for emergency exits. Emergency evacuation on foot Anadolu via Getty Images First, Notification-- How Would You Know About An Emergency? Most digital savvy folks have emergency alerts on their phones, established by the local fire departments or other agencies tasked with addressing emergencies. But many of our aging parents don't have these apps, notification alerts or other means of communication from local authorities. Adult children or grandchildren can sign them up and teach them to use them to see emergency warnings. Even a simple, not so smart cell phone can do this in most cases. Take this step as a first essential one. If they lack the phone, buy a cell phone for them that is capable and show them what an emergency alert looks like. Second: Plan For Evacuation They Might Need--Where Would You Go? You, the family need to know of a place to which your aging parents could escape danger, such as from a wildfire or flood. The local government is tasked with establishing escape routes. It can help to print and post the plan at your aging parents' home. Third: Plan For Transportation Out--How Would You Get To A Safe Place? Do your loved ones drive? Is there a vehicle to which they have access if they need to evacuate? If not, neighbors, friends, or anyone nearby needs to know that they could be trapped. If your aging parents have not reached out to anyone, you can help them do so. Have a plan for whom they could call, what transportation they could count on or if they drive, what direction they would need to take to flee danger. Fourth: Pack A 'Go Bag'--Do You Have A Bag Ready If You Have To Escape Fast? The duffel, backpack or other bag they might need should be already packed with essentials. Medications, ID, glasses, phone charger, dehydrated food, hat, gloves, water and a change of clothing are some basics most authorities suggest putting in the go bag. You know your aging parents. Decide with them what they would require in an emergency for a day or a few days. Be sure it's ready to go ahead of time. In dire times it is hard to think this through under pressure of an evacuation order. Fifth: Whom To Contact And Where To Meet--Do You Know Who To Call And Where We Could Find You? Be sure to have a printed sheet of all phone numbers of those who will need to be informed of an aging loved one's whereabouts after an evacuation. Terrified relatives, possibly yourself, need to know as soon as possible if your loved ones escaped the emergency. In case of power failures or panicked forgetting phone numbers, the go bag has a backup piece of paper in it, so that aging loved ones can reach you. We can all learn from the tragedies we have seen before now. More are sure to come. If you are a responsible person with aging parents, take the lead and have the discussion. Help them be ready. While you're at it, be ready yourself.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Christchurch tsunami sirens face axe after failed test, communication breakdowns
The sirens may be replaced with emergency mobile alerts. Photo: LDR / Susan Botting The number of tsunami sirens along the Christchurch coast could be cut to as few as four, after an alert system review that found they cause confusion and delays during emergencies. The city has 45 sirens between Brooklands and Taylors Mistake, but next week, Christchurch city councillors will consider a recommendation that would see them only positioned in evacuation zones with limited cell phone coverage. The report recommended the council primarily uses emergency mobile alerts to raise the alarm, in accordance with national and international best practice, moving from a "fragile, unreliable, over-complicated and inconsistent" alerting system to one that was "straightforward and effective". Fewer strategically positioned sirens - in the range of 4-6 - and emergency services, television, radio, website and social media messages would become the secondary alerting method. Christchurch's tsunami sirens failed to sound during a planned test in April , because the Auckland-based contractor responsible was dealing with a car crash outside their property at the time. The council initially blamed human error, then conceded having an emergency system so dependent on one person was unacceptable. The test was rescheduled for 13 July. The council said a "local-source" tsunami could inundate Christchurch and Banks Peninsula evacuation zones in less than 60 minutes, so its top priority was preventing loss of life with an alert system that gave a clear message to evacuate. The review noted sirens caused confusion and delays because: Civil Defence and Emergency Management manager Brenden Winder said the emergency mobile alert method aimed to minimise confusion. "In the rare event of a tsunami, our top priority is preventing loss of life," he said. "This relies on having a straightforward and effective alerting system, giving residents a clear message to evacuate. "Sirens are no longer considered to be a suitable primary tsunami alerting method, as they cause confusion and delay communities responding effectively. "Mobile alerts are used nationally as the main alerting method in an emergency. This sends a clear message straight to the user's phone on what action to take. "We want people to act quickly and decisively in an emergency, and a text alert provides that direction." Staff said another option to upgrade the existing 45 sirens and add 41 sirens for adequate coverage across a new national tsunami evacuation zone issued by the National Emergency Management Agency would come at a substantial cost to the council. Following the magnitude 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake in 2016, a communication breakdown meant Christchurch's sirens did not sound until two hours afterwards at 2am - an hour after Civil Defence issued an alert. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
