타우랑가신문사

타우랑가에도 쓰나미 경고 사이렌 재설치 해야

Robin-Hugh 2011. 3. 18. 04:03

 

쓰나미 경고 사이렌이 타우랑가 시의회에 의해 폐지된 불과 6 만에 다시 중요한 지역 현안으로서논란이 되고 있다. 

 

일본 전체를 여전히 공포의 도가니로 몰아넣고 있는 지난 3 11 강진에 이은 쓰나미로 인해 특히 마운트가누이나 파파모아처럼 태평양에 직접 맞닿은 해안에 살고 있는 주민들이 상당히 우려하고 있고, 그에 따라 시의회 내에서도 다시금 사이렌과 같은 대책이 시급하다는 점이 대두되기 때문이다.

스튜어트 
타우랑가 시장은 가장 효율적인 대처 방안을 강구해야 때이고, 결과 사이렌 설치에 대해 다시 고려할 필요가 있다면 그렇게 것이라고 오늘 말했다
.

시의회 해안지역 주민대표들은 앞으로 보다 많은 전문가들의 조언을 받아 사이렌과 함께 이메일 다양한 방법을 종합적으로 이용하는 방안을 논의할 예정이다
.

한편, 타우랑가, 웨스턴 베이 민방위 계획에 따르면 이번에 일본을 강타한 쓰나미의 절반에도 미치지 못하는 4m 높이의 해일만으로  최악의 사태 빚어질 것이라고 경고했다.

또  만약 6.75m 높이의 쓰나미가 발생한다면  마운트가누이, 파파모아 해안지역과 타우랑가 하버 일부 지역이 완전히 침수되어 1 9채의 주택이 피해를 입고 3 5 명의 이재민을 발생할 것으로 예상되고 있다. 

( 사진은 쓰나미 발생히 피해 예상 지역인 마운트 망가누이와 파파모아, 타우랑가 하버 )

 

Action is needed now on sirens

The map says it all.

In yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times, we reprinted a map showing how a major tsunami would devastate our coast.

It makes for a sobering read.

It shows how an "extreme" 6.75m tsunami would flood the entire coastal strip and the rest of the city's harbour margins - hitting 19,000 homes and forcing 35,000 people to flee for their lives.

An important point to note is that such a force of water would still be smaller than the one that hit Japan.

We first printed the map last August but decided to publish it again following the Japan disaster and as momentum gathers over the lack of tsunami sirens on our coast.

A number of city councillors are having a rethink over their appalling decision to abandon public sirens in favour of smaller home alarms - which most residents would have to buy.

The issue of tsunami sirens has dragged on for years in the Bay, since the devastating Boxing Day disaster of 2004. Successive efforts at establishing a proper, reliable public warning system have fallen over.

It is certainly a hot topic, with readers emailing this paper yesterday afternoon and last night - all wanting more detail about the tsunami threat or saying it is time the council acted on sirens.

So, will common sense prevail?

Councillors spoken to by this paper say sirens deserve another look, which is a start, albeit a feeble one.

The Papamoa and Mount Maunganui residents associations have quite wisely seized this opportunity to give the issue another push.

Papamoa Progressive Association, which is leading the charge, plans to making a submission to the city council's 2011-2012 annual plan.

Submissions open on March 21.

Despite this apparent slight progress, it remains astonishing that the issue of tsunami sirens will somehow become caught up in red tape.

The annual plan process will undoubtedly drag this out and in the meantime thousands of Bay people's lives remain at risk because there is no efficient warning system.

Come on. Mayor Stuart Crosby and councillors need to act now. This is a no-brainer.

They need to put the petty bureaucracy that rules local government aside and act in a practical manner.

They need to ensure that audible sirens are placed along our coast and in coastal areas, giving local people the best possible chance at saving themselves should the unthinkable happen.

Sirens should lead the way with residents given the option of complementing these with other warning measures, such as text warnings and home alarms.

Given that New Zealand is an earthquake-prone country and that three big quakes have happened within six months something must be done now.

The Bay of Plenty Times will continue to report on this issue because we believe it is a major issue of public interest and safety.