Tsunami threat: Hawke's Bay man wants better roads, but Civil Defence says don't rely on cars

Napier man Adrian Wiig wants more done to improve roading infrastructure in Bay View and Westshore in the event of an emergency evacuation. Photo / Paul Taylor

A Hawke's Bay man wants improved roading infrastructure along Napier's northern suburbs to help cope with increased traffic in case of a tsunami threat.

However, people should not rely on being able to use their cars in the event of an emergency evacuation, says Civil Defence.

Bay View resident Adrian Wiig was one of several households who "got gone" after a long strong shake when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of the North Island in early March.

It led hundreds in Hawke's Bay to self-evacuate, many to Napier Hill, with fears a tsunami could hit the region.

About 20,000 Hawke's Bay properties are located in tsunami evacuation zones.

Wigg said the event had raised an interesting question about where people should "be gone to" and how to get there.

He estimates there are more than 100 people living in his cul-de-sac street and only one narrow entrance.

"The nearest high ground to [us] would be up on Onehunga Rd, but the road could never cope with the demand.

"There would have been absolute chaos had everyone done it."

Adrian Wiig says traffic congestion along Westshore's roads and infrastructure damage would "create chaos" in event of an actual emergency evacuation as people headed for higher ground. Photo / NZME

He said multiple agencies including the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Civil Defence, Napier City Council and the NZ Transport Agency should take a collaborative approach to address infrastructure issues in case of emergency and widen evacuation routes like Onehunga Rd.

"Assuming an earthquake sufficient to create a tsunami [hit], then most likely the bridge on Pandora Rd would leave only one way out for all those people."

Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management group controller Ian Macdonald said roading infrastructure and traffic congestion along possible routes would always be a concern in any evacuation.

He said the bridge at Pandora was seismically upgraded in 2009 so that it should not collapse in a 2500 year return period earthquake.

Adrian Wiig was among several Napier residents who self-evacuated from his Bay View home when a significant quake struck off the east coast in March this year. Photo / Paul Taylor

"However, damage to the bridge and its approaches could be extensive and unpassable by motor vehicles.

"While everyone's individual situation will be different, it is recommend people from Westshore plan on evacuating to Napier Hill by foot or push bike."

He said there were options for Bay View residents to move to higher ground inland.

"For a long or strong earthquake, people should move to higher ground.

"We would encourage people to move by foot or use a bicycle.

"After a significant earthquake, roads, culverts and bridges may be damaged."

Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management group controller Ian Macdonald said people should not depend on vehicles in the event of evacuating a potential tsunami. Photo / Supplied

Macdonald previously told Hawke's Bay Today, it was "a matter of when, not if, a tsunami will impact Hawke's Bay."

Last month, Civil Defence ran a campaign sending letters and outdoor graded stickers with their zone to all residences and businesses in the region.

He said everyone in all evacuation zones - red, orange and yellow - would need to evacuate if a long or strong earthquake was felt.

It was important people did not depend on using a motor vehicle when evacuating.

This was the message pushed by Civil Defence when working with communities, he said.

"We also work with the emergency services on evacuation planning including traffic control and roading authorities in managing their infrastructure and making it more resilient."

Students from Westshore School evacuated to Napier Central Primary on top of the hill as a precautionary response to the tsunami warning earlier in March this year. Photo / Supplied

Wiig said it would be "impossible" for people to be expected to evacuate without the use of motor vehicles.

"For the people here, it's totally impractical."

Another option for residents to escape the threat of tsunami, are special structures, for the vertical evacuation of people.

Such structures are common in Japan and last year the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment announced it was developing New Zealand building guidance for vertical evacuation.

The structures rely on deep foundations, with an open ground-floor level which allows water to flow through.

However, Wiig was also sceptical about these, saying for the cost of putting them in, they might as well fix the roads.

"If they fix the roads for everyone, they are there all the time.

"There's more use to it."