Source: National Emergency Management Agency
A new map will allow anyone in New Zealand to see any live Emergency Mobile Alerts, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says.
Hosted on GetReady.govt.nz, the map will show all current active Alerts issued by authorised agencies such as NEMA, CDEM Groups, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Police. The web page will show a web-accessible map of the area the alert was sent to, and the content of the message.
“This new map is another step forward for our emergency management capability that will help to keep people safe and informed.” NEMA’s Acting Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Stef Michie says.
“Emergency Mobile Alerts are an important channel to notify people in New Zealand about emergencies in their area that are a serious threat to life, health or property. This map means anyone can look up a live alert on the map, see where it was sent, and what it said.
“Being able to look up live Alerts across the country will be particularly useful for people who are travelling, and for the media who can verify emergency information to understand where the Alert was sent and where it wasn’t.”
The Emergency Mobile Alert system currently sends alerts to all mobile devices connected to cell phone towers within a highlighted area. This new map will allow people outside the targeted area to stay informed about life safety actions that friends and whānau need to take.
The map will only show Alerts, and won’t include other information like evacuation areas or weather warnings, and it’s important that people read the content of the Alert that should describe the area affected and what actions people need to take to stay safe
Stef Michie says it’s important that people don’t rely solely on Emergency Mobile Alerts, because they are just one way of finding out important information in an emergency.
“We want people in New Zealand to understand that Emergency Mobile Alerts are just one channel we have. In an emergency, we need people to listen to the radio and follow advice from local Civil Defence Emergency Management groups.
“We also want people to trust their ‘danger sense’ – look out for natural warnings like suddenly rising water or strange noises from unstable slopes, and remember Long or Strong, Get Gone.
Emergency Mobile Alerts are now viewable from anywhere in New Zealand by going to GetReady.govt.nz/ema-map
NOTES
Emergency Mobile Alerts are sent to you by cell towers in the targeted area. You may not receive an Alert if you are not connected to a cell tower in the targeted area. Or, if you phone is connected to a cell tower in the targeted area, you may get an Alert even if you’re not physically in the area. Because of the way cell phone towers connect this can mean that some people outside the affected area will receive an Alert, so it is important to read the Alert message which should describe the area at risk or where the public need to be ready.
It does not store individual phone numbers or handset details, and does not offer an opt-out service. More information can be found here: Emergency Mobile Alert