Three sirens could be installed in Oamaru to warn of major civil defence emergencies under a proposal being put to the Waitaki District Council for consideration in its 2012-22 long-term plan.
Emergency services manager Chris Raine has made the suggestion for high-risk areas of Oamaru along the coast, suggesting sirens in the Harbour-Wansbeck Sts historic precinct, lower Thames St and Thames Highway-Torridge St areas.
"There is a higher risk in parts of Oamaru where the public need to be warned to move away from danger," Mr Raine said.
The lower areas of Oamaru were at risk from tsunami and flash flooding. Some have been evacuated at short notice in previous floods.
The sirens could also be used for other emergencies, such as hazardous substance spills which could come from trucks travelling through central Oamaru on State Highway 1, he said.
The town has one siren which could be used, at the Oamaru Fire Station.
Mr Raine said additional sirens would alert the community to listen to local radio stations and key civil defence messages as to what to do next, including evacuation.
Oamaru had never had a dedicated fixed civil defence siren network, although emergency services had a trailer-mounted siren which could be used for warnings if time permitted.
The Fire Service used to have additional sirens on the South Hill and North End, but these were removed in the early 1980s when pagers were introduced.
Mr Raine has suggested the council consider providing emergency sirens as part of its long-term plan
