EVACUATION PLAN
TAUPŌ
1
Background
a) A Volcanic eruption within the Taupō caldera causing a need to consider evacuation.
b) The order to evacuate will be given by the Civil Defence Controller and must be preceded by a
declaration of a state of civil defence emergency.
c) The person controlling the evacuation will be the Taupō Controller.
2
Aim of the Plan
The aim of this plan is to effect an evacuation of all persons from the Taupō
area and their removal to places of safety in either Rotorua or with in the Waikato Region.
3
Public Information Matters
a) Notification: The public will be warned by sounding the Taupō Fire Siren,by use of loud
speaker systems in Emergency Service vehicles and by broadcasts over radio stations.
b) Dissemination: Information regarding the evacuation will be via broadcast radio and by
personal contact.
c) Timings: Messages will be broadcast as frequently as is required but
presumably at least half-hourly.
d) Personal effects: as per the civil defence getaway kit.
e) Personal luggage: Those dependant on supplied transport will be limited to
one piece of hand carried luggage per person.
f) Domestic pets: Those using their own transport (self-evacuating) will be
unrestricted as regards to their pets, those dependent on supplied transport will not be permitted
to bring animals with them. On going care of pets left behind will be the responsibility of the
SPCA in conjunction with Council Animal Control Officers.
g) Assembly Areas: These will be at the designated civil defence posts, Taupō Primary Schools,
and the Great Lake Centre.
h) Securing homes & businesses: Before leaving occupants should turn off
electricity and water supplies and where applicable gas.
i) Routes: It is probable that evacuation will be to the north not south so the principal route would
be State Highway One and the Napier/Taupō Road..
j) Assistance on route: assistance would be available in Rotorua and towns north as regards petrol
etc, medical assistance and welfare would be available in Rotorua.
k) Self evacuees: on arrival at their destination, those who have self evacuated
would need to register as evacuees to qualify for Income Support Service
assistance. This would be at the discretion of the local CD Organisation in
conjunction with local office of ISS and perhaps the local Police.
l) Area Security: Security of the evacuated area would remain the responsibility of the Police.
m) Help-line telephone: Nationally through the 0800 number of locally on a
civil defence number to be advertised.
n) Media Liaison: This will be carried out by Council’s media liaison person, Dee Wilson.
o) Livestock: Advice re livestock will be obtained from MAF but the probability is that livestock
would be left behind.
p) “Special needs” groups: Most of these groups have their own network for evacuation
procedures in the event of an emergency.
q) Advice to tourists and tourism industry: Access into the area would be denied by Police and the
Council’s media liaison Officer would continue information flow to the greater tourism industry.
r) Public & Private Medical facilities: Medical facilities would be available in Rotorua and
enhanced as required.
s) Insurance & financial matters: Insurance claims would be processed as per the Insurance
Council’s Emergency Plan and Income Support Service response as per discussions between
Taupō CD Welfare and Taupō ISS.
4
Evacuation Routes
a) Preferred routes: The preferred route would be State Highway One (North) with Highway 41 as
a possible alternative depending on wind direction.
b) Advise re closed roads: This is at Police discretion and would probably
be the Desert Road. This information would be advised per broadcast radio.
c) Identification of Problem areas: This is a Police matter but obvious areas
include the river bridge north of Turangi town and the narrow sections of
State Highway One between Motuopa and Hatepe.
d) Allocation of routes: probably not necessary as options are limited.
e) Traffic Control Points: As required by Traffic Control Authority - Police.
f) Lateral routes: Highway 41 with possible alternate routes using private roads (forestry roads).
These accessed through NZ Forest Managers Ltd.
g) Key Link Points: Taupō
h) Establishment of traffic priorities: As determined by Police with emphasis on egress from the
area as opposed to entry.
i) Control of “jump-start” evacuees: This means self-evacuees and control is not possible from the
starting end however they should be encouraged to register on arrival as per 3 (k).
5
Assembly and Embarkation
a) Manning and Control of Assembly Points: Ideally a Police role but limited
resources could mean a need to consider alternatives. Perhaps NZFS volunteers. This needs
development with NZFS and Taupō Controller.
b) Identification of Personnel: This poses no difficulty when Emergency
Service Personnel are deployed however for general volunteers the yellow
Civil Defence jerkins will be used.
c) Vehicle allocation: This will be determined by the Turangi Sector Coordinator and will be
dependant on resources available on the day.
d) Care en-route: This will be monitored by Traffic Control Authority (Police)
with resources from Taupō available as required.
e) Special needs categories: Some have been previously identified and as others became apparent
they would be catered for as part of the Taupō Welfare Response Plan.
f) Baggage Identification: This would be the responsibility of the evacuees with no responsibility
taken by Rotorua Civil Defence Organisation.
g) Communications: The first line of communications would be phone/fax for communications
between Sector Headquarters and District Headquarters
This is supplemented by Civil Defence VHF radio with base stations at Taupō and Turangi
supported by hand held radios. Emergency Services would use their own communications
resources.
h)First Aid/Infant care/welfare facilities : These will be available at Rotorua Welfare Centres.
i)Catering at Assembly points: As per Rotorua Welfare arrangements using fast food outlets.
j) Institutions: The General Manager of all Prisons in the area has prepared an evacuation plan for
the institutions.
6
Reception at Debarkation Points
a) Welfare Centres: These will be established at Rotorua, Tokoroa and Napier.
b) Staffing: Welfare teams including CAB and other volunteers supported
by Rescue Personnel and Red X.
c) Temporary Accommodation: A list of available accommodation in Taupō
will be gathered using the Marketing Division’s Smart Fax system. Other
accommodation facilities include halls and marae as per Taupō Welfare Planning and billets.
This is in addition to Regionally available resources.
d) Onward movement to other destinations: This, as required will be coordinated by Region.
e) Communications: Within Taupō District as per 5 (g). Outside the District as available using
phone/fax, UHF radio to Region and HF radio to Zone.
f) Registration: Within Taupō District by Registration Manager and team as per Welfare Plan,
outside of District registration as per suggestion in 3 (k).
g) Schooling: This is a long term consideration and if the need arose the
practicalities of absorbing additional pupils into the local school system would be assessed.
h) Arrangements for ISS payments: as per 3 (s).
7
Registration
a) Policy for in or out of area: Those evacuated within the District will be registered by Taupō
Civil Defence, those evacuated out of the area e.g. within the Waikato Region to be registered by
the receiving authority, those self evacuation to register as per 3 (k).
b) Staffing: Staffed by Registration Manager with support from CAB staff
and volunteers.
c) If out of area: as per local requirements.[see 3 (k)].
d) Coordination of Registry: Coordinated by a National Inquiry Centre,
through Ministry of Civil Defence, Wellington.
