Army to conduct tsunami exercise in Wanganui - 23/06/2011Wanganui District Council is working with 5 Wellington West Coast Taranaki Battalion Group (5WWCT) and other agencies to prepare for an Army exercise on June 24-26.
Cr Randhir Dahya, Council’s Emergency Management spokesperson, said the exercise, “Phoenix 7”, will be run in conjunction with Wanganui District Council Emergency Management, New Zealand Police and the Whanganui District Health Board.
The training weekend will involve infantry, logistics and engineer elements and will centre on ‘Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief’ involving civilian evacuation, watermanship, vehicle control points, cordons, patrolling and operational tasks.
Exercise Phoenix 7 is a test of military training conducted over the last year and will use a tsunami scenario based on the receipt of a simulated warning from Wanganui District Council Emergency Management. The Army’s local base at Maria Place Extension will be the main focus of physical activities, with other tasks within a small section of Castlecliff, as well as at the airport, the port, Castlecliff School, Polson Park and a small side road. Some parts of the exercise will be conducted overnight.
“The council’s involvement in the exercise includes liaison with 5WWCT and the Whanganui District Health Board in planning the scenario and co-ordination of the exercise tasks,” Cr Dahya said.
The exercise will begin with Council’s Emergency Operations Centre providing an initial warning to 5WWCT on Friday afternoon, June 24, of a mythical tsunami, using normal warning systems. 5WWCT will visit a number of properties in the Castlecliff South area on Saturday, June 25, to ask if residents wish to participate in the exercise.
The Army is assisting both Emergency Management and the District Health Board with the distribution of a tsunami information pamphlet and questions regarding vulnerable persons in the area. | 
