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New Zealand gets a new disaster alerting system

New Zealand is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world with earthquakes, tsunami, wildfire and volcanos a continual threat. Its citizens are always on alert for the next disaster. To keep New Zealanders informed, a new alerting system is being installed and will be fully operational by the end of the year, Civil Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said today.

It will be a free SMS system that will send messages to mobile phones in the affected areas. It’s now a matter of signing up New Zealand’s telecommunication companies to the alerting system.

Brownlee said because no technology is failsafe, the government would continue to use radio, television, websites, social media, smartphone apps and sirens to alert locals to danger.

The NZ disaster alert system became an issue after the Kaikoura earthquake in November when there were delays for some residents in receiving tsunami warnings.

For more information please visit: www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/07/nz-mobile-emergency-alert-system-coming