Tsunami alert! Going to the top of the hill behind...

[pollyglot]

...the house with a sleeping bag, tent, camping stove, billy and teabags. Not just yet, but before dark. We look right down across the sea...I hope the surges won't be too big, AIBU to keep you posted?

abs12 · Today 11:08

Don't be dramatic. We get phone alerts about the price of butter. Go to bed.

Thanks for the advice, abs. We live about 50 metres from the high water line. You reckon we're safe then? Just had another shrieking warning to stay away from the beaches and waterways. But if you think we're ok...

How was the night @pollyglot? Got woken by another alert at 6.30 but we don’t have the issue of proximity to the water that you do.

Every time I hear of a Tsunami alert, I think of 2004 and 2011 ones and it scares me a bit. This despite living in the south of England and 30 miles from the sea. Guess all those newsreels scared me silly when I was younger...

Homebird8 · Today 20:16

How was the night ? Got woken by another alert at 6.30 but we don’t have the issue of proximity to the water that you do.

All good thanks Birdie. In town now. As I said earlier, looking at the archaeological record of tsunami, particularly on the east coast, it's very sobering. The last warning we had, (Chile?) with police cars, fire engines, flashing lights, coastal tsunami alerts blaring from all oversirens on our road, we evacuated to the hill, camp chairs, cups of tea, and waited.

And waited.

And then the wave arrived. white-crested, foaming, moving inexorably to the shore.

It arrived. All 8 inches of it.

But then, it could have been bad. Very bad.

And one day, it will be.

Do you remember the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption? We heard the booming from ours. DH (ex-RN) leapt up, assuming that the RNZ Navy was conducting exercises off the coast. Amazing display of nature's power. Don't tangle with Mother N.

I know it's a truism but better safe than sorry.

Stay safe everyone 🤗

@abs12 you are being very unsympathetic. Shame on you
@pollyglot how are things?? Have been following the story closely with online news. Sending 🫂💐💕

It’s the ‘And one day it will be’ isn’t it. These things happen and you make sensible preparations planning for the worst and hoping for the best. If anyone suggested that because the last quake didn’t bring any buildings down we should not worry about planning for seismic activity for them they’d be roundly put in their place. Glad it’s worked out this time and hope your tea was hot and your seat was comfortable.

And nobody has every called me Birdie before. I kind of like it. 🦉 My favourite is the ruru.

My favourite is the ruru.

We have a couple in our bush...so comforting in the night. Kiwi have moved in now, too.

Saw a baby Albino Kiwi when we visited but I’m afraid my favourites were the Keas; breaking into backpacks, handbags, hopping into open car doors, untying boot laces, but in such an charming, friendly manner.

We have a holiday home down near Rotorua. It's on Lake Rotoiti, part of the world's most active volcanic field - the Okataina fault. We are aware of course that it is dangerous, and could blow at any time. But we have confidence in the monitoring system, and after all, life is a gamble, wherever you live. I lived in Norfolk for years, and I'll quite happily swap the bleak cold, the bone-chilling, finger-numbing grey of the sea frets for living on the edge (ha!) in Paradise.

So, an update, please. How high did the water reach?

What ! OMG. Please stay safe. X

Fordian · Today 22:03

So, an update, please. How high did the water reach?

The answer is - not very! We had gone into town and slept soundly, so missed it. Yesterday the water was a bit swirly ...

I'm very partial to the pūkeko. They're all over Chch now, especially around the estuary but not only. You have to be quite careful where you let your dog off because the pūkeko have spread so much! My mum lives by the river and has them come into her garden sometimes.

Saw a baby Albino Kiwi when we visited but I’m afraid my favourites were the Keas; breaking into backpacks, handbags, hopping into open car doors, untying boot laces, but in such an charming, friendly manner.

Yes, they are endearing, all right. Very odd that they were outlaw birds with a bounty on their beaks in my youth. They used to sit on the backs of sheep and peck at their kidneys for the fat. Poor sheep died a terrible death. So the story went...I'm guessing it was true.

Glad you and your family are OK Polyglot.

Fernticket · Today 22:10

Glad you and your family are OK Polyglot.

Thanks Ferny. All good. Good practice for when the wave really does hit the fan. In ohh, maybe 200 years. Or when the Hikurangi fault overwhelms the entire country in possibly the greatest cataclysm of the millenium.

I often wonder whether Brits are aware of the Storegga Slide which overwhelmed Doggerland, flooded much of Scotland, and presumably could happen again.

JackGrealishsBobbySocks · Today 22:07

I'm very partial to the pūkeko. They're all over Chch now, especially around the estuary but not only. You have to be quite careful where you let your dog off because the pūkeko have spread so much! My mum lives by the river and has them come into her garden sometimes.

Save us from the pūkeko!! They destroy your garden, carp everywhere, pass on diseases to your chickens, make such a noise from their fighting.

I guess we should not be surprised, considering they are Aussie immigrants.

Difficult with a curved beak I would have thought but I'm no expert.

Norfolk is one area of the UK I'd like to live but given the chance I'd move to NZ in a heartbeat 💓

Storegga Slide - there ya go-

AI Overview

The Storegga Slide tsunami generated waves with run-up heights of up to 3-6 meters (10-20 feet) on the mainland UK coast, while the Shetland Islands experienced run-up heights exceeding 20 meters (65 feet), according to geological evidence. In western Norway, the waves inundated lakes up to 10-12 meters (33-40 feet) above sea level, according to a study. The slide itself was a massive submarine event, estimated to be around 3000 km³ in volume, that occurred off the coast of Norway about 8,150 years ago.

The Storegga Slide was a large submarine landslide that occurred off the coast of Norway, triggering a significant tsunami. The event had a profound impact on the coastlines of the surrounding regions, including Scotland, Norway, and potentially even Greenland.

Lmao @ Aussies crapping in the garden and bothering the chickens.

Then there's always this:

Cumbre Vieja tsunami hazard

Mesdames, faites vos jeux!!!

You're very knowledgeable about tsunamis and I'm just curious if you work in the field? My DH does and it would be so strange if you're colleagues!

I was aware of the massive landslide, scary stuff. There was a really good documentary a while back.

@GiantMoa

No, I'm not in the Wave Biz, just an interested amateur from the archaeological perspective.Your husband has a fascinating job!