Don't forget – The Thames-Coromandel District Council will be testing tsunami sirens across the peninsula today at 12pm.

A continuous siren tone will sound for approximately two minutes at Cooks Beach, Coromandel, Hahei, Kuaotunu, Matarangi, Pauanui, Port Charles, Tairua, Tapu, Thames, Turua, Whangapoua, Whangamata and Whitianga.

Tsunami sirens across the Coromandel will be tested today at 12pm. File Photo.

Today's exercise is being co-ordinated with the help of rural fire stations which will help report on the siren activations and can isolate the system if they fail to shut down after the two minute test period.

'You do not need to evacuate for the test. But in a real event the sounding of a single tone siren for 10 minutes or more indicates there is a tsunami threat and you need to evacuate immediately,” says TCDC area manager and Civil Defence local controller Garry Towler.

A number of communities on the Coromandel have installed tsunami warning sirens which are only activated on official notification from the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

These sirens rise to a single tone and operate for 10 minutes. It differs to the siren sounded by volunteer fire brigades around the Coromandel to alert their members to fire callouts.

This siren rises and falls and usually only operates for a few minutes maximum before it is silenced by the brigade members when they arrive at the station.

If people hear the tsunami sirens they must evacuate immediately to their predetermined safe location and take some food, water and suitable clothing with them.

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website.