TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS


(all info obtained from the Hawaii State Department of Emergency Management website)....click for more emergency info:  http://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/
 
Tsunami Warning
Know the Natural Warning Signs of a Tsunami - use your senses!
FEEL
Feel the ground shaking severely?
Head for higher ground. Strong local earthquakes may cause tsunamis.
SEE
See an unusual disappearance of water, or an oncoming wall of water?
Immediately leave low-lying coastal areas and move inland. As a tsunami approaches the shoreline, sea levels often recede,exposing the ocean floor, reef, and fish.
HEAR
Hear the roar?
An approaching tsunami may create a loud “roaring” similar to the sound of a moving train or jet aircraft.


Official Tsunami Warnings
NOAA’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) is responsible for tsunami monitoring and issuing necessary watches or warnings for Hawai‘i and the U.S. Pacific Islands.
Tsunami Message Definitions
Tsunami Warning: Take Action- Danger! A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or days after initial arrival. Follow instructions from local officials. Evacuation is recommended. Move to high ground or inland (away from the water).
Tsunami Advisory: Take Action- A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas. Stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Follow instructions from local officials.
 


Tsunami Watch: Be Aware- A distant earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is possible. Stay tuned for more information. Be prepared to take action if necessary.
Tsunami Information Statement: Relax- An earthquake has occurred, or a tsunami warning, advisory or watch has been issued for another part of the ocean. Most information statements indicate there is no threat of a destructive tsunami.
Emergency Information
The Emergency Alert System, often called the EAS, is used to notify the public of approaching hazards. The EAS will be activated along with other warning methods such as the Outdoor Siren Warning System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, and local emergency notification systems.
If you are alerted about a tsunami hazard by any of the above methods, turn on the nearest radio or television and listen for emergency information and instructions.
Foreign language emergency broadcasts can be found on the following stations: KZOO 1210AM (Japanese), KREA 1540AM (Korean), and KNDI 1270AM (variety of Pacific Islander languages).


Tsunami Evacuation
If you are in a low-lying area near the coast or in the tsunami evacuation zone and you feel shaking that causes you to fall or have difficulty standing, get to higher ground immediately. A locally generated tsunami could reach the shore within minutes!
Evacuation Tips
Tune in to your local television or radio stations for the most up-to-date information about tsunami evacuation centers in your area.
For questions about evacuation procedures in your community, contact your county civil defense agency:
When Sirens Sound
Follow the instructions issued by local officials.


If you are in the evacuation zone, prepare to move inland. If located outside a tsunami evacuation zone, stay outside of the evacuation zone and limit all non-emergency travel.
For strong local earthquakes, if you have access to an undamaged concrete or steel reinforced building of six or more stories, move above the third floor and stay put.
For distance-source tsunamis, you may have more time to react. A Tsunami Warning will be issued three or more hours before the estimated arrival time. If you are in the evacuation zone when the warning sirens sound, prepare to move inland, or if you have access to a concrete or steel reinforced building of six or more stories, move above the third floor and stay put.
  • Avoid traffic gridlock! It may be safer and more efficient to walk out of the tsunami evacuation zone.
  • Remain outside the evacuation zone until local officials tell you that it is safe to return.
  • Do not use your telephone or make calls on your cell phone except for emergencies (texting and data use is ok).
  • Save yourself, not your possessions.
  • Remember, all public schools in tsunami evacuation zones have emergency evacuation plans in the event of a Tsunami Warning.
Tsunami Plan
You cannot prevent a tsunami, but you can be prepared for one. Actions you take now could save your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Develop a Family Emergency Plan
Prepare yourself and your family for a disaster by making an emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance.
Create your Family Emergency Plan, and visit the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency website for more preparedness information.
Don’t Forget about Your Pets
Have preparations in place to care for your pets in case you are ordered to evacuate.
Assemble an Emergency Preparedness Kit
Emergency kits should contain the essentials your family needs to survive during a disaster. You may be on your own for three days or more before emergency personnel reach you.
Download the Emergency Preparedness Kit Checklist



Plan Ahead
Become familiar with potential evacuation routes, develop an evacuation plan, and update your plan when issues arise.
Practice your evacuation plan at least twice a year with your family so that when a tsunami occurs, you are prepared to act!
Keep in mind that hundreds of families in your area share the same concerns, and it may be difficult to access supplies because of shortages and competition.
Sign Up
Sign up to be included in your local emergency notification system
Tsunami Risk
Knowledge is safety. To reduce your risk, know your tsunami facts.
What is a tsunami?
A tsunami (Japanese for “harbor waves”) is a series of ocean waves produced by a sudden rise or fall in the earth’s crust, most commonly caused by an earthquake or underwater landslide.
In the open ocean, tsunami waves cannot be seen or felt by ships or airplanes because the waves are actually hundreds of miles wide, with a height of only a few feet. But as the waves approach the coast, their height increases dramatically and can be very destructive when they reach the shore.
Understand the Threat
  1. Tsunamis are Hawai'i's number one natural disaster killer.
  2. All low-lying coastal areas, harbors, streams, and rivers in Hawai‘i are vulnerable to tsunami impacts.
  3. Tsunamis can occur at any time. Earthquakes or landslides that may trigger tsunamis cannot be forecast.
Local Tsunamis vs. Distant Source Tsunamis
Locally generated tsunamis can arrive at the coast within minutes, even before a warning can be issued.
All islands are also vulnerable to distant-source tsunamis. These tsunamis result from distant earthquakes or landslides in places like Chile, Alaska, and Japan, and can arrive within hours.
Visit these resources for additional tsunami information: