Tsunamis can wreak havoc on coastal populations and landscapes.

The December 26, 2004, tsunami in the Indian

Ocean claimed some 150,000 lives and cleared the landscape on millions of acres of oceanfront terrain. Here are
some measures you can take to avoid trouble if you're caught in a tsunami.
Safety Tips

When in coastal areas, stay alert for tsunami warnings.

Plan an evacuation route that leads to higher ground.

Know the warning signs of a tsunami: rapidly rising or falling coastal waters and rumblings of an offshore
earthquake.

Never stay near shore to watch a tsunami come in.

A tsunami is a series of waves. Do not return to an affected coastal area until authorities say it is safe.

How to Prepare For and Be Safe During a

Tsunami
Before and During a Tsunami

Know your local community's suggested evacuation routes to safe areas,

where shelter can be provided while you await the "all clear".
Be prepared to survive on your own for at least three days. To do this, you
should prepare an emergency kit for your home and car, along with a portable one.
Consider taking a first aid course and learn survival skills.
Tune to a radio station that serves your area and listen for instructions from
emergency officials. Follow these instructions and wait for the "all clear" before
returning to the coast.
Stay away from the beach do not go down to watch a tsunami come.
Move inland to higher ground immediately and stay there.
If there is a noticeable recession in the water away from the shoreline, this is
considered natures tsunami warning and you should move away immediately.
After a Tsunami

Stay away from flooded and damaged areas until officials say it is safe to go
back.

Stay away from debris in the water it could cause health and safety risks.
Save yourself first, not your possessions.
Help injured or trapped people give first aid where appropriate.

Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger
or further injury.

Help a neighbor who may require special assistance, like elderly people or
small children or people with disabilities.

Stay out of the building if water remains around it tsunami waters, like
flood waters, can cause buildings to sink and collapse.

Check food supplies any food that has come in contact with flood waters
should be thrown out because it may be contaminated.

Precautions for a tsunami

In general, if you think a tsunami may be coming, the ground
shakes under your feet or you hear there is a warning, you
should move quickly to higher ground.
If you are on land:

If you are at home and hear there is a tsunami

warning, you should make sure your family is
aware of the warning. Your family should
evacuate your house if you live in an
evacuation zone. Move to the evacuation site
or to any safe place outside your evacuation
zone. Follow the advice of local emergency and
law enforcement.

 If you are at the beach or near the ocean and

you feel the ground shake, move immediately
to higher ground, DO NOT wait for a warning to
be announced. Stay away from rivers and
streams that lead to the ocean as you would
stay away from the beach and ocean. A
regional tsunami from a local earthquake could
strike some areas before a tsunami warning
could be announced.
Tsunamis generated in distant locations will
generally give people enough time to move to
higher ground. For locally-generated tsunamis,
where you might feel the ground shake, you
may only have a few minutes to move to
higher ground.

If you are on a boat:

Since tsunami wave activity is unperceptible do not
return to port if you are at sea and a tsunami
warning has been issued for your area. Tsunamis
can cause huge changes in water level.
If there is time to move your boat or ship from port to deep
water (after a tsunami warning has been issued), you should take
the following considerations:

 Most large harbors and ports are under the

control of a harbor authority and/or a vessel
traffic system. They direct operations during
periods of increased readiness (should a
tsunami be expected), including the forced
movement of vessels if deemed necessary.
Keep in contact with the authorities should a
forced movement of vessel be directed.
Smaller ports may not be under the control of a
harbor authority. If you are aware there is a
tsunami warning and you have time to move
your vessel to deep water, then you may want
to do so in an orderly manner, in consideration
of other vessels. Owners of small boats may
find it safest to leave their boat at the pier and
physically move to higher ground, particularly
in the event of a locally-generated tsunami.
Concurrent severe weather conditions (rough
seas outside of safe harbor) could present a
greater hazardous situation to small boats, so
physically moving yourself to higher ground
may be the only option. Overview of the
Tsunami Warning System The Tsunami Warning
System (TWS) in the Pacific, comprised of 26
participating international Member States, has
the functions of monitoring seismological and
tidal stations throughout the Pacific Basin to
evaluate potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes
and disseminating tsunami warning
information. The Pacific Tsunami Warning

Center (PTWC) is the operational center of the

Pacific TWS. Located near Honolulu, Hawaii,
PTWC provides tsunami warning information to
national authorities in the Pacific
Basin. Tsunami Warning Centers As part of an
international cooperative effort to save lives
and protect property, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration 's (NOAA) National
Weather Service operates two tsunami warning
centers. The Alaska Tsunami Warning
Center (ATWC) in Palmer, Alaska, serves as the
regional Tsunami Warning Center for Alaska,
British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and
California.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach,
Hawaii, serves as the regional Tsunami Warning
Center for Hawaii and as a national/international
warning center for tsunamis that pose a Pacificwide threat. This international warning effort
became a formal arrangement in 1965 when PTWC
assumed the international warning responsibilities
of the Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS). The
PTWS is composed of 26 international Member
States that are organized as the International
Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning
System in the Pacific.

Tsunami Watch and Warning Determination

The objective of the PTWS is to detect, locate, and

determine the magnitude of potentially
tsunamigenic earthquakes occurring in the Pacific
Basin or its immediate margins. Earthquake
information is provided by seismic stations
operated by PTWC, ATWC, the U.S. Geological
Survey's National Earthquake Information
Center and international sources. If the location
and magnitude of an earthquake meet the known
criteria for generation of a tsunami, a tsunami
warning is issued to warn of an imminent tsunami
hazard. The warning includes predicted tsunami
arrival times at selected coastal communities
within the geographic area defined by the
maximum distance the tsunami could travel in a
few hours. A tsunami watch with additional
predicted tsunami arrival times is issued for a
geographic area defined by the distance the
tsunami could travel in a subsequent time period.
If a significant tsunami is detected by sea-level mo nitoring
instrumentation, the tsunami warning is extended to the entire
Pacific Basin. Sea-level (or tidal) information is provided by
NOAA's National Ocean Service, PTWC, ATWC, university
monitoring networks and other participating nations of the
PTWS. The International Tsunami Information Center, part of
the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, monitors

and evaluates the performance and effectiveness of the Pacific

Tsunami Warning System. This effort encourages the most
effective data collection, data analysis, tsunami impact
assessment and warning dissemination to all TWS participants.
Tsunami Warning Dispathching Tsunami watch, warning, and
information bulletins are dispatched to appropriate emergency
officials and the general public by a variety of communication
methods.
Tsunami watch, warning and information
bulletins issued by PTWC and ATWC are
disseminated to local, state, national and
international users as well as the media. These
users, in turn, dispatch the tsunami information
to the public, generally over commercial radio
and television channels.
The NOAA Weather Radio System, based on a
large number of VHF transmitter sites, provides
direct broadcast of tsunami information to the
public.
The US Coast Guard also broadcasts urgent
marine warnings and related tsunami
information to coastal users equipped with
medium frequency (MF) and very high
frequency (VHF) marine radios.
Local authorities and emergency managers are
responsible for formulating and executing

evacuation plans for areas under a tsunami

warning. The public should stay-tuned to the
local media for evacuation orders should a
tsunami warning be issued. And, the public
should NOT RETURN to low-lying areas until the
tsunami threat has passed and the "all clear" is
announced by the local authorities.
What are the safety precautions before during and after
tsunami?
Typicaly if you are near the ocean and you feel an earthquake, HEAD FOR
HIGHER GROUND NOW!!!!!
Also many communities of the west coast of the U. S. are being outfited
with Tsumai Sirens, Much like the Tornado Sirens in the Mid West.
I have prepared alot of resources on Tsunami Safety. Please feel free to
use them and to forward these links to friends and family. I hope that this
helps in your studies as well as keeping you safe at the beach
If you are indoors, stay there. Quickly move to a safe location in the room such

as under a strong desk, a strong table, or along an interior wall. The goal is

to protect yourself from falling objects and be located near the structural

strong points of the room. Avoid taking cover near windows, large mirrors,

hanging objects, heavy furniture, heavy appliances or fireplaces.If you are

cooking, turn off the stove and take cover.If you are outdoors, move to an open

area where falling objects are unlikely to strike you. Move away from
buildings,

powerlines and trees.If you are driving, slow down smoothly and stop on the
side

of the road. Avoid stopping on or under bridges and overpasses, or under

power

lines, trees and large signs. Stay in your car

TSUNAMI SAFETY
Tsunamis are ocean waves produced by earthquakes or underwater
landslides. As the waves approach the coast, their speed decreases and
their height increases. Waves that are 10 to 20 feet high can be very
destructive. Tsunamis dont happen very often, but when they do they
cause many deaths and injuries. Always listen to the radio and television
for the latest information and instructions for your area.

PLAN FOR A TSUNAMI:

Have a disaster plan.
Know whether youre at risk for danger.
Plan an evacuation route.
Prepare a disaster supplies kit for your home and car. Include a
first aid kit, canned food and a can opener, bottled water, batteryoperated radio, flashlight, protective clothing and written
instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas, and water.

DURING A TSUNAMI:

 Follow the instructions issued by local authorities.

You will probably want to evacuate immediately.
Get to higher ground and as far inland as you can.

AFTER A TSUNAMI:
Help injured or trapped people.
Stay out of a building if water remains around it. Tsunami waters
can cause buildings to sink, floors to crack, or walls to collapse.
When re-entering homes, use extreme caution.
Check for gas leaks.
Open windows and doors to help dry things out.
Look for fire hazards.

Precautions For Those At Risk of a Tsunami

If you live in a coastal area that is hit by an earthquake, especially near the
Pacific Ocean, the chances of a tsunami hitting increase. Take these
precautions immediately after an earthquake.
-Turn on your radio or TV to hear if there is a tsunami warning
-Move away from the shoreline and to higher ground
-Do not go to the beach, especially if you see a noticeable recession of
water away from the shoreline.

Protecting Your Home and Property

If you live in an area of the world where tsunamis could occur, there are a
few precautions you can take to help prevent damage to your home and
property.
-Elevate your home if it's on the coast.
-Make a list of things to bring inside in case a tsunami hits.
-Have your home inspected by an engineer to determine ways to divert
water away from the structure.
-Contact your insurance agent. Homeowners' policies don't cover tsunami
flooding. Inquire about the National Flood Insurance Program.
Tsunami Tips for Boaters
If you are on a boat when a tsunami is possibly approaching, move to
deeper waters. Upon returning to your boat after a tsunami hits land, be
cautious because wave conditions may be severe and strong currents may
exist for a period after the tsunami hits.
Family Disaster Plan
Long before a natural disaster strikes, it is wise to create a family disaster
plan, especially for children. Make the following decisions before the
evacuation actually occurs:
1. Determine a place to meet outside your neighborhood
2. Determine a second meeting place in case the first one is damaged or
ruined
3. Decide on another family member (apart from members of your
household) to call to check-in in case you are separated. Ideally, the
contact should be someone out-of-state
4. Designate someone to take the disaster kit when they evacuate

Tsunami Safety Rules

A strong earthquake felt in a low-lying coastal area is a natural warning of possible, immediate danger. Keep
calm and quickly move to higher ground away from the coast.
All large earthquakes do not cause tsunamis, but many do. If the quake is located near or directly under the
ocean, the probability of a tsunami increases. When you hear that an earthquake has occurred in the ocean
or coastline regions, prepare for a tsunami emergency.
Tsunamis can occur at any time, day or night. They can travel up rivers and streams that lead to the ocean.
A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of waves. Stay out of danger until an "ALL CLEAR" is issued by a
competent authority.
Approaching tsunamis are sometimes heralded by noticeable rise or fall of coastal waters. This is nature's
tsunami warning and should be heeded.
Approaching large tsunamis are usually accompanied by a loud roar that sounds like a train or aircraft. If a
tsunami arrives at night when you can not see the ocean, this is also nature's tsunami warning and should be
heeded.
A small tsunami at one beach can be a giant a few miles away. Do not let modest size of one make you lose
respect for all.
Sooner or later, tsunamis visit every coastline in the Pacific. All tsunamis - like hurricanes - are potentially
dangerous even though they may not damage every coastline they strike.
Never go down to the beach to watch for a tsunami!
WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE WAVE YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO ESCAPE.
Tsunamis can move faster than a person can run!
During a tsunami emergency, your local emergency management office, police, fire and other emergency
organizations will try to save your life. Give them your fullest cooperation.
Homes and other buildings located in low lying coastal areas are not safe. Do NOT stay in such buildings if
there is a tsunami warning.
The upper floors of high, multi-story, reinforced concrete hotels can provide refuge if there is no time to
quickly move inland or to higher ground.
If you are on a boat or ship and there is time, move your vessel to deeper water (at least 100 fathoms). If it is
the case that there is concurrent severe weather, it may may safer to leave the boat at the pier and physically
move to higher ground.
Damaging wave activity and unpredictable currents can effect harbor conditions for a period of time after the
tsunami's initial impact. Be sure conditions are safe before you return your boat or ship to the harbor.
Stay tuned to your local radio, marine radio, NOAA Weather Radio, or television stations during a tsunami
emergency - bulletins issued through your local emergency management office and National Weather
Service offices can save your life.

Safety tips for dealing with a tsunami

Shipali Sharma | Sep 07, 2010 | Comments 0

A Tsunami is a natural disaster that has occurred frighteningly

frequently in various parts of the world in the preceding decade. This makes for a
need for everyone living in or near coastal areas to be completely aware of what
exactly a tsunami is and the kind of damage it can cause to lives and property. A
tsunami is a massive wave of ocean water that rushes towards the coast at a mind
boggling pace and with a huge height due to an earthquake on the sea bed. Such a
wave can be extremely powerful and reduce everything in its path to rubble. It is
thus vital to be aware of the safety tips and precautions that can be followed to
remain safe and secure during a tsunami and increase ones chances of surviving
such an ordeal.
1. The first step is to make an assessment of the kind of risk and danger you are
in. You should try to gain knowledge about whether the town or city you live
in is located in a high risk zone or a relatively danger free zone.
2. If your town falls in a high risk zone that is vulnerable to tsunamis, you
should always try to remain updated on the weather reports in the region.
When an earthquake occurs on the floor of the sea, there is usually a time
gap before the wave actually hits the coast. This time must be well utilized
to escape or evacuate to higher ground or safer areas. Government warnings
must be adhered to and taken seriously.
3. An action plan must be in place that all your family members must be aware
of in case you find yourself in the midst of a tsunami. There should be
earmarked safety shelters that everyone must proceed to when such an event
happens. In case there is no such plan in place, there can be utter chaos and
confusion with no one really sure what to do next.
4. In case you are on a beach and observe the sea completely receding
backwards in a most unnatural way, you should rush away from the coast
line and try to go as far away from the area as possible. The waters receding
significantly is a sure shot sign of an oncoming tsunami. If a smaller wave

has already hit the shoreline and the waters have completely receded after
that, a tsunami is definitely on the way. The water is just gathering enough
potential energy to hit the shore hard.
5. If you are visiting a coastal region for a vacation or holiday in a high risk
area, you must choose a hotel that has safety measures and evacuation plans
in place to deal with a tsunami. The building where the hotel has been built
must be according to safety guidelines with enough exits and safety shelters
in place. You must also check whether the staff is well trained to handle such
emergencies.
6. If you are on a ferry or a ship out into the sea and have no time to rush away
from the coast line on the land when you hear a warning about a possible
tsunami, it is best to rush out into the sea as far from the coastline as
possible as the water will rush onto the land and this will leave you safe and
secure in the relatively calmer waters of the sea.
The points that have been compiled above can help keep you safe and sound and
prevent fatalities during a tsunami. The best thing to keep in mind is not to panic
and to instead maintain a sense of calm and wits about you to deal with such a
situation.