TSUNAMI TSUNAMI

Introduction
Even though most people were not aware of the tsunami risk in India's coastal states, the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26th December 2004 exposed the inherent of the coastal communities in our 8129km long coastline. But still.

What is Tsunami?
A Japanese term

"harbour wave="tsu" meaning harbour and "nami" meaning wave

to describe a system of ocean gravity waves having a long wave length andperiod (time between crests), formed as a result of largescale disturbance of the sea caused by an earthquake.

Contd

hazardous ocean waves characterized by an enormous wavelength and high velocity. Sudden disturbance. The most common disturbance is a large earthquake beneath the seafloor. but tsunami may also be triggered by volcanic eruptions, landslides, or meteor impacts. Tsunami are not related to tides, so the term tidal wave should be avoided.

How are tsunamis generated?

Tsunamis are generated by any large, impulsive displacement of the sea bed level. Earthquakes generate tsunamis by vertical movement of the sea floor. If the sea floor movement is horizontal, a tsunami is not generated. Earthquakes of M 6.5 are critical for tsunami generation. Tsunamis are also triggered by landslides into or under the water surface, and can be generated by volcanic activity and meteorite impacts.

Types of Tsunami:
1.Tele tsunami 2.Landslide tsunami 3.Volcanic tsunami 4.Tectonic tsunami

Indian Ocean Tsunami of 26th Dec 2004

26th December 2004 is one of the most destructive Tsunamis known to have hit India and 13 other countries in the Indian Ocean region.
With a combined toll of 238,000 casualties (including 51,500 people missing), and roughly more than 1.5 million people displaced in fourteen countries. It resulted in damage and destruction of property, assets and infrastructure in the coastal areas. In India 10,749 people lost their lives due to the tsunami and 5,640 people were missing in the Tsunami affected areas.

Tsunami hazard
Tsunamis can travel up to 1,000 km/hr in the open ocean Tsunamis can impact coasts on either ocean-wide, regional (~ 1,000 km) or local (~100 km) scales. Damage from a tsunami is caused by inundation (flooding of the land surface), wave impact, and sediment erosion and deposition. It causes inundation and flooding wiping out fishery business, disrupting tourism, polluting drinkingwater,damaging vegetation and crops,destroying shelters and damaging coastal navigation syste It also causes widespread damage to jetties, harbours and coastal structures. It will also cause large number of toll

WARNING SYSTEMS
iMany countries around the Pacific, including Hawaii, have warning systems and evacuation procedures in the event of a serious tsunami.

contd

As part of the Early Warning System for Tsunamis and Storm Surges in Indian Ocean set up by GoI, a 17-station Real Time Seismic Monitoring Network (RTSMN) is envisaged to be established by IMD. This network is designed to monitor and report the occurrence of earthquakes capable of generating Tsunamis from the two probable Tsunamigenic sources 1.Java-Sumatra-Andaman-Myanmar belt and

2.north Arabian Sea area in the least possible time.

Tsunami mitigation measures

Structural measures:
1.Construction of cyclone shelters

2. Plantation of mangroves and coastal forests along the coast line

3. Development of a network of local knowledge centers (rural/urban) along the coast lines to provide necessary training and emergency communication during crisis time(e.g. M.S. Swaminathan Foundation in Pondicherry 4. Construction of location specific sea walls and coral reefs in consultation with experts 5. Development of break waters along the coast to provide necessary cushion against cyclone and tsunami hazards

6. Development of tsunami detection, forecasting and warning disseminati on centres 7. Development of a Bio-Shield - a narrow strip of land along coastline. 8. Identification of vulnerable structures and appropriate retrofitting for tsunami/cyclone resistance new facilities Critical infrastructures e.g. power stations, warehouses, oil and other storage tanks etc. located along the coastline

Non-Structural Measures:
1. Strict implementation of the coastal zone regulations (within 500 m of the high tide line with elevation of <15 m above m.s.l. 2. Mapping the coastal area for multiple hazards, vulnerability and risk analysis upto taluka village level.

3. Development of Disaster Information Management System (DIMS) in all the coastal states.
4. Developing tools and techniques for risk transfer in highly vulnerable areas 5. Launching a series of public awareness campaign throughout the coastal area

6. Training of local administration in forecasting warning dissemination and evacuation techniques

7. Awareness generation and training among the fishermen, coast guards, officials from fisheries department and port authorities and local district officials etc.
8.Regular drills should be conducted to test the efficacy of the DM plans. 8. Studies focusing on the tsunami risk in India may be taken under NCRM project.

If a tsunami appoaches.
If you are at the beach and see the tide recedes strangely and completely, evacuate immediately; and run in the opposite direction. If u r in the house come out suddenly As you move very quickly, away from the sea, warn as many people as possible whilst doing so Make sure you get your kids too, just in case something doesn't workout and if your children is in danger make sure whatever happens that it happens together. If a distant tsunami is detected, major cities are alerted a few hours or less before the tsunami hits The first time you hear of a tsunami coming and want to be safe, pack up and drive inland to a city/town when ever you hear an official warning of tsunami, dont take it easy. be ready to evacuate the area , and go to another high land, far away with your family.

What to do after tsunami?

You

should continue using a Weather Radio or staying tuned to a Coast Guard emergency frequency station or a local radio or television station for updated emergency information. Check yourself for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons.

Help people who require special assistance

Avoid disaster areas.

Stay out of a building if water remains around it.

When re-ent eri ng buildings or homes, use ext reme caution.

watch every step you take.

Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Inspect foundations for cracks or other damage.

Look for fire hazards.

Check for gas leaks.

Look for electrical system damage.

Check for damage to sewage and water lines .

Watch out for wild animals

Take pictures of the damage out

Expect aftershocks

Education on Tsunamis
1. NDMA has initiated the efforts in collaboration with nodal agencies like the UGC, AICTE, MCI, ICAR, etc. to include DM in the educational curricula 2. ICAR has already included DM in the curricula for agriculture. 3. State Governments must endeavour to strengthen tsunami education by incorporating the best available technical and non-technical inputs on tsunami safety in educational curricula. 4. Tsunami education will address the multifaceted aspects of tsunami management, especially preparedness, mitigation and response efforts

THANK YOU