The 2004 Sumatra Tsunami andThe 2004 Sumatra Tsunami and U.S. Tsunami Preparedness U.S. Tsunami Preparedness

Harold Mofjeld NOAA/PMEL and NOAA

Tsunami Research Program

Seattle, Washington

Harold Mofjeld NOAA/PMEL and NOAA

Tsunami Research Program

Seattle, Washington

ObjectivesObjectives

By the end of this session you should be able to:

• Help citizens identify tsunami warning signs and actions they should take

• Describe the tsunami warning system and tsunami preparedness programs

PollPoll

Do you know the natural warning signs of a tsunami?

o Yes

o No

Warnings Signs of TsunamiWarnings Signs of Tsunami

• Earthquake, ground shaking

• Water withdrawing from shoreline

• Sound like freight train coming from ocean

Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Emergency Report : January 8, 2005

Estimated damage: $13.6 B

Estimated damage: $13.6 B

2004 Sumatra Tsunami Damage2004 Sumatra Tsunami Damage

Estimated death toll: 150,000+

Estimated death toll: 150,000+

Northeast Indian Ocean TectonicsNortheast Indian Ocean Tectonics

Sou

rce:

US

GS

USGS Shake MapUSGS Shake Map

Vasily Titov NOAA/PMELVasily Titov NOAA/PMEL

Tide Gages: Maximum Wave AmplitudeTide Gages: Maximum Wave Amplitude

Two Hours After the EarthquakeTwo Hours After the Earthquake

Thailand Tsunami SurveyThailand Tsunami Survey

Wave Height in ThailandWave Height in Thailand

Khoa Lak, ThailandKhoa Lak, Thailand

Tsunamis in the Pacific NorthwestTsunamis in the Pacific Northwest

Three Different Types:

– Trans-Pacific Tsunamis

– Cascadia Regional Tsunamis

– Local Puget Sound Tsunamis

Peak Ground Acceleration Peak Ground Acceleration

Puget Sound TsunamisPuget Sound Tsunamis

Cascadia SZ

U.S. National Tsunami U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation ProgramHazard Mitigation Program

GoalReduce the impact oftsunamis on UScoastal communities

StatesAlaska California Hawaii Oregon Washington

Federal Agencies

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin.

• U.S. Geological Survey

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

Frank González, NOAA TIME Center, PMEL, Seattle, WA

Deep-ocean Assessment Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART)and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART)

• BPR measures changes in pressure at seafloor

• Data sent to surface buoy, then to the warning centers by satellite

• Transmissions limited to hourly reporting of 15 minute data

• When seismic/ tsunami wave detected, system put into alert mode for continuous reporting

Rockaway Beach Evacuation MapRockaway Beach Evacuation Map

Tsunami signs in Tsunami signs in Rockaway Beach, ORRockaway Beach, OR

Tsunami Warnings for Pacific StatesTsunami Warnings for Pacific States

• Alaska

• California

• Hawaii

• Oregon

• Washington

PollPollWhat is the best time to help residents identify tsunami warning signs and what actions to take?

A. Now

B. Periodically

C. All of the above

D. None of the above

Questions?Questions?