Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
is no repository for past exercises to increase the effectiveness and transferability
of experiences. There is limited literature on the cost-effectiveness of table-top and
functional exercises. The committee concludes that evacuation drills that have the
public practice actual evacuation behavior are not advisable to prepare the public for
far-ield tsunamis. The inancial costs, signiicant planning requirements, unnecessary
individual and business interruptions, and the number of hours to respond during an
actual far-ield evacuation far outweigh the beneits of having individuals practice
walking to higher ground or vertically evacuating.
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Near-ield tsunami threats:
Initial evacuations will be self-directing after at-risk
individuals recognize natural cues. The committee concludes, however, that table-
top and functional exercises are still important because of the signiicant response
and relief operations after the initial tsunami wave arrives. For small communities,
the committee concludes that these community-led, voluntary drills may be useful
in promoting tsunami awareness, providing social cues, and building social networks,
but only in very small communities or villages that may have less than 30 minutes to
evacuate and limited vertical evacuation options.
Recommendation:
To ensure that managed evacuations for far-ield tsunamis are
effective and that they minimize societal and economic interruptions, the NTHMP
should develop guidelines on the design of effective exercises for use by emergency
management agencies. The NTHMP should also evaluate these exercises from an
economic and social cost-beneit perspective and should provide a repository for exercise
evaluations in order to increase the transferability of observations. Public tests of the
tsunami warning system paired with increased outreach through TsunamiReady and other
awareness programs should be undertaken regularly and reported to the repository. For
small communities in Alaska, the Paciic Northwest, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories in the
Paciic Ocean that have near-ield tsunami sources, short tsunami arrival times, and limited
vertical evacuation options, voluntary evacuation practices (e.g., households, schoolrooms,
neighborhood gatherings) may be useful elements in larger tsunami-education efforts.
To the extent possible, the NTHMP should provide evidence-based guidance on how to
include them in a community-based education program.
POST-EVENT RECONNAISSANCE
Post-event ield surveys are crucial for gaining understanding of tsunami characteristics,
behaviors, impacts, and people's behavior that reduced the impact of the tsunami. Measured
run-up height distributions and low patterns are critical data that can be used for the valida-
tion of both hydrodynamic and tsunami source models. Because it is dificult and likely too
costly to prepare, install, and maintain adequate instruments to measure the effects at enough
onshore locations and times, ield surveys are likely the best alternative to collecting this
important data.
