Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE J.1 Tsunami Wave Height—Forecast and Observed
Tsunami Wave Height—Forecast and Observed
PWTC Forecast “Crest to Trough” a
PWTC Observed Wave Amplitudes b
0624 HST Forecast 2
1338 PTWC Message 2
Hilo
2.5m
Hilo
~1m 1
Kahalui
2.2
Kahalui
0.98m
Nawiliwili
0.9m
Nawiliwili
0.28m
Haleiwa
0.5m
Kawaihae
0.6m
Kawaihae 0.52m
Barbers Pt 0.19m
Kaumalapau 0.18m
1 Media Reported PTWC Value
1025 HST Forecast 2
Hilo 2.1-2.5m
Honolulu 0.5-0.7m
Kahului 1.1-3.0m
Nawiliwili 0.9-1.4m
Haleiwia 0.5-1.1m
Kawaihae 0.6-1.6m
a Reported as “Amplitudes Crest to Trough.”
b Amplitudes reported relative to normal sea level (approximately one-half of wave height or “amplitude
measured crest to trough”).
SOURCE: Committee staff.
Response by Decision Makers
The irst evidence of evacuation recommendations appears in a 03:51 HST newspaper
article in the form of a quote from the spokesman for the Oahu Emergency Management De-
partment (“If you live anywhere in the evacuation zone, you have to evacuate. This is a serious
event. We're going to treat this as a destructive-type tsunami;” Box J.2); an oficial release from
the Department of Emergency Management provided additional evacuation information. The
oficial release did not contain a time/date stamp, but refers to the 06:00 HST activation of the
evacuation sirens in the future tense, indicating that it was released prior to the siren activa-
tion. 6 This suggests that the decision to evacuate low-lying areas was made after a tsunami
warning was announced at 00:46 HST, but before the irst wave amplitudes (crest to trough)
forecasts were received at 06:24 HST.
Actions taken by local oficials have been praised, but also criticized as excessive in light of
observed tsunami activity. At this time, it is still unclear what information led oficials to order
the evacuation of low-lying areas and undertake other preparatory measures such as securing
power to sewage treatment plants and associated infrastructure.
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search