TSUNAMI WARNING INSTRUCTIONS
WHAT TO DO IN A TSUNAMI WARNING? • When an evacuation is necessary, sirens will sound. Significant and widespread land flooding is expected. Stay away from rivers, streams and any water channels that lead to the ocean due to strong tsunami wave action and currents. If you are not in a tsunami evacuation zone, stay where you are to minimize traffic congestion.
• Check Hawai‘i radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency information. (National news stations may not have information about Hawai‘i)
• Move boats and ships to deep water if there is time.
• Stay out of Tsunami Evacuation Zones until an “all- clear” is issued by local emergency officials. Obey local emergency and law enforcement authorities. Do not return to Tsunami Evacuation Zones until local authorities say it is safe. • Check local Hawai‘i radio/TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency information, regarding long- term public shelters and/or disaster assistance centers.
• Study the Tsunami Evacuation Information and Maps online at www.kauai.gov/kema, in the local Hawaiian Telcom White Pages Telephone Book, or at any Public Library
WHAT IS A TSUNAMI?
• Tsunamis are a series of very dangerous, large, long ocean waves. You cannot swim or surf tsunamis because they flood the land like a rushing river (or fast-rising tide) rather than curling and breaking like a regular surfing wave. Tsunamis pick up and carry debris, which greatly increases the chance of injury.
• Tsunami waves may keep coming for hours, with waves arriving every 10 minutes to one hour apart. The first wave may not be the largest.
• Tsunamis travel as fast as a jet airliner (approximately 500 mph) in the deep ocean with waves only a few inches high.
• As tsunamis approach the shore they slow down but increase dramatically in height. Tsunamis strike with devastating force and quickly flood all low-lying coastal areas threatening life and property. Historically, locations in Hawai‘i have been flooded with water more than 30 feet deep.
• Tsunamis are usually caused by shallow, undersea earthquakes.
• Tsunamis are less frequently caused by underwater volcanic eruptions, landslides, slumps, and meteorites.
• Homes and small buildings are not designed to withstand tsunami impacts.
THESE ARE NATURAL WARNING SIGNS THAT A TSUNAMI MAY BE APPROACHING
FEEL: Feel the earth shake (earthquake) so strong that you feel you cannot stand.
SEE: See the ocean water recede, swirl or act unusual.
HEAR: Hear the roar of the tsunami that sounds like a jet aircraft or freight train.
TSUNAMI ALERT LEVELS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER (PTWC)
• Tsunami Information Statement If a Tsunami Information Statement is issued, there is no tsunami threat.
• Tsunami Watch If a Tsunami Watch is issued, you should prepare and be ready to act because a tsunami may occur.
• Tsunami Advisory If a Tsunami Advisory is issued, you should move away from beaches and low-lying coastal areas and evacuate harbors/ marinas. Move boats and ships to deep water if there is time. You can expect strong currents and dangerous waves in coastal areas and waterways. But significant land flooding is not expected.
• Tsunami Warning If a Tsunami Warning is issued, quickly leave Red Tsunami Evacuation Zones (outlined in a bold line) to Green Safe Zones as indicated on the Tsunami Evacuation Map.
• Extreme Tsunami Warning If an Extreme Tsunami Warning is issued, quickly leave Yellow Extreme Tsunami Evacuation Zones (outlined in a dotted line) and Red Tsunami Evacuation Zones (outlined in a bold line) to Green Safe Zones as indicated on the Tsunami Evacuation Map. A very large magnitude 9+ earthquake may cause an extreme tsunami. There may only be 3.5 hours to evacuate before the first wave arrives.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency
www.kauai.gov/kema [email protected]
Phone (808) 241-1800
WHAT TO DO IN A TSUNAMI WARNING? • When an evacuation is necessary, sirens will sound. Significant and widespread land flooding is expected. Stay away from rivers, streams and any water channels that lead to the ocean due to strong tsunami wave action and currents. If you are not in a tsunami evacuation zone, stay where you are to minimize traffic congestion.
• Check Hawai‘i radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency information. (National news stations may not have information about Hawai‘i)
• Move boats and ships to deep water if there is time.
• Stay out of Tsunami Evacuation Zones until an “all- clear” is issued by local emergency officials. Obey local emergency and law enforcement authorities. Do not return to Tsunami Evacuation Zones until local authorities say it is safe. • Check local Hawai‘i radio/TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio for emergency information, regarding long- term public shelters and/or disaster assistance centers.
• Study the Tsunami Evacuation Information and Maps online at www.kauai.gov/kema, in the local Hawaiian Telcom White Pages Telephone Book, or at any Public Library
WHAT IS A TSUNAMI?
• Tsunamis are a series of very dangerous, large, long ocean waves. You cannot swim or surf tsunamis because they flood the land like a rushing river (or fast-rising tide) rather than curling and breaking like a regular surfing wave. Tsunamis pick up and carry debris, which greatly increases the chance of injury.
• Tsunami waves may keep coming for hours, with waves arriving every 10 minutes to one hour apart. The first wave may not be the largest.
• Tsunamis travel as fast as a jet airliner (approximately 500 mph) in the deep ocean with waves only a few inches high.
• As tsunamis approach the shore they slow down but increase dramatically in height. Tsunamis strike with devastating force and quickly flood all low-lying coastal areas threatening life and property. Historically, locations in Hawai‘i have been flooded with water more than 30 feet deep.
• Tsunamis are usually caused by shallow, undersea earthquakes.
• Tsunamis are less frequently caused by underwater volcanic eruptions, landslides, slumps, and meteorites.
• Homes and small buildings are not designed to withstand tsunami impacts.
THESE ARE NATURAL WARNING SIGNS THAT A TSUNAMI MAY BE APPROACHING
FEEL: Feel the earth shake (earthquake) so strong that you feel you cannot stand.
SEE: See the ocean water recede, swirl or act unusual.
HEAR: Hear the roar of the tsunami that sounds like a jet aircraft or freight train.
TSUNAMI ALERT LEVELS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER (PTWC)
• Tsunami Information Statement If a Tsunami Information Statement is issued, there is no tsunami threat.
• Tsunami Watch If a Tsunami Watch is issued, you should prepare and be ready to act because a tsunami may occur.
• Tsunami Advisory If a Tsunami Advisory is issued, you should move away from beaches and low-lying coastal areas and evacuate harbors/ marinas. Move boats and ships to deep water if there is time. You can expect strong currents and dangerous waves in coastal areas and waterways. But significant land flooding is not expected.
• Tsunami Warning If a Tsunami Warning is issued, quickly leave Red Tsunami Evacuation Zones (outlined in a bold line) to Green Safe Zones as indicated on the Tsunami Evacuation Map.
• Extreme Tsunami Warning If an Extreme Tsunami Warning is issued, quickly leave Yellow Extreme Tsunami Evacuation Zones (outlined in a dotted line) and Red Tsunami Evacuation Zones (outlined in a bold line) to Green Safe Zones as indicated on the Tsunami Evacuation Map. A very large magnitude 9+ earthquake may cause an extreme tsunami. There may only be 3.5 hours to evacuate before the first wave arrives.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency
www.kauai.gov/kema [email protected]
Phone (808) 241-1800
