# Presentation: 707786

## HAWAIITSUNAMIWARNINGSYSTEM:EMERGENCY RESPONSE and TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS

**HAWAII****TSUNAMI****WARNING****SYSTEM:****EMERGENCY RESPONSE and TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS**

***Brian Yanagi, IOC ***
***International Tsunami Information Centre***

**Notes:**
In Hawaii, the State Disaster Management Office (SDMO) is called the State Civil Defense and the County DMOs are called the Oahu County Civil Defense, Maui County Civiil Defense, and Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency.  The SDMO is responsible for coordinating the tsunami response and for sounding the 1st siren.  The County DMOs are responsible for the ensuing sirens.  The County DMO organizes the evacuation and issues the ALL-CLEAR signal that informs the Public that it is safe to return to the inundation zone.  In the USA, at the Federal Agency level, the NDMO is called the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  

## Major Natural Disaster Fatalities in Hawaii during the 20th Century

**13 Pacific-wide tsunamis hit the Hawaiian Islands. **
**The three most destructive tsunamis caused a combined total of 222 deaths and hundreds of injuries:**
**April 1, 1946 (Aleutian Islands)**
**May 23, 1960 (Chile)**
**November 29, 1975 (Kalapana)**

## Hilo, April 1946

**Hilo, April 1946**

**Notes:**
The April 1, 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake generated a destructive tsunami that killed 159 statewide.  This event resulted in the formation of the Seismic Sea Wave Warning System in 1949 that later became the PTWC.

## Hilo, May 1960

**Hilo, May 1960**

**Notes:**
The 1960 M9.5 Chile earthquake generated a destructive tsunami that killed people in Hawaii 14 hours after it was generated, and in Japan 22 hours after the earthquakes.  Because of this, the International Tsunami Warning System was formed.  The International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ITSU) 1st convened in 1968.  The PTWC and ITIC were initiated in 1965 as a result of an international experts meeting in Honolulu that was convened in response to the Chile earthquake.

## PTWC AND HAWAII AS EXAMPLE OF END-TO-END SYSTEM

**HAWAII DID TSUNAMI ****HAZARD ASSESSMENTS**** IN THE 1970’s AND CONTINUE TO UPDATE**
**TSUNAMI ****EVACUATION ZONES**** PUBLISHED IN TELEPHONE BOOKS**
**PUBLIC ****EDUCATION PROGRAMS**** IN PLACE INCLUDING A “TSUNAMI AWARENESS MONTH”**
**STATE AND COUNTIES RECEIVE PTWC BULLETINS BY ****MULTIPLE MEANS**
**PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED BY ****MULTIPLE MEANS****: SIRENS, RADIO, TELEVISION, AIRPLANES**

## PTWC AND HAWAII AS EXAMPLE OF END-TO-END SYSTEM

**COUNTIES PARTICIPATE IN NWS ****TSUNAMI-READY**** PROGRAM**
**STATE CONDUCTS SEMI-ANNUAL ****TSUNAMI EXERCISES**
**STATE AND COUNTIES HAVE ****PRE-ESTABLISHED**** ****PROCEDURES**** FOR CARRYING OUT TSUNAMI EVACUATIONS AND RESPONSE WITH POLICE, FIRE, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS  **

## PTWC AND HAWAII AS EXAMPLE OF END-TO-END SYSTEM

**STATE ORGANIZES AND HOLDS SEMI-ANNUAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS OF ITS ****TSUNAMI TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE**** THAT INCLUDES PTWC, EMERGENCY MANAGERS, EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, AND SCIENTISTS**
**STATE OF HAWAII AND ITS COUNTIES HAVE EXPERTS THAT SERVE AS ****TSUNAMI ADVISORS**
**HAWAII PARTICIPATES IN THE ****U.S. NATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM**

## Hawaii Civil Defense System

**MISSION**

**AUTHORITIES**

** ****Minimize loss of life and property**
** ****Provide for welfare & safety of citizens**
** ****Restore vital services**
** ****Provide for continuity of government**
** ****Manage resources for recovery**

** ****Federal, State laws**
** ****Governor’s Directive to lead Emergency Response**

**Notes:**
The above five statements comprise the mission charter for the Hawaii State Civil Defense system.  While most are self explanatory, the provision for continuity of government ensures that critical government functions and services will be maintained in the aftermath of a crisis.  The State Emergency Operating Center in Diamond Head Crater is devised to serve as an alternate seat of government to house the governor and key officials should services be interrupted or shut down.

## Mitigation

**Mitigation**

**Insurance Coverage**
**Regulations**
**Codes**
**Legislation**

**Preparedness**

**Plans**
**Information**
**Training**
**Education**
**Resources**

**Response**

**Alert**
**Notification**
**Law Enforcement**
**Fire/Rescue**
**Medical**
**Utilities**

**Recovery**

**Funding**
**Loans**
**Grants**
**Assistance**
**Insurance**

***Pre-Event***

***Post-Event***

**Comprehensive**
**Emergency**
**Management**

**Notes:**
Integrated, comprehensive emergency management addresses all hazards.  
There are four phases which establish the framework for a fully functional Civil Defense System.
1. Mitigation activities help to reduce or eliminate the impact of disaster for life safety and cost controls.
2. Preparedness focuses on the readiness of disaster workers from all levels of government.
3. Perhaps the most visible, response activities focus available resources on the disaster event itself to protect life and property.
4. Recovery activities provide disaster assistance in the form of loans, grants and in-kind services to help restore the social and economic wellbeing of the community.  Recovery may take years to complete, depending the level of damage.

## Hawaii Civil Defense System

**Hawaii Civil Defense System**

**Federal Agencies**
**State Agencies**
**County Agencies**
**Private Supporting Agencies**

**Notes:**

	The Hawaii Civil Defense System is the product of a partnership between federal, state and county agencies, as well as private nonprofit agencies, like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and a host of volunteer organizations.

## Sirens                                                            Emergency Alert System

- Radios
- Telephones/Hotlines
- Wire
- Data Systems
- Satellite

- Emergency Communications

**Notes:**
A full array of emergency communications is in place statewide.  Ranging from siren and public broadcast systems to digital and satellite systems, communications are the primary link for response agencies at all levels of government.  The system is tiered to provide failsafe communications, providing backup for power failure and wind damage.

## Statewide Siren Warning System

- 356 total sirens Statewide:
**Kauai****	****	****	****47 **
**Oahu****	****	****	****176**
**Maui****	****	****	****66**
**Big Island****	****	****67**
- All sirens are radio controlled.
- New sirens are solar powered.

## How it Works(Emergency Alert System, EAS):

**Activated by:         National Weather Service                     State Civil Defense County Civil Defense**

**EAS Audio & Alarm**

**Audio**

**Audio & Crawlers**

**BROADCASTERS**

## Emergency Alert System (EAS) - SCD EOC initiates public message, - Transmits immediately by dedicated microwave link - Designated radio stations - neighbor islands - TV broadcasts (crawlers) originate from Honolulu

**Emergency Alert System (EAS) *****- SCD EOC initiates public message, ******- Transmits immediately by dedicated microwave link ******- Designated radio stations - neighbor islands ******- TV broadcasts (crawlers) originate from Honolulu***

## Emergency Communications

- - Systems tested weekly

**Notes:**
An array of telephones and hotlines are part of the multi-tiered emergency communications system.  Vital links include the National Warning System (NAWAS), a nationwide network of 2600 agencies, and the Hawaii Warning System (HAWAS), linking local agencies around the state.  As state and county warning points, police dispatch stations relay emergency information to state and county civil defense agencies.

	Hotlines to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific Command provide a single entry point for coordination with all branches of the military.

	A 60-channel computer notifier system dispatches emergency information to state agencies involved in response and recovery operations.

	In the State Emergency Operating Center,  voice communications are monitored by recorder for the duration of an activation to provide transcripts for the record.    

## Emergency Management Data Systems

**STATE EOC**
**Six Servers (Including Backup)**
**SUN Sparc Stations (email & web site)**
**Micron NT Servers (Office automation)**

**FIBER OPTIC**
**CONNECTIVITY**
**Maui PDC**
**Statewide**
**Nationwide**

**STATE DIGITAL**
** ****MICROWAVE**
**wide area network**
**PC’s-Oahu,Kauai, **
**Maui,Hawaii EOC’s**

**LOCAL AREA NETWORK**
**Workstations, Printers,**
**Scanners, CD Rom Tower****        **

**SATELLITE BACKUP,**
**WIRELESS LINKS**
**Connecting County EOC’s**

**Notes:**
Emergency Management Data Systems employ state-of-the-art technology. The system includes local area and wide area networks, with fiber optic and digital microwave connectivity.  Also online are a geographic information system for mapping, and internet and intranet sites established for emergency response communications.

## Tsunami Evacuation Mapslocated in the front of Telephone White Pages

**Notes:**
Evacuation maps, based on one-dimensional numerical modelling and historical event inundation data, were created in the early 1990s and placed at the front of all telephone books.  Vertical evacuation is allowed when evacuation inland is not possible.  Current policy is that evacuation to the 4th floor or higher is allowed for steel reinforced and/or concrete buildings 6 or more stories tall.  This is  permitted officially only in Waikiki, Oahu.  Evacuations are advisory only, as the police cannot arrest or order a person to evacuate; the exception is in Hawaii County where evacuations, when issued, are punishable by law (e.g., the police can arrest persons who do not comply).

## Local Tsunami Threat:30 minutes to Waikiki, Oahu

**Local Tsunami Threat:****30 minutes to Waikiki, Oahu**

**Notes:**
Hawaii’s local tsunami threat is is related to the large earthquakes associated with the active volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii.  A large earthquake can generate a tsunami which would hit local areas in minutes and the densely populated Waikiki tourist area in 30 minutes.  

## SENSE-ing a Tsunami

**TOUCH**
**Strong local earthquakes may cause tsunamis.**
**FEEL** **the ****ground shaking**** severely? Evacuate low-lying coastal areas and move inland to higher ground!**
**SIGHT**
**As a tsunami approaches shorelines, water may recede from the coast, exposing the ocean floor and reefs. **
**SEE**** ****an unusual ****disappearance of water****? Evacuate low-lying coastal areas and move inland to higher ground!**
**SOUND**
**The abnormal ocean activity, a wall of water, and approaching tsunami waves create a loud “roaring” sound similar to that of a train or jet aircraft.**
**HEAR** **the ****roar****? Evacuate low-lying coastal areas and move inland to higher ground!**

**Notes:**
The 3 Natural Tsunami Warning Signs – every person living on the coast should know these, especially in areas where local tsunamis are a threat.

## Local Tsunami Warning & Evacuation

***PTWC issues an urgent tsunami warning***** for local earthquakes magnitude 6.9 or greater. **
***County Warning Points sound sirens***** in designated Counties (e.g. Hawaii and Maui Counties). **
***National Weather Service broadcasts***** warning and evacuation through the *****EAS*****.**
***EOC activate***** and prepare for disaster response operations.**

**Notes:**
For a local tsunami warning, the State Warning Points, which are located in police stations and manned 24x7, immediately sound sirens upon VOICE notification from the PTWC.  The HAWAS (Hawaii Warning System) is a dedicated voice telephone hotline that directly connects emergency agencies in Hawaii, including the PTWC and the National Weather Service; the system is voice- tested via roll calls to all participating agencies and contact points 2x daily.  The State and County CDs, which are not manned 24x7, do not get involved until after the sirens are sounded.

## LOCAL TSUNAMI WARNING – RADIO BROADCAST SCRIPT

- “The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami Warning for the Islands of (select islands or geographical location).
- A local tsunami has been generated.  Immediately evacuate all beaches and all low lying coastal areas.  Move inland to higher ground or move to the 3rd floor and above in reinforced concrete buildings.
- I Repeat, .....

## 15 hrs

*15 hrs*

*4.5 hrs*

## Distant TsunamiWarning & Evacuation

***PTWC issues Tsunami Watch and Warning Bulletins***** to the State of Hawaii for distant earthquakes magnitude 7.9 or greater.**** **
**Emergency Operation Centers***** (EOC) activate and alert***** emergency response agencies.**
**EOC coordinate***** siren sounding *****statewide***** at least 3 hours before 1st wave arrival***** in conjunction with radio and television Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts.**
**EOC coordinate***** school closures *****and***** release of government workforce***** within tsunami evacuation zones. **
**EOC prepare for disaster response operations.**

**Notes:**
The EOC is not activated until a significant earthquake has occurred.  Siren sounding is coordinated via teleconference call among relevant agencies.  Tsunami information is coordinated with PTWC with the assistance of SCD and County CD Tsunami Advisors.  Tsunami advisors are scientists who carry CD pagers and who report to the EOC when the EOCs are activitated.  The Tsunami Advisors conference with PTWC scientists and provide liaison to CD to minimize the PTWC-CD interactions, thus allowing PTWC to concentrate on PTWC science operations.  Following horrendous traffic jams that occurred in 1986 during a tsunami evacuation, new procedures were instituted in which schools would be responsible for their children during tsunami alarms, and only workers in the inundation zone would be released from work.

## Oahu Bus Routes & Roadblocks

***City buses***** along the shoreline will alter their routes and *****shuttle people***** to the nearest inland shelter. **
***Police***** ****will**** *****establish roadblocks***** 45 minutes prior to first wave arrival. **
**All emergency**** *****response personnel***** ****will**** *****cease operations***** and move inland to safety *****30 minutes prior***** to first wave arrival. **
**Special concern in Hawaii is education of surfers – *****tsunamis are not surfing waves*****!**

**Notes:**
A concern for Hawaii has been with surfers.  During 1994, as many as 400 surfers were reported to ignore the evacuation advisory, and instead went into the water thinking they would like to catch the tsunami wave.  The 1994 wave was not destructive, but alerted SCD to the need for better education of the surfing community to tell them that tsunami waves are not surfable.

## Public Safety Notification“ALL CLEAR”

**PTWC**** will ****cancel**** the ****tsunami warning**** when destructive waves have ceased. **
**Search & Rescue operations commence. **
**County Civil Defense**** agencies announce ****“All Clear”**** over radio and television. No sirens will sound.**
**Public may return**** to coastlines after ****“All Clear”**** is announced**.

**Notes:**
The PTWC cancels tsunami warnings, but does NOT provide information to the public as to whether it is safe for them to return.  The County CDs are responsible for this.  It is absolutely IMPORTANT that countries (and their public) understand the difference between the warning cancellation message (issued by the warning center) and the “All-Clear” message (issued by local emergency authorities and which is the public safety message).  There needs to be clear authority established in each country for these activities and responsibilities.

## 1986, 1994 Tsunami WarningsMedia Reports

**Pacific -wide Tsunami Warnings Issued          Sirens sounded, Statewide evacuations        Small, non-destructive tsunamis**
**1986 - mid-afternoon to pm rush hour                      1994 - early morning to am rush hour**
**Losses                                                        1994 (DBEDT Study) => $50M                  1986 (extrapolated) => $30M                    2003 (extrapolated) => $68M**
**Media reports shape public opinion**

**Notes:**
A “False warning” costs a lot of money, especially in tourism-dependent economies such as Hawaii’s.  When (what time of day and whether it is a work day, weekend, or holiday) the tsunami occurs will affect how easy or how difficult it will be to carry out an evacuation.  Media are very crucial communication mechanisms, and should be a target audience for education; an educated media can help tremendously, and conversely, and an uninformed media can cause significant harm.

## EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS:  Conducting ExercisesHAWAII DISTANT TSUNAMI EXERCISE

**April 1, 2005**

**Notes:**
Emergency preparedness requires constant practice so that people know what to do, and potential technical or other procedural difficulties are addressed and resolved before the actual crisis.

## PURPOSE

**The statewide distant tsunami exercise will focus on Hawaii’s ability to respond to a distant tsunami from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.**
**The exercise provides an opportunity for participants to *****review their distant tsunami response procedures***** and to promote emergency preparedness.**** **
**The exercise is *****planned by SCD with PTWC*****, who plays by issuing prescripted voice messages on the HAWAS and sending other electronic and hard copy messages.**

## EXERCISE OBJECTIVES

**Validate:**
**Warning and Communications Procedures**** for a distant generated tsunami. **
**Organizational**** ****Procedures ****in emergency.**** **
**Review:**
**Organization ****Procedures for Evacuation****:**
**Inland Evacuations**
**Vertical Evacuations**
**Public Transportation**
**Kick off “April Tsunami Awareness Month” Public Awareness Campaign.**

## EXERCISE SCENARIO

**10:15 a.m.**** ****	****An ****earthquake**** greater than 8.0 magnitude ****	****	****	****occurs in the vicinity of the Alaska Aleutian ****	****	****	****Islands.**
**10:25 a.m.**** ****	****Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) ****	****	****	****issues a ****Tsunami Watch Bulletin**** for the ****	****	****	****State of Hawaii. First wave arrival to Hawaii is ****	****	****4 hrs 30 mins after earthquake origin time.**
** ****	****	****	****	**
**11:45 a.m.**** ****	****Hawaii placed in a ****Tsunami Warning**** (3 hours       ****	****	****before first wave arrival at 2:45 p.m.)  ****	****	****	****	****Statewide siren**** sounding (monthly Siren ****	****	****	****System test).**
**  ****2:45 p.m.**** ****	****First wave**** arrival.**
**  ****3:30 p.m. ****	****End of Exercise.**

## EXAMPLE, HAWAII:

***EXAMPLE, HAWAII:***
***STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION MECHANISM***
***IMPLEMENTATION, POLICY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MEDIA, OUTREACH, EDUCATION***

## HAWAII TSUNAMI TECHNICALREVIEW COMMITTEE (TTRC)

***Reduce risk of tsunamis****** to State of Hawaii***** *****Founded 1998, meets 2x/year                    Funded by State & NOAA****** ******(NTHMP)***
***	***
***Scientists, engineers, planners, Emergency managers, public affairs personnel***
***	******NOAA, FEMA, USACE, USCG,                                      DOD, FEB, Univ. Hawai`i,                                             Pacific Disaster Center,                                                    Red Cross, Pacific Tsunami                                      Museum,***** *****State & Local                                             Agencies (DOE, DBEDT, DOT,                                    DLNR, CZM, Warning Points,                                                       Civil Defense,                                                              Tsunami advisors)******                                 ***
***	***

**Notes:**
The SCD runs the Tsunami Coordination Committee for Hawaii.  Meetings are attended by 40-60 people and provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to hear the current information and provide input and discussion to improve tsunami mitigation procedures and activities.

## HAWAII TTRC

***	******Hazard ID, Risk Assessment, Warning Guidance                                     Awareness and Mitigation ***
***Recent TTRC Agenda Topics***
***        ******PTWC Operations Report******	***
***      ******Runup and Inundation Modelling – Evacuation Maps***
***      ******Tsunami Observer Program, Post-Tsunami Survey Plan***
***      ******Multi-Level Regional Warning and Coastal Evacuation***
***      ******Statewide Exercise - Local Tsunami***** **
***      ******Public Affairs Working Group Activities (Awareness Month)***
***          ******Event Response, “Expert” Contact List, Press Pool, Web***
***     ******Social Science Perspectives on Tsunami Warnings***
***     ******Maritime operations during tsunami events –***
***     ******Ocean Currents in Harbors, Shipping ports, boating safety***
***     ******Civil Air Patrol Capabilities***
***     ******Working Groups:  Emergency Mgmt, Scientific , ******Public Affairs***

**Notes:**
The topics are varied and multi-disciplinary.  Typically, PTWC provides information on events and warning center improvements.  Scientists provide information on current activities related to reducing tsunami risk in Hawaii.  Emergency procedures and policies are discussed and acted upon.  Recently, much effort has focused on the marine community, both recreational boaters and commercial and shipping operations.  In Hawaii, the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer air service, provides tsunami warnings via airplane over beaches and sea coasts where sirens are weak or do not exist.  The Public Affairs Working Group (PAWG) is very active as the lead for informing and increasing public awareness, safety, and preparedness.

## Any Questions?

***For further information, contact:***
***Laura Kong***
***Brian Yanagi***
***IOC International Tsunami Information Centre***
- _[l.kong@unesco.org](mailto:l.kong@unesco.org)_***, ***_[brian.yanagi@noaa.gov](mailto:brian.yanagi@noaa.gov)_
***itic.tsunami@noaa.gov***