Introduction of Awardees
Prof. Nobuo Shuto: Emeritus Professor of Tohoku University, Japan; Professor ofNihon University, Japan
Professor Nobuo Shuto established a tsunami numerical model to predicttsunami characteristics and behaviors in the nearshore zone. He led the TIME
(Tsunami Inundation Modeling Exchange) project supported by UNESCO
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and made the numericalmodel of Tohoku University accessible without fees. His numerical model
became the standard for UNESCO/IOC, and was transferred to 24 countries
and 52 organizations, including the United States, Korea, Turkey, and Mexico.
He also contributes to the quantification of tsunami damage based on
post-tsunami field surveys. In the recovery process from the 2011 Tohoku
Earthquake, a combination of his numerical model and his method of damage
estimation is being utilized to guide the optimal siting of residential zones aswell as the structural requirements for residential buildings. He was awarded
the International Coastal Engineering Award given by the American Society ofCivil Engineers and the Japan Academy Prize for “Comprehensive research on
tsunami hazard mitigation.”

Dr. Eddie Bernard: Former Director of NOAA’s Pacific Marine EnvironmentalLaboratory, USADr. Eddie Bernard, who served as the founding chair of the U.S. NationalTsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, made significant contributions to thedevelopment of the tsunami detection and flooding forecast system in use in
the United States and along the Pacific Rim. These flooding forecasts are
based on real-time data obtained by DART buoys, which accurately measuretsunamis in the deep sea and transmit these data thorough satellites totsunami warning centers. Deep sea tsunami data are then assimilated into
numerical models that forecast flooding before tsunami arrival. After the 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami, the system was expanded to the Indian Ocean and theCaribbean Sea and became the worldwide standard of the tsunami warningsystem. He was awarded a Service to America Medal(2008) and theDepartment of Commerce Gold Medal(2005) for his work in establishing aninternational tsunami detection and forecast system and a U.S. tsunami
mitigation program.

National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (ONEMI ),Republic of Chile
When a massive tsunami hit Chilean coasts in 2010, tsunami warning was notproperly issued because of miscommunication among the three agencies
responsible for earthquake monitoring, tsunami forecasting and issuance ofwarning. Therefore, ONEMI unified the roles of the three organizations,developed a simplified protocol and successfully made the tsunami warning
system prompt and reliable. They also conducted tsunami evacuation drills
including that at night with the participation of 60,000 people. As a result, thepreparation activity for disaster mitigation in Chile was drastically improved.
When another large tsunami attacked Chilean coasts in 2015, a regional officeof ONEMI issued an order of preventative evacuation 8 minutes after theearthquake occurrence and the ONEMI head office released a warning 2
minutes later. These actions resulted in that 97 percent of residents in thecoastal area of the fourth region of Chile (~ 60,000 people) evacuated to safetyzones. Such high percentage of evacuation contributed to the reduction ofhuman los