NATIONAL 

WEATHER SERVICE

FOR YOU AND

YOUR FAMILY

Tsunami warnings are broadcast through radio, 

television, and wireless emergency alerts. They 

may also come through outdoor sirens, officials, text 

message alerts, and telephone notifications. 

Pay attention to and follow instructions from local 

emergency officials. They may have more detailed 

or specific information.

NATURAL WARNINGS

There may not be time to wait for an official warning. 

A natural tsunami warning may be your only 

warning. Natural warnings include:

9 A strong or long earthquake

9 A sudden rise or fall of the ocean

9 A loud roar from the ocean

If you experience any of these natural warnings, 

even just one, a tsunami could be coming. 

If you live, work or play at the coast,

you should prepare for tsunamis:

www.weather.gov/tsunamisafety

TSUNAMI ALERTS

In the United States, there are four levels of 

tsunami alerts:

9 Tsunami Warning: Take Action—Danger! 

A tsunami that may cause widespread 

flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous 

coastal flooding and powerful currents are 

possible and may continue for several hours 

or days after initial arrival. Evacuation is 

recommended. Go to high ground or inland. 

9 Tsunami Advisory: Take Action—A tsunami 

with potential for strong currents or waves 

dangerous to those in or very near the water is 

expected or occurring. There may be flooding 

of beach and harbor areas. Stay out of the 

water and away from beaches and waterways. 

9 Tsunami Watch: Be Aware—A distant 

earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is 

possible. Stay tuned for more information. Be 

prepared to take action if necessary.

9 Tsunami Information Statement: Relax—

An earthquake has occurred, but there is no 

threat, or it was very far away and the threat 

has not been determined. In most cases, there 

is no threat of a destructive tsunami.
BEFORE A TSUNAMI

It is easy to prepare for a tsunami. Many preparedness 

actions are common across hazards. If your home, 

school, workplace, or other places you visit often 

are in tsunami hazard zones:

9 Have multiple ways to receive warnings. 

Get a NOAA Weather Radio, sign up for text 

message alerts from your local government, and 

verify that your mobile devices receive wireless 

emergency alerts.

9 Make an emergency plan that includes plans for 

family communication and evacuation.

9 Map out routes from home, work, and other places 

you visit often to safe places on high ground or 

inland and outside the tsunami hazard zone. Your 

community may have identified evacuation routes 

and assembly areas. Plan to evacuate on foot if 

you can; roads may be impassable due to damage, 

closures, or traffic jams. 

9 Practice walking your routes, even in darkness 

and bad weather. This will ease evacuation during 

an emergency. 

9 Put together a portable emergency kit. Include 

items you and your family (including pets) may need 

in an emergency. Prepare kits for work and cars too.

If you have children in school in a tsunami hazard 

zone, find out the school’s plans for evacuating and 

keeping children safe.

If you are visiting the coast, find out about local 

tsunami safety. Your hotel or campground should 

have this information.

Discuss your plan with your loved ones. Credit: FEMA

DURING A TSUNAMI

If you are in a tsunami hazard zone and receive an 

official warning:

9 Stay out of the water and away from beaches

and waterways.

9 Get more information from radio, television, or your 

mobile device (text or data).

9 If officials ask you to evacuate, go quickly to high 

ground or inland.

If you are in a tsunami hazard zone and receive a 

natural warning (see back), a tsunami could arrive 

within minutes:

9 In case of an earthquake, protect yourself. Drop, 

cover, and hold on. 

9 As soon as you can move safely, go quickly to high 

ground or inland. Do not wait for an official warning 

or instructions from officials.

9 If there is earthquake damage, avoid fallen power 

lines and weakened structures.

9 When you are in a safe place, get more information 

from radio, television, or your mobile device

(text or data). 

If you are on the beach or near water and feel

an earthquake of any size and length, go quickly 

to high ground or inland as soon as you can

move safely.

If you are outside of the tsunami hazard zone 

and receive a warning, stay where you are unless 

officials tell you otherwise.

AFTER A TSUNAMI

9 Stay out of the tsunami hazard zone until officials 

say it is safe. The cancellation of a warning does 

not mean the danger has passed.

9 Stay out of any building with damage or water 

around it until a professional or official says it

is safe.

9 Get updates and safety instructions from radio, 

television, or your mobile device (text or data). 

9 Contact your family and loved ones. Let them 

know you are okay.

Tsunami striking Miyako City, Japan (2011).

Credit: Iwate Construction Association

For more information, visit www.weather.gov/tsunamisafety