The new maps, based on the new evidence, provide more accurate projections of how a tsunami may affect specific areas, taking into consideration the characteristics of various types of tsunamis. So far only the most populous coastal counties, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, have received the new inundation maps. Funding problems make it uncertain when, or if, maps for counties like San Luis Obispo will follow. Before 1997 few counties were aware of the tsunami threat and most had done little or no tsunami planning. The steering committee has succeeding in educating local governments, but ultimately it can only guide and suggest.
Local governments have to determine their own acceptable level of risk.
Many question the efficacy of spending a lot of money preparing for such a rare event, even if that event may be devastating. And warning systems alone are not enough. Neither hell nor high water, it seems, can keep people from developing prime California coastal land. There is tremendous pressure for development on coastal property, which is of course the area most at risk. Obviously the best solution is not to build along coastlines.