2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting June 26, 2012, Session 6A A Move Toward Standardizing Tsunami Warning Signs Presented by Ruth Smith, Willdan Engineering

INTRODUCTION Background:  Last year’s tsunamis were a grim reminder we need to be prepared for “the big one” and its aftermath  Being prepared includes having appropriate signage to guide people to higher ground & away from the shore

INTRODUCTION Background:  Completed project for City of Los Angeles in 2011, updating City’s tsunami signs  Researched best practices for installing signs  Found that there were few standard signs or installation practices among the states

INTRODUCTION Background:  Oregon led the way in developing tsunami signs  Several efforts to standardize, among the Pacific states  Currently, only one standard tsunami sign

CURRENT TSUNAMI SIGNS Tsunami Signs & Guidelines  One Tsunami sign in MUTCD: Tsunami Evacuation Route (EM-1a) sign  Signs vary from state to state  Tsunami signs are experimental in CA  Except for EM-1a, only minimal guidelines, if any, are provided

CURRENT TSUNAMI SIGNS (FEDERAL) EM-1a TSUNAMI EVACUATION ROUTE Sign

CURRENT TSUNAMI SIGNS (OREGON)

TYPES OF TSUNAMI SIGNS (CALTRANS)

CURRENT TSUNAMI SIGNS (WASHINGTON )

CURRENT TSUNAMI SIGNS (ALASKA )

CURRENT TSUNAMI SIGNS (HAWAII )

TSUNAMI SIGN GUIDELINES Current Guidelines  Oregon tsunami sign installation guidelines  Federal guidelines for evacuation route signs  City of LA sign installation guidelines prepared by Willdan as part of tsunami project

TSUNAMI SIGN GUIDELINES Guideline Needs  Sign sizes (rural vs urban)  Sign locations/spacing  Beach signs: Posting (sign post/life guard tower/parking lot) Direction Spacing

UNRESOLVED ISSUES Issues Needing Resolution  Standardization & inclusion in MUTCD of signs other than evacuation route signs  Sign design & size  Location of signs  Where/how to install beach signs