By Abril Romero, Angelica Norton, Joseph Sumner & Mohamed Hassan TSUNAMIS By Abril Romero, Angelica Norton, Joseph Sumner & Mohamed Hassan

Introduction Abril Romero

Tsunamis: Indonesia and Japan

Indonesia Tsunami 2004 The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake that is thought to have had the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. The tsunami resulted in at least 227,898 fatalities.

Live Footage of Indonesia Tsunami https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx___bZOtWw

Japanese Tsunami 2011 The earthquake caused a tsunami with 30 ft. waves that damaged several nuclear reactors in the area. The confirmed death toll is 15,889 as of February 10, 2014.

Live Footage of Japan’s Tsunami https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xKMFzKOIfQ

Indonesia Tsunami 2004 Mohamed Hassan

The Indonesia Tsunami (Indian ocean tsunami) The December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake of 9.0 magnitude. The epicenter was located in the Indian ocean near the west coast of Sumatra. The violent movement of the Earth’s tectonic plates displaced an enormous amount of water, sending powerful shock waves in every direction. The earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2004 killed more than 270,000 people in 11 countries, more than 500,000 people were injured, and affected approximately 5 million people in the world. The area hardest hit was Indonesia. In Aceh province approximately 128,000 people were killed, which is about a quarter of the total population and many people were injured or lost their homes.

Map Showing the Most Affected Countries

Cause of Tsunami

Why the Death Toll Was Very High No warning: there wasn’t a tsunami warning mechanism or tidal gauges to warn people Too quick and too close: tsunami hit Sumatra 20 minutes after earthquake Dense population along the coast Poor mitigation and building codes Encroachment on ecosystems such as coral reefs Slow and ineffective emergency response

PRIMARY/SECONDARY EFFECTS OF THE TSUNAMI a) Primary effects Death and injuries Destruction of social infrastructure Environmental impact: devastating effect on insects, animals, plants, and natural resources Coastal erosion Altered landscape: entire islands were wiped away Damage to ecosystem: coral reefs, mangroves and wetlands were destroyed Severed transport and communication b) Secondary effects Diseases: e.g. Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, etc. Psychological trauma and mental disorders Internally displaced refugees: IDP camps were set up Homelessness Food shortages Humanitarian aid was needed Decrease in the GDP of the affected countries

A part of Banda Aceh— before and after

Japan Tsunami 2011 Joseph Sumner

When the Tsunami Hit On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake shook northeastern Japan, triggering a powerful tsunami. The epicenter of the quake was about 80 miles east of the city of Sendai. Scientists underestimated the magnitude of the earthquake: 7.5 instead of 9.0. 18,000 people died; most of them drowned.

Areas with Tsunami Activity

Why Japan Has So Many Tsunamis Sits on boundary of 4 tectonic plates: Pacific, North American, Eurasian, Philippine Plates aren’t constantly moving at a smooth rate. Some areas creep slightly. The stress builds up over time until an earthquake occurs. Surrounded by deep water: the deeper the water, the longer the wavelength

Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant Meltdown Power plant 150 miles northeast of Tokyo, was severely damaged by the earthquake and tsunami Crucial cooling systems were knocked out, resulting in a series of explosions and meltdowns World’s worst nuclear accident in nearly 28 years

Human and Wildlife Consequences The damage at Fukushima was so severe that radioactive material was released into the air. Radioactive material has led to widespread negative effects such as population decline and genetic damage in the animals, insects, and wildlife of the region. One example is the pale grass blue butterfly, a prevalent type of butterfly found in Japan that has had a reduction in size. The pale grass blue butterfly is also experiencing slow growth and a high mortality rate in the region surrounding the Fukushima nuclear plant. Increased cases of cancer About 300 tons of radioactive water continues to leak from the plant every day into the Pacific Ocean, affecting fish and other marine life.

Why the Death Toll Was So Low Residents of Tokyo received a minute of warning before the strong shaking hit the city, thanks to Japan's earthquake early warning system. The country's strict building codes and early warning system prevented many deaths from the earthquake, by stopping high-speed trains and factory assembly lines. People in Japan also received texted alerts of the earthquake warning on their cellphones. Almost an hour after the earthquake, the tsunami hit Japan's coastline. Health officials distributed potassium iodide pills, which protect against thyroid cancer, to residents near the power station.

Tsunami Preparation Angelica Norton

How to Prepare for a Tsunami Develop a Family Disaster Plan Learn about the risk of tsunamis where you live Research to see if a tsunami will affect your area Visiting/Vacationing Ask the hotel you’re staying at what to do when a tsunami occurs and what to expect with warning systems Practice Evacuations

Assemble a Disaster Kit Water Food Flashlight Radio First Aid Kit Medications Multi-purpose Tool Maps of the Area Sanitation and Personal Hygiene Copies of Personal Documents Cell Phones Emergency Contact Numbers Extra Cash Emergency Blanket

When a Tsunami Occurs Listen to a radio or other sources that update information about emergencies Follow instructions by local authorities Get to higher ground or as far inland ASAP Return home when the officials say it’s safe

Village of Fudai Saved by Seawall Mayor Hiroshi Fukawatari insisted on building a higher wall about 52 ft. The villagers thought he was being foolish and building the walls would be expensive. The walls were built and the villagers were safe.

Vertical Shelters Ocosta Elementary School in Grays Harbor County, Washington 20 minute walk within the neighborhood community Second Story Shelter Room can hold about 1000 people