IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Recent United States Tsunami Warning System Improvements Paul Whitmore Bill Knight Stu Weinstein July, 2009

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Tsunami Warning System Elements Observational Networks Seismic Sea Level Coastal Deep-ocean Run-up Tsunami Warning Centers Data Processing Forecasting Disseminate Message Communications Networks Transmit the message Emergency Mgmt. Response Respond to warnings Prepare public

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Observational Network Improvements - Seismic Pre-2004 Net 2009 Net

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Detection Improvements – Quakes >= – 35% Detection % Detection White indicates automatic detection Red indicates quake without auto-detection Courtesy of Paul Huang - WCATWC

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Observational Network Improvements – Sea Level Pre-2004 Net 2009 Net Not just more stations, but lower data latency as well…

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Elapsed Time Before Tsunami Arrives at 3 Stations NOW Jan, 2005 > 4.0hrs 1hr – 2hrs <.5hr Courtesy of N. Becker, PTWC

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers AOR increase Indian O. US/Canada east Caribbean 24x7 operations 2 TWCs – 24x7 – 30 permanent staff Improved performance Forecasting Threat analysis Base warning areas on pre-computed threat analysis Products Energy maps w/w/a maps 2-level warnings (warning and advisory) since Feb., 2008

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Tsunami Warning System History in the United States

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Performance Measures

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium U.S. TWC IT Modernization Project Joint AT/PT project Developing Technical Requirements 3-year project Funds identified

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Forecasting Improvements

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Threat Analysis

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Improved Products

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Communications Networks New Methods VTEC in Tsunami Products SMS messages Public lists RSS Feeds CAP products Traditional GTS NOAA Weather Wire AWIPS Weather Radio EAS Home page FAX

IUGG 24 th International Tsunami Symposium Emergency Management Response International/National Exercises Pacific Wave 06/08 LANTEX 09 Communications Testing Alaska/California end-to-end EAS tests Routine monthly testing Mitigation Increased evacuation route signage New sirens Inundation/Evacuation map development Response plan development Outreach events increase TsunamiReady Program Increase to 65 communities in U.S.