1. Hazards: Take Control TSUNAMI By NEMO Saint Lucia

2. DISASTER RISKS FACED BY THE CARIBBEAN Source: Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction DISASTER RISKS FACED BY THE CARIBBEAN Source: Primer Series by the Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction FIRES HURRICANES VOLCANOES FLOODS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DEVELOP POLICIES FOR ACTIONS HAVING HIGH BENEFIT/COST FOR THE CARIBBEAN REGION GOAL: REDUCE DISASTER RISK LANDSLIDES EARTHQUAKES MEDICAL EMERGENCIES TSUNAMIS

3. The word “tsunami” comes from two Japanese words which taken together mean “harbour wave” The word was chosen to avoid the older term “tidal wave”. Tsunamis have no connection with the tides Hazard: TSUNAMI

4. Tsunamis are large waves generated by the sudden displacement of water resulting from underwater disturbances such as a large earthquake or submarine volcanic eruption. Hazard: TSUNAMI

5. Local Tsunami – the wave is less then thirty minutes from the coast and within 200km from the epicenter. Source: http://www.oas.org/pgdm/document/BITC/papers/gibbs/gibb0212.gif Tsunami Travel Times from Kick-em-Jenny Hazard Defined

6. Regional Tsunami – the wave is one to three hours from the coast and within 1,000km from the epicenter. SOURCE: Tsunami Travel Time Atlas for the Atlantic Ocean – York University - 2006 Hazard Defined

7. Distant [Tele] Tsunami – the wave is over three hours from the coast and over 1,000km from the epicenter. http://www.drgeorgepc.com/tsu1755LisbonTravelTime.gif Hazard Defined

8. THE KEY IS: 1) KNOW THE DISASTER HISTORY OF YOUR REGION 2) KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY Preparing for Tsunamis

9. … knee high waves can have strong enough currents to sweep people off their feet and move cars and small structures. Waves half a meter high can tear buildings off their foundations. SOURCE: “Preparing Your Community for Tsunamis Preparing for Tsunamis

10. Discuss the hazard with your family. Prepare a disaster plan. Know the safe zones. Prepare an evacuation plan. Don’t forget your pets! Preparing for Tsunami

11. Preparing for Tsunamis Simplified Hazard Estimation: Select 10 meters: Most tsunamis have serious impacts of only at elevations lower than ten meters above sea level, although it is possible for very large tsunamis to be destructive above this elevation. Select 3 KM inland: The destructive power of a tsunami usually dissipated by three kilometers inland, even over flat ground. This method can be used for communities on flat coastal plains. SOURCE: “Preparing Your Community for Tsunamis

12. Building code November 30,1999 - The Ministry of Planning says a National Building Code for St. Lucia - three years in the making is about to come to fruition. The development of the code has been further prompted by an increase is the destructive nature of natural disasters in recent times, which has been further exacerbated by spontaneous developments in several disaster prone areas of the country. Preparing for Tsunami As of April 2010 the Building Code has not been adopted

13. “It is generally accepted that disaster mitigation pays. For example, the World Bank and United States Geological Survey once calculated that economic losses worldwide from natural disasters during the 1990s could be reduced by $280 billion if $30 billion were invested in disaster mitigation and preparedness — a ratio of $7 saved for every $1 spent.” Twigg 2001, p. 3. Preparing for Tsunami What will you spend your $1.00 on?

14. Preparing for Tsunamis I want to urge you to act now in getting the insured household percentage up from 35%. I want to challenge you to strive at a 60% figure for this year, no matter how painful the financial cost Dr. Kenny D. Anthony Prime Minister of Saint Lucia January 16, 2005

15. The four components of an early warning system: 1.Monitor the hazard; 2.Quantify the hazard; 3.A disaster plan to address the hazard; [DRAFT Tsunami Contingency Plan] 4.Effective communications for warning. Early Warning Systems

16. Locally generated tsunamis can strike the shore minutes after they are generated, before official warnings can transmit from warning centres to local warning systems. Remember: the first wave is usually NOT the LARGEST.

17. Early Warning Systems

18. If you can see the wave it is too late EWS

19. Often nearly all buildings and infrastructure, including roads, power lines drinking wells, pipelines and everything else, are destroyed in areas inundated by a tsunami. All forms of employment may also be destroyed: farm lands may be unusable, fishing boats destroyed, factories and offices damaged, tourism stopped. SOURCE: “Preparing Your Community for Tsunamis Effects of Tsunami

20. Tsunamis bring a series of waves that can last many hours. Waves can come every 10 to 60 minutes. Wait for the official “ALL CLEAR” announcement. Remain evacuated for at least 2 hours after the last observed tsunami wave. SOURCE: “Preparing Your Community for Tsunamis ALL CLEAR

22. Family Disaster Plan http://www.cdera.org/doccentre/familyplan.html Family Evacuation Plan http://stlucia.gov.lc/nemp/plans/EvacTemplate.doc Family Disaster Supplies List http://www.stlucia.gov.lc/docs/nemo/FamilyDisasterSup pliesCalendar.pdf Online Resources National Emergency Management Plan http://stlucia.gov.lc/nemp