Earthquake Rela ted TsunamisAsian Tsumani, 2004

Amy Brickheimer, Robyn Zentgraf, MaCall Douglas, Jenessa Knutson, Mike Yuon, Bill Peterson, Kelli Imdieke

Study Area

AbstractComprehension of tsunamis can help anyone understand why they happen, what hap-pens to the geography of the earth during and after, what the warning signs are and how react during and after a tsunami. The Indian Ocean area is prone to earthquakes and vol-canoes. The reason for this is because on the coast of Sumatra lies by the Sudan Trench. An earthquake occurred because the India Plate was being subducted beneath the Burma Plate. The wave occurred because the seismic activity happened so quickly in the fault, the entire “rupture zone slipped”. Warning signs of a tsunami include being or living near a large body of open water prone to tsunamis. If you notice a large drop in water level, get to high ground immedi-ately. Tsunamis come in series called wave trains. Tsunami aftermath includes fallen infrastructures blocking roadways and railways hin-dering rescue e�orts. Tourism is greatly a�ected; resorts may take years to rebuilt, it’s ex-tremely costly and visitors often refrain from going to these countries because of fear a tsunami will happen again. Public health is threatened by: epidemics contaminated drinking water, overcrowding in refugee camps and much more. Other areas a�ected by a tsunamis aftermath are the environment, �shing industry, and a country’s economy. Tsunamis are a natural event and cannot be prevented, but local planning can a�ect survival outcomes. Local governments should have disaster plans in place, evacuation plans should be drawn out, and �oodgates and channels should be considered an option to redirect water.

BackgroundThe Sumatra tsunami in 2004 was one of the greatest natural disasters in his-tory. It was triggered by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the west coast of Su-matra, Indonesia on December 26th, 2004. Thisearthquake was the second largest ever recordedon a seismograph and hadfaulting that lasted longer than any other earthquakethat has been observed.• 167,736 estimated deaths in Indonesia• 230,210 estimated total deaths• Over 400,000 displaced in Indonesia• $4.45 billion worth of damage• Waves up to 100 feet high• Extensive damage to the ecosystem Coral reefs Sea grass beds Coastal forests

Prevent ion/Surv iva l- Analysis of earthquake levels by scientists in area, can determine the possibility of a tsunami occurring-Local government agencies in tsunami prone areas should have Hazard disaster plans in place- Implementation of large barrier walls protecting the city from possible waves, other options include floodgates and channels to redirect water- Planting of trees and shrubs along the shore to slow down the large waves before they crash into the land - Bottom pressure sensors (on ocean floor) are anchored to buoys & monitor the pressure of water above- System measures magnitude of seismic activity occurring in the ocean- not all earthquakes result in tsunamis- Technological software analyses location and magnitude of activity, and deter mines if a warning should be issued & how long before the tsunami waves hit land- Currently there is a system in Pacific Ocean, based in Honolulu, HI- Will be installing an Indian Ocean Warning System after the 2004 Sumatra/Asian Tsunami

- Preparedness is key to surviving a Tsunami.- Assemble an essentials pack should contain nonperishable foods, water and a first aid kit at the minimum- Develop an evacuation plan- Move away from coast as soon as possible, leaving behind everything EXECPT your tsunami essentials pack- Move inland and into a higher elevation- NEVER drink the flood waters of a tsunami.

Warning S igns- Earthquakes that are thousands of miles away can still affect you in those prone-to areas- If you notice a huge drop in the water level, get to high ground immediately.- This is very important to remember because the first wave is not always the most dangerous. - Just because the surge in one area is small doesn’t mean that even a short distance away it’s something completely different.- Tsunamis can travel up rivers andstreams that connect to the ocean very easily.

AftermathINFRASTRUCTURE - When the sheer force of a incoming tsunami obliterates everything in its path, it also clears away roads and railways, hampering rescue efforts. In addition, the heavy, overflowing water prevents helicopters from landingTOURISM - Beach resorts along the coast get extensively damaged it will take many years for re covery.HEALTH- Damage to sewer systems and contamination of drinking water supplies poses the gravest threat and can lead to a multitude of water- and food-borne diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A and E, diarrhea, typhoid fever, shigellosis, rotavirus, and leptospirosis. - Pools of standing water pose the threat of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever - Overcrowding in refugee camps raise the risk of pneumonia and other respiratory ailments - The incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression is expected to be very high. Survivors also face a lasting sense of loss, fear, helplessness, and shell shock, says Carol Etherington, former president of the US board of Doctors Without Borders and an expert on international volunteer efforts who has worked with the International Medical Corps and the Red CrossENVIRONMENT- The marine ecosystem is likely to be affected badly, with the predators up the food chain, such as dolphins and sharks, dying out due to the lack of food. Many species will not be able to adapt to the sudden change in their lifestyle and will inevitably die.

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