Overview of National Weather Service

& the Tsunami Warning Program Eric Boldt

Warning Coordination Meteorologist

NOAA’s National Weather Service

520 N. Elevar St.

Oxnard CA 93030

805-988-6615March 15, 2005

National Weather Service National Weather Service Mission StatementMission Statement

" The National Weather " The National Weather Service (NWS) provides Service (NWS) provides weather, hydrologic, and weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and climate forecasts and warnings for the United warnings for the United States, its territories, States, its territories, adjacent waters and adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the ocean areas, for the protection of life and protection of life and property and the property and the enhancement of the enhancement of the national economy. " national economy. "

Over 120 NWS OfficesOver 120 NWS Offices

NWS Oxnard/Los AngelesNWS Oxnard/Los Angeles

• Watch/Warning ProgramWatch/Warning Program

• ForecastsForecasts• PublicPublic

• AviationAviation

• Fire Fire

• MarineMarine

• Hydrology & PrecipitationHydrology & Precipitation

• Public ServicePublic Service• ClimateClimate

• NOAA “All Hazards” Weather Radio NOAA “All Hazards” Weather Radio • EAS EAS

24-hour Operation24-hour Operation

NWS Oxnard/Los AngelesNWS Oxnard/Los AngelesCounty Warning AreaCounty Warning Area

San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo

Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara

VenturaVentura

Los AngelesLos Angeles

Tsunami Warning System BasicsTsunami Warning System Basics

NOAA’s National Weather Service responsible for NOAA’s National Weather Service responsible for providing tsunami warnings to West Coastproviding tsunami warnings to West Coast

West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning CenterWest Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

(primary for California)(primary for California)

Pacific Tsunami Warning CenterPacific Tsunami Warning Center

(backup for California)(backup for California)

Tsunami Warning System BasicsTsunami Warning System Basics

1.1. Detect and Locate Earthquake or Detect and Locate Earthquake or Causative EventCausative Event

2.2. Determine if Tsunami LikelyDetermine if Tsunami Likely

3.3. Calculate Tsunami Arrival TimesCalculate Tsunami Arrival Times

4.4. Issue Official WarningIssue Official Warning

5.5. Confirm Tsunami Confirm Tsunami

6.6. Provide Follow-on Information Provide Follow-on Information BulletinsBulletins

Detection and EvaluationDetection and Evaluation

Calculate Tsunami Arrival TimesCalculate Tsunami Arrival Times& Issue Official Warning& Issue Official Warning

Watch & Warning Message DefinitionsWatch & Warning Message Definitions

Tsunami Warning:Tsunami Warning: means tsunami means tsunami is imminent and coastal locations is imminent and coastal locations under warning area should prepare under warning area should prepare for flooding. for flooding.

Tsunami WatchTsunami Watch:: An alert issued to An alert issued to areas outside the warned area.areas outside the warned area.

Other Message DefinitionsOther Message Definitions

Tsunami AdvisoryTsunami Advisory:: A message issued when the Pacific A message issued when the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is warning for an event outside the West Tsunami Warning Center is warning for an event outside the West Coast or Alaska which poses no imminent threat to our area. Coast or Alaska which poses no imminent threat to our area.

Tsunami Information BulletinTsunami Information Bulletin:: Bulletins issued for Bulletins issued for earthquakes less than warning threshold, but greater than 6.5 earthquakes less than warning threshold, but greater than 6.5 which are not likely to trigger a tsunami.which are not likely to trigger a tsunami.

Tsunami Information Message:Tsunami Information Message: Information messages Information messages issued when smaller earthquakes (greater than magnitude 4.0, but issued when smaller earthquakes (greater than magnitude 4.0, but less than 6.5) may be felt near coastal areas. less than 6.5) may be felt near coastal areas.

How is NWS Message Sent Out?How is NWS Message Sent Out?

What is TsunamiReady?What is TsunamiReady?

• A part of the NWS StormReady Program.A part of the NWS StormReady Program.

• A A “grass roots”“grass roots” program that promotes tsunami program that promotes tsunami hazard readiness.hazard readiness.

• A collaborative effort between federal, state, and A collaborative effort between federal, state, and local emergency management, and the public.local emergency management, and the public.

• A method to improve public safety during tsunami A method to improve public safety during tsunami emergencies.emergencies.

TsunamiReady ObjectivesTsunamiReady Objectives• Create minimum standard community guidelines Create minimum standard community guidelines

for adequate tsunami readiness. for adequate tsunami readiness.

• Encourage consistency in educational materials Encourage consistency in educational materials and response. and response.

• Recognize communities that have adopted Recognize communities that have adopted TsunamiReady guidelines. TsunamiReady guidelines.

• Increase public awareness and understanding of Increase public awareness and understanding of the tsunami hazard. the tsunami hazard.

• Improve community pre-planning for tsunami Improve community pre-planning for tsunami disastersdisasters..

TsunamiReady BenefitsTsunamiReady Benefits• Community is more prepared for Community is more prepared for “all hazards.”“all hazards.”

• Regularly scheduled education forums.Regularly scheduled education forums.

• Increase contacts with experts (emergency managers, Increase contacts with experts (emergency managers, researchers, NWS personnel).researchers, NWS personnel).

• Identify community readiness needs.Identify community readiness needs.

• Improve position to receive State/Federal funds.Improve position to receive State/Federal funds.

• Enhance “core” infrastructure to support other Enhance “core” infrastructure to support other community hazards.community hazards.

• Allow public to see how tax dollars are being spent.Allow public to see how tax dollars are being spent.

As of early March 2005 there are 877 As of early March 2005 there are 877 StormReady and 16 TsunamiReady StormReady and 16 TsunamiReady

Communities in 47 StatesCommunities in 47 States

• StormReady

• TsunamiReady

• University/Lab

• Industrial Site

• Indian Nation

In Hawaii - Maui and Kauai In Hawaii - Maui and Kauai Counties have been recognized Counties have been recognized

as TsunamiReadyas TsunamiReady

How does a CommunityHow does a Communitybecome TsunamiReady?become TsunamiReady?

Establish Communication and Coordination PlanEstablish Communication and Coordination Plan

• 24 Hour Warning Point24 Hour Warning Point

• Emergency Operations CenterEmergency Operations Center

Receive Critical Tsunami Warning InformationReceive Critical Tsunami Warning Information

• NOAA Weather WireNOAA Weather Wire

• NOAA Weather RadioNOAA Weather Radio

• Emergency Managers Weather Information NetworkEmergency Managers Weather Information Network

• News Media (Radio/TV)News Media (Radio/TV)

• InternetInternet

• Pagers, cell phones, etc.Pagers, cell phones, etc.

How does a CommunityHow does a Communitybecome TsunamiReady? become TsunamiReady? (cont)(cont)

Disseminate Tsunami WarningsDisseminate Tsunami Warnings• Emergency Alert System Emergency Alert System

• Cable Override Cable Override

• NOAA Weather Radio in public buildingsNOAA Weather Radio in public buildings

• SirensSirens

• Other systems unique to the areaOther systems unique to the area

How does a CommunityHow does a Communitybecome TsunamiReady? become TsunamiReady? (cont)(cont)

Increase Community PreparednessIncrease Community Preparedness

• NWS staff provide tsunami safety presentationsNWS staff provide tsunami safety presentations

• Designate/establish tsunami safe zoneDesignate/establish tsunami safe zone

• Designate tsunami evacuation routes and install Designate tsunami evacuation routes and install signssigns

• Provide written, locality specific, tsunami hazard Provide written, locality specific, tsunami hazard response material to publicresponse material to public

• Schools: encourage tsunami hazard curriculum, Schools: encourage tsunami hazard curriculum, practice evacuations, and provide safety material to practice evacuations, and provide safety material to staff and studentsstaff and students

How does a CommunityHow does a Communitybecome TsunamiReady? become TsunamiReady? (cont)(cont)

AdministrativeAdministrative• Develop formal tsunami hazard operations planDevelop formal tsunami hazard operations plan

• Yearly meeting/discussion by emergency manager Yearly meeting/discussion by emergency manager with NWSwith NWS

• Visits by NWS official to community at least every Visits by NWS official to community at least every other yearother year

TsunamiReady RecognitionTsunamiReady RecognitionProcessProcess

• Community applies to local NWS Office.Community applies to local NWS Office.

• Local TsunamiReady Advisory Board reviews Local TsunamiReady Advisory Board reviews application.application.

• TsunamiReady Advisory Board performs on-TsunamiReady Advisory Board performs on-site verification visit.site verification visit.

• If criteria are not met, TsunamiReady If criteria are not met, TsunamiReady Advisory Board suggests improvements and Advisory Board suggests improvements and works to implement changes.works to implement changes.

• Once criteria are met, a recognition Ceremony Once criteria are met, a recognition Ceremony and Press Conference is held for community.and Press Conference is held for community.

Successful ApplicantsSuccessful ApplicantsReceive:Receive:

• TsunamiReady recognition letter valid for 3 years.TsunamiReady recognition letter valid for 3 years.

• Two official TsunamiReady signs.Two official TsunamiReady signs.

• Authorization to use the TsunamiReady logo.Authorization to use the TsunamiReady logo.

• Instructions for acquiring additional signs.Instructions for acquiring additional signs.

• Information on how to notify the ISO for possible Information on how to notify the ISO for possible flood insurance rate adjustment (for StormReady).flood insurance rate adjustment (for StormReady).

• Listing on the Natl StormReady Website. Listing on the Natl StormReady Website.

TsunamiReady RenewalTsunamiReady RenewalProcessProcess

• NWS Office sends notification letter to communities NWS Office sends notification letter to communities that need to re-apply with 6 months advance notice. that need to re-apply with 6 months advance notice.

• A copy of the original application is reviewed by A copy of the original application is reviewed by community officials to certify it is still accurate.community officials to certify it is still accurate.

• Community provides an updated list of any new Community provides an updated list of any new technology or information that has been added technology or information that has been added since the initial application was signed.since the initial application was signed.

• Once the community official signs and returns the Once the community official signs and returns the application a 3-year renewal becomes effective.application a 3-year renewal becomes effective.

NWS StormReady WebsiteNWS StormReady Website

• CommunitiesCommunities

• How to ApplyHow to Apply

• Resources/TsunamiReadyResources/TsunamiReady

• AwarenessAwareness

• Publications/PhotosPublications/Photos

• Customer CommentsCustomer Comments

• Contact UsContact Us

www.stormready.noaa.govwww.stormready.noaa.gov

TsunamiReady Web ResourcesTsunamiReady Web Resources

Tsunami Information: Tsunami Information: tsunami.govtsunami.gov

NWS TsunamiReady Page: NWS TsunamiReady Page: wcatwc.gov/tsunamiready/tready.htmwcatwc.gov/tsunamiready/tready.htm

NWS West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center: NWS West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center: wcatwc.gov/main.htmwcatwc.gov/main.htm

NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: www.prh.noaa.gov/pr/ptwcwww.prh.noaa.gov/pr/ptwc

Thank You!Thank You!