Tsunami Warning Zones: Maps to Mitigate Tsunami

Many countries bordering an ocean or a sea are vulnerable to tsunamis. However, it does not mean that all regions in those countries are prone to this natural hazard. Therefore, their governments conduct mapping procedures to identify tsunami warning zones and mitigate the risk of this hazard.

These procedures also offer other benefits, such as helping authorities create evacuation maps, plan evacuation routes, install evacuation signs, and designate assembly areas. Consequently, people in tsunami-prone areas can follow the routes and signs when evacuating from these places.

Mapping Tsunami Warning Zones

Tsunamis typically occur in oceanic regions. However, some areas have higher risks of tsunamis than others. The biggest tsunami zone is the Pacific Ring of Fire. Over two-thirds of the world’s tsunamis occur in this region.

Moreover, the rest occur in other seas, such as the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. The risk of this hazard will intensify if communities living on the shores of those seas and oceans are not prepared for the deadly waves.

Government and authorities can help them increase their preparedness by creating a map of tsunami warning areas. How can tsunami maps make governments and communities more prepared for this natural disaster?

1. About Tsunami Mapping

Tsunami mapping is a procedure typically done by government agencies. During the procedure, government agencies identify areas with a high risk of tsunami inundation with the help of a particular software. 

Government agencies will upload the worst tsunami scenario into a tsunami modeling software. This software will process the data before delivering maps of tsunami warning zones.

Government agencies typically use the tsunami modelling software to create two types of maps, i.e., tsunami inundation maps and tsunami evacuation maps. The former displays coastal regions that may suffer from tsunami inundation.

Moreover, the latter shows locations from which the people must be evacuated. Government may also put evacuation routes and assembly areas on those maps. Those features are exceptionally useful for tsunami evacuation.

2. Roles of Tsunami Mapping

Tsunami mapping has some crucial roles in tsunami mitigation. Without creating tsunami inundation and evacuation maps, authorities and people living in coastal areas cannot minimize tsunami risks. Below are the roles of tsunami mapping. 

• Assist Governments or Authorities in Evacuation Planning

Tsunami maps allow government agencies or authorities to develop the most effective evacuation plan. For example, they can create evacuation routes based on the data gathered from the mapping.

In addition, these maps help governments establish the safest assembly areas or vertical evacuation structures. They must put those areas and structures on evacuation maps. Therefore, these maps can guide them to those places.

• Promote Community Preparedness

Governments and authorities can utilize those maps to improve communities’ disaster preparedness. These maps help them to put a tsunami hazard zone sign on each tsunami-prone area. Consequently, people will be aware that they are in a hazardous zone.

Moreover, they can include those maps in the tsunami evacuation guidebook and deliver the book to communities living in coastal areas. Therefore, communities will know where to go when they receive a tsunami alert.

• Assist Contractors and Communities in Land-Use Planning

Tsunami maps are a crucial consideration for those planning to construct a building in a coastal area. By consulting those maps, they can avoid tsunami warning zones when planning construction. 

If they cannot avoid those hazardous areas, they can make the building tsunami-proof. Therefore, people in this building will have lower risks of getting hit by tsunamis.

Tsunami Mapping is Not Enough to Reduce Tsunami Risks

Tsunami maps indeed can promote community preparedness, help communities avoid tsunami hazard zones, and assist people in evacuating to safer places. However, those maps are not enough to reduce tsunami risks. Governments must combine the maps with several measures to mitigate this disaster. 

One of these measures is regular evacuation training. Authorities must train communities on how to save their lives when they get a tsunami alert. This training is also excellent for preventing people from panicking during the evacuation.

In addition, governments must have an effective and efficient tsunami warning system. Without this system, communities will not know when to evacuate from the hazardous zones. Therefore, authorities must alert them via various communication channels before the tsunami occurs.

One of the best channels to disseminate tsunami alerts is the cell broadcast. This technology is more resilient than other communication channels. Moreover, it can quickly deliver tsunami alerts to people in the hazardous zones without cellular services, an internet connection, or community data.

Mapping tsunami warning zones is the first step in mitigating tsunami risks. Tsunami maps offer many benefits to communities and authorities if they are combined with evacuation drills and tsunami warning systems. To establish these systems, authorities can use cell broadcasters from smsbroadcaster.com.