Orange County is Tsunami-Ready

It's National Tsunami Awareness Week, a time when the government and police agencies remind the communities to take measures to prepare for a tsunami.

The National Weather Service has certified 165 sites as "Tsunami Ready," including Orange County, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach. 

The state of California, Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) and the Orange County Emergency Management Division will be taking an active role in promoting public education and awareness about tsunami preparedness, according to a press release from the city of Seal Beach.  

March 27 is the 50th Anniversary of the Alaska earthquake and tsunami, which caused 139 deaths.  To bring awareness to the danger posed by tsunami’s the state of California is encouraging all affected municipalities to participate in a “Tsunami WalkOut.”  

“Tsunami WalkOut” is a phrase meant to represent a tsunami evacuation drill; similar to the term “ShakeOut” for the earthquake preparedness campaign. This is a state-wide initiative as part of a tsunami preparedness drill.  

To be considered a Tsunami-ready community, the government requires a variety of criteria be met.  They are: 

• Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
• Have more than one way to receive tsunami warnings and alert the public
• Promote public readiness through community education and distribution of information
• Develop a formal tsunami plan, which includes holding emergency exercises
• Comply with TsunamiReady guidelines 

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Tsunami Website
• Tsunami Education for Kids
• California Geological Survey - Tsunami Web Site
• FEMA Are You Ready: Tsunamis
• http://myhazards.calema.ca.gov/
• http://www.tsunami.ca.gov)
  
• http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Pages/education.aspx