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Tsunami  Safety  Checklist  

Tsunamis  are  a  series  of  large   Be  aware  of  the  signs  of  a  tsunami:
ocean  waves  generated  by  major   ‡ A  strong  earthquake  lasting  20  seconds  or  more  near  the  coast.  
earthquakes  beneath  the  ocean  floor   ‡ A  noticeable  rapid  rise  or  fall  in  coastal  waters.
or  major  landslides  into  the  ocean.   What  is  the  best  source  of  information  in  a  tsunami  situation?    
When  the  waves  enter  shallow  water,  
The  International  Tsunami  Warning  System  monitors  ocean  waves  after  any  
they  may  rise  to  several  feet  or,  in   Pacific  earthquake  with  a  magnitude  greater  than  6.5.  If  waves  are  detected,  
rare  cases,  tens  of  feet,  striking  the   warnings  are  issued  to  local  authorities  who  can  order  the  evacuation  
coast  with  devastating  force.  People   of  low-­lying  areas  if  necessary.  The  National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric  
on  the  beach  or  in  low  coastal  areas   Administration  (NOAA)’s  National  Weather  Service  operates  two  tsunami  
need  to  be  aware  that  a  tsunami  could   warning  centers:  
arrive  within  minutes  after  a  severe   1.   West  Coast/Alaska  Tsunami  Warning  Center  (WC/ATWC),  
earthquake.  The  tsunami  danger   Palmer,  Alaska.  Serves  Alaska,  Washington,  Oregon,  California,  the  
U.S.  Atlantic  and  Gulf  of  Mexico  coasts,  Puerto  Rico,  the  U.S.  Virgin  
period  can  continue  for  many  hours   Islands  and  Canada.    
after  a  major  earthquake.  A  tsunami  
2.   Pacific  Tsunami  Warning  Center  (PTWC),  Ewa  Beach,  Hawaii.  
can  occur  during  any  season  of  the   Serves  Hawaii  and  the  U.S.  Pacific  territories,  and  as  an  international  
year  and  at  any  time,  day  or  night. warning  center  for  the  Pacific  and  Indian  oceans  and  the  Caribbean  Sea.

How  can  I  prepare     What  should  I  do  during  a   What  do  I  do    
ahead  of  time? potential  tsunami  situation? after  a  tsunami?

Find  out  if  your  home,  school,   If  you  are  in  a  coastal  area  and  feel   R   Continue  using  a  NOAA  Weather  Radio  
workplace  or  other  frequently   an  earthquake  that  lasts  20  seconds   or  tuning  to  a  Coast  Guard  station  or  a  
visited  locations  are  in  tsunami   or  longer: local  radio  or  television  station  for  the  
hazard  areas. latest  updates.
R   Drop,  cover  and  hold  on.  You  should  
R   Know  the  height  of  your  street  above   first  protect  yourself  from  the   R   Return  home  only  after  local  officials  
sea  level  and  the  distance  of  your  street   earthquake.   tell  you  it  is  safe.  A  tsunami  is  a  series  
from  the  coast  or  other  high-­risk  waters.     of  waves  that  may  continue  for  hours.  
R   When  the  shaking  stops,  gather  members   Do  not  assume  that  after  one  wave  the  
Evacuation  orders  may  be  based  on   of  your  household  and  move  quickly  to  
these  numbers.     danger  is  over.  The  next  wave  may  be  
higher  ground  away  from  the  coast.  A   larger  than  the  first  one.  
R   Plan  evacuation  routes  from  your  home,   tsunami  may  be  coming  within  minutes.
school,  workplace  and  other  places  you   R   Check  yourself  for  injuries  and  get  first  
R   Avoid  downed  power  lines  and  stay   aid  as  needed  before  helping  injured  or  
could  be  where  tsunamis  present  a  risk.  If   away  from  buildings  and  bridges  from  
possible,  pick  areas  100  feet  (30  meters)   trapped  persons.
which  heavy  objects  might  fall  during  an  
above  sea  level  or  go  as  far  as  2  miles   R   If  someone  needs  to  be  rescued,  call  
aftershock.
(3  kilometers)  inland,  away  from  the   professionals  with  the  right  equipment  
coastline.  If  you  cannot  get  this  high  or   What  to  do  during  a  tsunami  watch   to  help.  Many  people  have  been  killed  or  
far,  go  as  high  or  far  as  you  can.  Every  foot   injured  trying  to  rescue  others.
inland  or  upward  may  make  a  difference.   R   Use  a  NOAA  Weather  Radio  or  tune  to  
You  should  be  able  to  reach  your  safe   a  Coast  Guard  emergency  frequency   R   Help  people  who  require  special  
location  on  foot  within  15  minutes.   station  or  a  local  radio  or  television   assistance—infants,  elderly  people,  those  
station  for  updated  emergency   without  transportation,  people  with  
R   Find  out  what  the  school  evacuation   information. disabilities  and  large  families  who  may  
plan  is.  Find  out  if  the  plan  requires  you   need  additional  help  in  an  emergency  
to  pick  your  children  up  from  school  or   R   Locate  household  members  and  review  
evacuation  plans.  Be  ready  to  move   situation.
from  another  location.  Telephone  lines  
during  a  tsunami  watch  or  warning  may   quickly  if  a  tsunami  warning  is  issued. R   Avoid  disaster  areas.  Your  presence  
be  overloaded  and  routes  to  and  from   might  interfere  with  emergency  response  
What  to  do  during  a  tsunami  warning operations  and  put  you  at  further  risk  
schools  may  be  jammed.
R   If  you  hear  an  official  tsunami  warning   from  the  residual  effects  of  floods.
R   Practice  your  evacuation  routes.   or  detect  signs  of  a  tsunami,  evacuate  at  
Familiarity  may  save  your  life.  Be  able   R   Use  the  telephone  only  for  emergency  
once.
to  follow  your  escape  route  at  night  and   calls.  
during  inclement  weather.  Practicing   R   Take  your  emergency  preparedness  kit.  
R   Stay  out  of  any  building  that  has  water  
your  plan  makes  the  appropriate   Having  supplies  will  make  you  more  
around  it.  Tsunami  water  can  cause  
response  more  of  a  reaction,  requiring   comfortable  during  the  evacuation.
floors  to  crack  or  walls  to  collapse.
less  thinking  during  an  actual  emergency.   R   Take  your  pets  with  you.  If  it  is  not  safe  
R   Use  caution  when  re-­entering  buildings  
R   If  you  are  a  tourist,  familiarize  yourself   for  you,  it’s  not  safe  for  them.
or  homes.  Tsunami-­driven  floodwater  
with  local  tsunami  evacuation  protocols.     R   Get  to  higher  ground  as  far  inland  as   may  have  damaged  buildings  where  you  
You  may  be  able  to  safely  evacuate  to   possible.  Watching  a  tsunami  could  put   least  expect  it.  Carefully  watch  every  step  
the  third  floor  and  higher  in  reinforced   you  in  grave  danger.  If  you  can  see  the   you  take.  
concrete  hotel  structures.     wave,  you  are  too  close  to  escape  it.  
R   To  avoid  injury,  wear  protective  clothing  
  and  be  cautious  when  cleaning  up.
Let  Your  Family  Know  You’re  Safe
R   Watch  animals  closely  and  keep  them  
If  your  community  has  experienced  a  disaster,  register  on  the  American  Red  Cross  Safe  and   under  your  direct  control.
Well  Web  site,  available  through  redcross.org/safeandwell,  to  let  your  family  and  friends  
know  about  your  welfare.  You  may  also  call  1-­800-­RED-­CROSS  (1-­800-­723-­2767)  to  
register  yourself  and  your  family.

For  more  information  on  disaster  and  emergency  preparedness,  please  visit  redcross.org.
Copyright © 2010 by the American National Red Cross | Stock No. 658408 12/10