Title: In wake of deadly tsunamis, U.S.

should share its lessons , USA Today, JAN 05,

2005
Database: Academic Search Premier

In wake of deadly tsunamis, U.S. should share its lessons

Section: News, Pg. 13a

As lifesaving and humanitarian relief efforts ramp up in the countries stricken by the deadly
Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunamis, an equally critical, long-term issue is beginning to emerge.
It is not too early to begin identifying specific steps that should be taken to help these nations
start over in the days and years ahead. Those efforts should include plans and methods to
help them rebuild in a way that better protects their citizens and visitors from future, deadly
disasters.
Our own country has suffered a multitude of tragic natural disasters. And each time, we have
gained knowledge that has enabled us to reduce the impact of future events. During my
tenure as the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from 1993 to
2001, I saw how forethought and aggressive action in response to tragedy led to rebuilding
U.S. communities that are safer today. The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis provide us
that same opportunity on a global scale.
One only has to look at the images of debris-strewn landscapes in Asia to know that lives
were lost because existing buildings weren't strong enough to provide even moderate
protection. People didn't know what to do when they saw the wave coming. And many
structures were built in high-risk areas, including right on beaches.
I saw similar devastation while at FEMA. As a result, our disaster response and recovery
efforts evolved. Now, more communities are able to identify their risks, develop emergency
plans, form public-private partnerships for long-term recovery and build or rebuild safer,
stronger and better.
What worked in the USA
Time has proved that these efforts are working in the USA:
* In Los Angeles, key facilities at an Anheuser-Busch brewery were reinforced in the 1980s
after an earthquake-risk assessment. In 1994, the Northridge earthquake struck just a few
miles away, causing extensive damage in the immediate vicinity of the brewery. However,
none of the retrofitted buildings were damaged; those that had not been retrofitted were.
Anheuser-Busch estimates that if buildings had not been strengthened, business losses could
have exceeded $300 million, more than 15 times the cost of the changes.
* In Seattle, damage from a earthquake in 2001 was reduced because the community had
been practicing disaster resistance. Many public and private buildings had been retrofitted or
built with earthquake protection, and they sustained little or no damage.
* In the Midwest, after floods hit nine central states in 1993, killing 48 and costing more than
$21 billion, thousands of people were able to move out of harm's way because of voluntary
state and federal buyout or relocation programs. In Missouri alone, more than 5,000

properties were purchased. Two years later, when many of the same areas flooded again,
damage was reported to be only about 5% of that in 1993 because fewer homes were in
high-risk areas. Other states had similar results.
* In Hilo, Hawaii, a Pacific Tsunami Museum was opened in 1998 to provide education and
outreach about the state's deadliest natural disasters. Residents, including survivors of a
1946 tsunami that killed 159 Hawaiians, together with a scientist and administrators at the
University of Hawaii at Hilo, formed a non-profit group to launch the museum, which has
increased awareness in the region.
Lessons for the world
We cannot change the frequency or severity of weather events, but we can survive them
better and recover more quickly through improved planning, disaster management and
building construction.
Now we must parlay the lessons we've learned to help these nations look beyond this tragedy
and begin planning a future safe from the horrors they are living today. Whether it be simple
evacuation plans or high-tech early alert systems, every change has the potential to save a
life, or thousands of lives, the next time around.
Our lasting gift to all of the disaster victims can go beyond financial aid and humanitarian
relief. That gift should be the reality of a safer future, made possible by our ability to share
what we've learned in the face of disaster.
***
James Lee Witt is CEO of James Lee Witt Associates, a crisis and emergency management
consulting firm. As director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he oversaw the
response to more than 350 natural disasters in the USA.
(c) USA TODAY, 2005

Source: USA Today, JAN 05, 2005

Item: J0E413701526805