Hazard Managment Strategies Used to Respond to Tsunamis

Hazard Managment Strategies Used to Respond to Tsunamis

1. Modfying the Event

   • In Japan, on the island of Okushiri a number of engineering methods have been built to provide hazard resistance from tsunami waves
     • PREVENTION (MITIGATION) - Sluice gates which close over river mouths to stop waves from travelling up the river, when tsunamis can move up rivers it spreads the flooding further inland
   • PROTECTION (MITIGATION) - A 9 mile long 12m high sea wall which encircles the island. In 2015, the Japanese Gov. announced plans to spend $6.8 billion on a sea wall reaching 12.5m in height (4 storey building) in some places. The wall will stretch for 250 miles. However, critics argue that land use planning to stop people building on the lowest lying areas of the coast is better tsunami management as it causes less damage to ecosystems and is cheaper in the long run

2. Modifying Human Vulnerability

   • PREPAREDNESS = PREDICTON - Following the 2004 tsunami event, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) was developed, modelled on the Pacific Warning Centre in Hawaii. It uses sea bed earthquake detectors, sea level gauges and DART detection buoys linked to satellites. Thailand has built towers with sirens and loudspeakers that broadcast tehse tsunami warnings in multiple languages
   • PREPAREDNESS = EVACUATION - On the island of Okushiri in Japan each house in business has an automated tsunami alarm linked to the ocean detection system which allows people to evacuate rapidly either to evacuation platforms or to high land away from the coast
   • PREPAREDNESS = ADAPTION - Tsunami evacuation platforms are provided in the port area of Okushiri Island.