TSUNAMIS
also​ ​called​ ​as​ ​“seismic​ ​sea​ ​waves”​ ​(commonly​ ​mistaken​ ​as​ ​“tidal​ ​waves”)
Earthquake-induced​ ​movements​​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ocean​ ​floor​ ​are​ ​the​ ​most​ ​common​ ​reasons​ ​why
tsunamis​ ​happen.
Fact:
- Areas​ ​that​ ​are​ ​25​ ​feet​ ​above​ ​sea​ ​level​ ​and​ ​within​ ​a​ ​mile​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shoreline​ ​are​ ​at
greater​ ​risk
Effects:
- Drowning
- Flooding
- Contamination​ ​of​ ​drinking​ ​water
- Contamination​ ​of​ ​fires​ ​from​ ​gas​ ​lines​ ​or​ ​ruptured​ ​tanks
Remember:
When​ ​a​ ​large​ ​earthquake​ ​lasts​ ​for​ ​more​ ​than​ ​20​ ​seconds,​ ​a​ ​tsunami​ ​could​ ​happen​ ​and
therefore,​ ​people​ ​especially​ ​those​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​coastal​ ​areas​ ​must​ ​be​ ​alarmed.
Early​ ​warning​ ​sign:
Rapid​ ​recession​ ​of​ ​water​ ​levels​ ​below​ ​the​ ​low​ ​tide
This​ ​can​ ​happen​ ​minutes​ ​before​ ​the​ ​shoreline​ ​is​ ​hit​ ​by​ ​the​ ​tsunami​ ​and​ ​can​ ​be​ ​the​ ​only
sign​ ​along​ ​the​ ​coastlines​ ​that​ ​are​ ​too​ ​far​ ​from​ ​the​ ​epicenter​ ​to​ ​have​ ​felt​ ​the
earthquake.
WHAT​ ​TO​ ​DO​ ​BEFORE,​ ​DURING,​ ​AND​ ​AFTER​ ​A​ ​TSUNAMI:
Before​ ​a​ ​tsunami:
-​ ​Persuade​ ​every​ ​family,​ ​including​ ​ours,​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​they​ ​have​ ​an​ ​emergency​ ​kit​ ​and
an​ ​emergency​ ​plan.
-​ ​Stay​ ​tuned​ ​for​ ​tsunami​ ​warnings​ ​by​ ​listening​ ​to​ ​the​ ​radio.
-​ ​Check​ ​our​ ​houses​ ​and​ ​lands​ ​if​ ​there​ ​are​ ​any​ ​potential​ ​dangers​ ​related​ ​to​ ​flooding,
and​ ​repair​ ​it.
-​ ​Put​ ​your​ ​necessities​ ​such​ ​as​ ​documents,​ ​not​ ​in​ ​your​ ​basement,​ ​but​ ​in​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​level​ ​in
order​ ​to​ ​be​ ​protected​ ​from​ ​flood​ ​damage.
-​ ​If​ ​you​ ​live​ ​in​ ​a​ ​coastal​ ​area,​ ​ask​ ​your​ ​council​ ​about​ ​tsunami​ ​risks​ ​&​ ​warning
arrangements.
During​ ​a​ ​tsunami:
-​ ​You​ ​should​ ​never​ ​go​ ​near​ ​a​ ​tsunami​ ​by​ ​staying​ ​near​ ​the​ ​shore.
-​ ​When​ ​living​ ​in​ ​a​ ​coastal​ ​areas,​ ​one​ ​must​ ​find​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​place​ ​such​ ​as​ ​a​ ​tree,​ ​a​ ​top​ ​of
the​ ​building,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​likes.​ ​One​ ​could​ ​also​ ​grab​ ​on​ ​a​ ​floating​ ​object.
-​ ​When​ ​inside​ ​the​ ​house,​ ​we​ ​must​ ​stay​ ​away​ ​from​ ​windows​ ​as​ ​much​ ​as​ ​possible.​ ​ ​.
-​ ​Stay​ ​put​ ​of​ ​the​ ​warnings​ ​given​ ​by​ ​the​ ​local​ ​officials.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​it​ ​is​ ​already
safe​ ​or​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​another​ ​wave​ ​to​ ​come.
-​ ​A​ ​tsunami​ ​creates​ ​flood​ ​waters​ ​and​ ​here,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​very​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​drive​ ​or​ ​walk​ ​through.
Before​ ​going​ ​anywhere,​ ​we​ ​must​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​the​ ​evacuation​ ​plan​ ​given​ ​by​ ​the​ ​rescuers​ ​or
the​ ​local​ ​officials
After​ ​a​ ​tsunami:
-​ ​Check​ ​ourselves​ ​and​ ​the​ ​people​ ​around​ ​us​ ​from​ ​injuries​ ​and​ ​get​ ​first​ ​aid​ ​if​ ​needed.
-​ ​When​ ​re-entering​ ​your​ ​home​ ​or​ ​a​ ​building,​ ​use​ ​extreme​ ​caution​ ​because​ ​some​ ​might
be​ ​damaged​ ​by​ ​the​ ​flood​ ​waters.​ ​Also,​ ​do​ ​not​ ​go​ ​sightseeing.
-​ ​Be​ ​aware​ ​that​ ​there​ ​may​ ​be​ ​one​ ​more​ ​wave​ ​after​ ​another​ ​and​ ​it​ ​could​ ​be​ ​bigger
than​ ​the​ ​first​ ​one.​ ​Continue​ ​to​ ​wait​ ​for​ ​the​ ​announcement​ ​of​ ​rescuers​ ​or​ ​local​ ​officials.
Realizations:
Natural​ ​disasters​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​loss​ ​of​ ​life.​ ​Even​ ​if​ ​nobody​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​it,​ ​just
imagine​ ​the​ ​death​ ​of​ ​your​ ​family​ ​member​ ​would​ ​have​ ​on​ ​your​ ​life.​ ​Your​ ​home​ ​could
also​ ​be​ ​damaged​ ​whether​ ​large​ ​or​ ​small.​ ​Also,​ ​you​ ​could​ ​lose​ ​some​ ​irreplaceable
possessions.
The​ ​burden​ ​that​ ​unpreparedness​ ​could​ ​bring​ ​definitely​ ​matters.​ ​Think​ ​about​ ​how​ ​long​ ​it
would​ ​take​ ​before​ ​you​ ​can​ ​cover​ ​financial​ ​losses​ ​caused​ ​by​ ​a​ ​natural​ ​disaster.
Moreover,​ ​you​ ​could​ ​experience​ ​stress​ ​and​ ​anxiety,​ ​and​ ​relationship​ ​problems,​ ​often​ ​for
years​ ​to​ ​come.
Therefore,​ ​we​ ​must​ ​always​ ​be​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do​ ​before,​ ​during,​ ​and​ ​after​ ​any
calamities.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​to​ ​lessen​ ​the​ ​destruction​ ​of​ ​such.​ ​We​ ​must​ ​also​ ​know​ ​the​ ​hazards​ ​of​ ​our
location​ ​(whether​ ​it​ ​is​ ​prone​ ​to​ ​a​ ​tsunami​ ​or​ ​not).​ ​We​ ​must​ ​also​ ​trust​ ​whatever​ ​the​ ​local
officials​ ​and​ ​rescuers​ ​would​ ​advise.
Government​ ​Agency:
The​ ​National​ ​Disaster​ ​Risk​ ​Reduction​ ​Management​ ​Council​​ ​is​ ​continuously​ ​helping​ ​us
prepare​ ​for​ ​natural​ ​disasters,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​we​ ​should​ ​respond​ ​to​ ​such.
Prepare​ ​for​ ​the​ ​worst,​ ​plan​ ​for​ ​the​ ​best.
Be​ ​alert​ ​and​ ​be​ ​aware.