Tsunami Preparedness

A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by a large, abrupt disturbance of the ocean and they can occur for hours. Often the first wave to reach the shore is not the largest. Commonly tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes. In addition to earthquake damage, a disturbance close to Kodiak can cause a devastating tsunami that can arrive within minutes.  

Tsunamis can impact coastlines and cause destruction thousands of miles away. Tsunamis rank high on the scale of natural disasters. Since 1850, tsunamis have been responsible for the loss of over 420,000 lives and billions of dollars of damage to coastal structures and habitats. Most of these casualties were caused by local tsunamis. For example, the December 26, 2004, tsunami from the Indian Ocean killed about 130,000 people close to the earthquake and about 58,000 people on distant shores. After a tsunami is generated, forecasting tsunami arrival times and impact areas is made possible through modeling and measurement technologies.

The National Tsunami Warning Center issues alerts for Alaska. These alerts are automatically sent to the Kodiak Police Department, National Weather Service gateway, NOAA Weather Radio, Emergency Alert Systems, and other third party software. When events are local, evacuation decisions must be made quickly, often before the size of any potential tsunami is known. The City will sound the outdoor sirens in the event that a tsunami warning is issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center. In an effort to try to reach as many community members as possible, the City relays information through local radio stations and social media. It is important to consider having alternative methods to receive information, like a NOAA Weather Radio, in case a local event disrupts current technology, electricity, internet, and cell service.    

As a general rule, if the ground shakes for more than 20 seconds and it is difficult to stand, anyone within the tsunami inundation zone should immediately move to higher ground. The City encourages all community members to know if their home or workplace is in an inundation zone, and to have a plan in place to respond to an event. There are guides available through the State at www.ready.alaska.gov to build a preparedness kit that fits your needs and budget. When possible, community members who live outside the inundation zone are encouraged to have a plan to shelter in place.  

For more information refer to the resources below or maps in the adjacent tab.

Learn more: http://www.tsunami.noaa.gov/ https://earthquake.alaska.edu/tsunami/inundation