How to Survive a Tsunami

Learn about the risks in advance. The important thing you need to do is find out if the place you live is likely to face a tsunami. You are at risk if:

• Your home, school, workplace is located in the coastal area, near the sea.
• Your home, school, or workplace is at or below sea level, on flat or slightly undulating ground. If you don’t know the altitude of your home, school, or work, find out. Some local governments use altitude as an indicator for warnings.
• There are signs indicating that there is a possibility of a tsunami in your area.
• Your local government has released information about the possibility of a tsunami.
• Natural sea barriers such as dikes or sand dunes have been removed for urban development purposes.

Be wary if there has been a tsunami in your coastal area in the past. Check with your library or ask your local government office. Look for websites that allow you to look up flood risks online. ^[1]

• Most tsunamis occur in what is known as the “ring of fire,” an area in the Pacific Ocean known for its geological activity. ^[2] Chile, the US West Coast, Japan and the Philippines are particularly prone to tsunamis.

Prepare essential materials in an easy-to-access place. If a tsunami (or other natural disaster) hits, chances are you’ll need some supplies to survive, and you’ll need to get them as quickly as possible. Prepare and pack both safety and vitals together.

• Prepare a package of safety items . Food, water, and a first aid kit are the most basic items. Store the package securely in a place that is easily visible, familiar to everyone in the home, and easily accessible in the event of an emergency. You also need to have a raincoat or jacket available for each person in the house near a safe place to pack.
• Prepare a personal survival kit for each family member, and a family survival kit with familiar items for everyone. Remember to prepare all necessary medications for each family member. You also do not forget to prepare survival items for your pets.

Develop an evacuation plan. An evacuation plan should be prepared in advance. When planning your evacuation, consider your family, your workplace, your personal school, or the surrounding community. If necessary, initiate a community-scale evacuation plan if there is not already one in your community. Be a pioneer in planning, and engage with local authorities and other residents. The lack of an evacuation plan and local warning system increases your and your community’s risk of injury or death during or after a tsunami. The following are the items required for a successful evacuation plan:

• Discuss with family and co-workers different options for evacuation. For example, you need to know where to see your loved ones again if a tsunami hits. ^[3]
• Conduct hands-on exercises to ensure that all members of the community are clear on what they need to do and where they need to go during an evacuation.
• The plan should include a complete list of community members; ensure that support reaches the sick and disabled.
• Ensure that the warnings and signs of evacuation are well understood in advance by everyone in the community. Information pamphlets or lectures can be distributed to make sure everyone is aware. Read the earthquake cautions.
• Remember to plan different safe routes because an earthquake can destroy roads and infrastructure, hindering the use of some routes to escape.
• Consider what types of shelters may exist in displaced areas; Should such shelters be built in advance?