Kaua‘i County officials to promote public awareness for Tsunami Awareness Month in April

Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency and other emergency management partners across the state are promoting public awareness and preparedness in recognition of April being Tsunami Awareness Month in Hawai‘i.

“A tsunami can happen at any time, with little warning. As such, staying informed and taking appropriate actions are critical to your safety,” said KEMA Administrator Elton Ushio. “Everyone should know if they’re in a tsunami evacuation zone, whether working, out and about, or at home. Review Kaua‘i’s tsunami evacuation zones and have a plan should an evacuation be necessary.”

Hawai‘i observes Tsunami Awareness Month in April to remember the April 1, 1946 tsunami that was generated by a large earthquake in the Aleutian Islands. With no tsunami warning system then, the tsunami arrived unexpectedly, resulting in 159 fatalities in Hawai‘i.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was founded 3 years later, and it currently serves as one of two regional warning centers for the United States, while also providing tsunami notifications and warning to more than 25 countries.

A banner with information regarding historical tsunami wave run-up heights will be on display in the Mo‘ikeha building as well as the Kapule building during the month of April. Maps of tsunami evacuation zones and preparedness information can be found on the county website, http://www.kauai.gov/kema.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education, Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness Branch produced a video, that provides a brief introduction of how a tsunami is generated, different types of tsunamis, signs of a local tsunami, the tsunami warning system, and how to plan for and respond to a tsunami threat. You can view that video at https://vimeo.com/928591337.

To sign up for the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS), the county’s emergency notification service, please go to the county’s website, www.kauai.gov/kema and click on “WENS.” You may also call the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency at 808-241-1800.