ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A TSUNAMI?
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Rtn. Ida joined FEMA in 1995 shortly after Hurricane Marilyn came storming through the V. I. and she says that caring for others as they deal with disaster/emergency management has become her passion.
Rotarian Ida was the guest speaker on September 1, 2010 and she shared information she received as a result of attending a conference sponsored by NOAA (National Weather Service) that dealt with the tsunami ready community. She gave a history of tsunamis in the Caribbean and indicated that the Caribbean is a tsunami area. Tsunamis in the Caribbean fall into two categories: (l) Teletsunami—those triggered by earthquakes in Portugal area…. One of the oldest teletsunamis was reported in 1755. It was triggered by a major earthquake known as the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The teletsunami crossed the Atlantic and was noticed throughout the eastern Caribbean from Barbados to Antigua and as far west as Cuba. The teletsunami of 1761 also affected the Caribbean. (2)Tsunami resulting from earthquakes along the coast of the Caribbean plate boundaries.
How can we become tsunami ready?
Leaders must adopt tsunami ready program which includes:
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Establishment of 24 hour warning point or emergency operation center (VI ALERT)
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Have more than one way to receive tsunami information
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Promote public readiness through education and distribution of information
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Hold emergency exercises
When seconds count, tsunami ready communities are prepared to help those in coastal areas to reduce the potential for disastrous consequences. ARE YOU TSUNAMI-READY?