Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of Education in the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tsunami education activities, materials, and programs are recognized by the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) as the essential tool for near-source tsunami mitigation. Prior to the NTHMP, there were no state tsunami education programs outside of Hawaii and few earthquake education materials included tsunami hazards. In the first year of the NTHMP, a Strategic Plan was developed providing the framework for mitigation projects in the program. The Strategic Plan identifies education as the first of five mitigation strategic planning areas and targets a number of user groups, including schools, businesses, tourists, seasonal workers, planners, government officials, and the general public. In the 6 years of the NTHMP tsunami education programs have been developed in all five Pacific States and include print, electronic and video/film products, curriculum, signage, fairs and workshops, and public service announcements. Multi-state education projects supported by the NTHMP include TsuInfo, a bi-monthly newsletter, and Surviving a Tsunami, a booklet illustrating lessons from the 1960 Chilean tsunami. An additional education component is provided by the Public Affairs Working Group (PAWG) that promotes media coverage of tsunamis and the NTHMP. Assessment surveys conducted in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California show an increase in tsunami awareness and recognition of tsunami hazards among the general population since the NTHMP inception.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

CSZ:

Cascadia Subduction Zone

FEMA:

Federal Emergency Management Agency

NOAA:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NTHMP:

National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program

NWS:

National Weather Service

PAWG:

Public Affairs Working Group

WSSPC:

Western States Seismic Policy Council

References

  • Atwater, B. F., Cisternas, V. M., Bourgeois, J., Dudley, W. C., Hendley II, J. W., and Stauffer, P. H.: 1999, Surviving a Tsunami – Lessons from Chile, Hawaii, and Japan. USGS Circular 1187, 18 pp.

  • Atwater, B. F., Cisternas, V. M., Bourgeois, J., Dudley, W. C., Hendley II, J. W., and Stauffer P. H.: 2001, Sobreviviendo a un tsunami: lecciones de Chile, Hawai y Japòn. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1218, 18 pp.

  • E. N. Bernard (1998) ArticleTitleProgram aims to reduce impact of tsunamis on Pacific states Eos, Trans. AGU 79 IssueID22 262–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Dengler, L.: 1998, Strategic Implementation Plan for Tsunami Mitigation Projects, approved by the Mitigation Subcommittee of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, April 14, 1998. Technical Report NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL PMEL-113 (PB99-115552), NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA. http://www.pmel.noaa. gov/pubs/PDF/deng2030/deng2030.pdf.

  • Dengler, L.: 2001, Tsunami mitigation efforts on California’s north coast. In: Proceedings of the International Tsunami Symposium 2001 (ITS 2001) (on CD-ROM), NTHMP Review Session, R-14, Seattle, WA, 7–10 August 2001, pp. 187–203. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/its2001/.

  • L. Dengler K. Moley (1995) Living On Shaky Ground, How to Survive Earthquakes and Tsunamis on the North Coast. Humboldt Earthquake Education Center, Humboldt State University Arcata, CA 95521

    Google Scholar 

  • F. I. González E. N. Bernard (1993) ArticleTitleThe Cape Mendocino Tsunami Earthquakes and Volcanoes 23 IssueID3 135–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Good, J. W.: 1995, Tsunami Education Planning Workshop, Findings and Recommendations. NOAA Tech. Memo. ERL PMEL-106, 41 pp. (PB95-195970), NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, WA.

  • D. Johnston D. Paton G. Crawford K. Ronan B. Houghton P. Buergelt (2005) ArticleTitleMeasuring tsunami preparedness in Coastal Washington, United States. Nat. Hazards. 35 173–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, D. M., Driedger, C., Houghton, B., Ronan, K., and Paton, D.: 2001, Children’s risk perceptions and preparedness: A hazard education assessment in four communities around Mount Rainier, U.S.A.–Preliminary results. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Science Report 2001/02.

  • Johnston, D. M., Paton, D., Houghton, B., Becker, J., and Crumbie, G.: 2002, Results of the August–September 2001 Washington State Tsunami Survey. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Science Report 2002/17, 35 pp.

  • Jonientz-Trisler, C. and Mullin, J.: 1999, 1997–1999 Activities of the Tsunami Mitigation Subcommittee: A Report to the Steering Committee NTHMP. FEMA Region 10 publication, 45 pp., Appendices.

  • C. Jonientz-Trisler R. S. Simmons B. Yanagi G. Crawford M. Darienzo R. Eisner E. Petty G. Priest (2005) ArticleTitlePlanning for communities at risk of tsunamis Nat. Hazards. 35 121–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Karel, A.: 1998, Oregonians need more information about tsunamis to save lives (results of a survey). Oregon Geol. 60(3).

  • D. H. Oppenheimer G. Beroza G. Carver L. A. Dengler J. P. Eaton L. Gee F. González M. Magee G. Marshall M. Murray R. C. McPherson B. Ramanowicz K. Satake R. Simpson P. Somerville R. Stein D. Valentine (1993) ArticleTitleThe Cape Mendocino, California, earthquake of April 1992: Subduction at the triple junction. Science 261 433–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Public Affairs Working Group (PAWG): 1998, National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Tsunami Public Affairs Working Group Report Anchorage. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami-hazard/pawgoctober98report.html.

  • Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Federal/State Working Group: 1996, Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Implementation Plan – A Report to the Senate Appropriations Committee, 22 pp., Appendices, http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami-hazard/hazard3.pdf.

  • Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division: 2001a, Move To High Ground, Tsunami Curriculum Grades K–6. http://www.prh.noaa.gov/itic/library/pubs/curriculum/tsunami_curriculum. html, 68 pp.

  • Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division: 2001b, Surviving Great Waves of Destruction. http://www.prh.noaa.gov/itic/library/pubs/curriculum/tsunami_curriculum.html, 52 pp.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Humboldt State University, #1 Harpst St., Arcata, CA, 95521, USA

    Lori Dengler

Authors
  1. Lori Dengler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lori Dengler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dengler, L. The Role of Education in the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program. Nat Hazards 35, 141–153 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-004-2409-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-004-2409-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation