April 2013 Tsunami Awareness Month

[whalesong]

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to issue a proclamation naming April 2013 Tsunami Awareness Month.

Do you live in a Tsunami zone?

Abercrombie will hold a ceremony at the state Capitol on Monday to sign the proclamation.

Several agencies will participate in the ceremony, including the Hawaii State Civil Defense, the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Emergency Management, and NOAA's National Weather Service.

The declaration emphasizes the importance of tsunami awareness and preparedness.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands and has a history of tsunamis.

The Pacific Disaster Center says tsunamis have killed more people in Hawaii than any other natural disaster.

In memory of those who lost their lives on this day.
http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Tsunami1946.html

[dmbwest]

The Pacific Disaster Center says tsunamis have killed more people in Hawaii than any other natural disaster.


Ball busting here but Whalesong, I thought you would claim a different 'natural disaster' as per killing more people on Hawaii.

aloha,
haole pog

[hikatz]

Probably a good idea, after the last couple of evacuation fiascos we tend to get complacent!
Hawaiian Encyclopedia, lists Major Tsunamis that have hit Hawaii and estimated wave heights it's an eye opener!
http://www.hawaiianencyclopedia.com/tsunamis.asp

Images of the destruction
http://www.tsunami.org/archives1946.html
YouTube video of 1946 Tsunami with 2010 Views is excellent,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqleDCrv7EI

More information just google Hilo Tsunami history.

[konabish]

I'm surprised that there is little mention of the 23 students and 4 teachers killed by the 1946 tidal wave in Laupahoehoe. Two successive tidal waves struck without the loss of life. Seeing the receding water, school children went out on the beach to collect stranded fish. It was then that the third wave came in, estimated to be between 30 and 50 feet high. They were all dragged out to sea. There is a monument to them in Laupahoehoe Point Park.

The incredible amount of video footage of the 2011 Japan tsunami shows many, many people caught in the path of the waves. As well-prepared as they were, many Japanese waited too long to move to higher ground (if it was available). The speed of the surging water is incredible, and the massive amounts of debris it carried would crush a person trying to swim to safety. Of course there were situations where there wasn't enough time (or mobility), but many more could have escaped. You not only need to plan your escape before disaster strikes, but also consider escape routes being blocked.