Grand Challenges for Disaster Reduction: Priority Interagency Tsunami Implementation Actions
GRAND CHALLENGE #1: Provide hazard and
disaster information where and when it is needed.
Improve tsunami and seismic sensor data and
infrastructure for better tsunami detection;
Enhance tsunami forecast capability along our
coastlines (Pacifi c, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of
Mexico) by increasing the number of Deep-ocean
Assessment and Report of Tsunamis (DART) buoys,
tide gauges, and seismic sensors feeding real-time
data into on-line forecast models;
Develop standardized and coordinated tsunami
hazard and risk assessments for all coastal regions
of the United States and its territories;
Encourage data exchange and interoperability
among all regional tsunami and all-hazard warning
systems, coordinated by the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission’s sub-Commission for
the Caribbean.
GRAND CHALLENGE #2: Understand the natural
processes that produce hazards.
Develop improved and sustained monitoring and
research of both the generating mechanisms and
the physical characteristics of the tsunami and
more accurate description of the sites at risk;
Research and better understand the protective role
coastal marshes, coral reefs, barrier islands, and
other coastal features play during a tsunami;
Conduct an annual review of the status of tsunami
research and develop a strategic plan for tsunami
research in the United States.
GRAND CHALLENGE #3: Develop hazard mitigation
strategies and technologies.
Develop engineering advancements for sea walls
and energy dissipaters that will minimize impact;
Develop coastal management plans that will
protect coastal features that act as natural energy
dissipaters to minimize the tsunami impact;
Promote development of model mitigation
measures and encourage communities to adopt
construction, critical facilities protection, and landuse
planning practices to reduce the impact of
future tsunamis.
GRAND CHALLENGE #4: Reduce the vulnerability
of infrastructure.
Develop risk assessments and inundation models to
inform the location of lifelines, hospitals, schools,
power plants and utilities, fi re and police stations,
and equipment away from the risk area or harden
those structures for adequate protection from the
assessed tsunami risk.
GRAND CHALLENGE #5: Assess disaster resilience.
Develop improved and standardized assessments
of societal, economic, and environmental
vulnerability to, impacts of, and a more robust
response and recovery capacity related to tsunami;
Develop effective land use plans based on risk
assessments and better topographic and
bathymetric maps to predict inundation levels
and possible effects;
Improve use of risk assessment tools, mitigation
practices, evacuation plans, and timely and
accurate warnings to promote risk-wise behavior by
decision makers and individuals.
GRAND CHALLENGE #6: Promote risk-wise behavior.
Increase outreach to all communities at risk to raise
awareness, improve preparedness, and encourage
the development of tsunami response plans;
Ensure interoperability between the United States’
national system and other regional tsunami
warnings systems;
Provide technical expertise and assistance, as
appropriate, to facilitate the development and
enhancement of the international tsunami and
all-hazard warning systems, including for the
Indian Ocean;
Employ geographically specifi c communication and
dissemination strategies for extended warnings and
probabilistic forecasts based on improved social
science research into individual response;
Increase the effectiveness of warnings and
evacuations through informed community
planning and annual drills.
Posted by Aneka Tips
on 17.18. Filed under