Media and Community Education Ideas
• If your community is at risk, build tsunami evacuation routes and publicize their
locations. Post signs directing people to higher ground away from the coast.
• Review land use in tsunami hazard areas so no new critical facilities, such as hospitals
and police stations; high-occupancy buildings, such as auditoriums or schools; or
petroleum-storage tank farms are built where there is a tsunami hazard. Consider
relocating existing critical facilities outside the tsunami hazard area when opportunities
arise, or at least explore ways to reinforce facilities and structures, such as critical
bridges needed for evacuation. Tsunami damage can be minimized through land use
planning, preparation, and evacuation.
• Ask your local newspaper or radio or television station to:
-Do a series on the dangers of tsunamis and floods.
-Do a story featuring interviews with local officials about land use
management and building codes in floodplains.
-Highlight the importance of staying informed about local
conditions.
-Run public service ads about how to protect lives and property in
a tsunami.
Help the reporters to localize the information by providing them with the local emergency
telephone number for the fire, police, and emergency medical services departments
(usually 9-1-1) and emergency numbers for the local utilities and hospitals. Also provide
the business telephone numbers for the local emergency management office, local
American Red Cross chapter, and state geological survey or department of natural
resources.
• Work with officials of the local fire, police, and emergency medical services departments;
utilities; hospitals; emergency management office; and American Red Cross chapter to
prepare and disseminate guidelines for people with mobility impairments about what to
do if they have to evacuate.
• Periodically inform your community about local public warning systems.
• Interview local officials and insurance companies about the types of insurance that cover
flood-related losses. Include information on the economic effects of disaster.
Posted by Aneka Tips
on 17.32. Filed under