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MAKE A PLAN - KNOW
THE RISK - BE PREPARED!
Tsunamis - Know The Risks
Information Supplied By Government of Canada
Tsunamis are a series of large waves that
strike coastal areas. They can happen with little warning and result in flooding
and damage to coastal communities. Thankfully, they are a rare event.
Storm surges
are more common. Residents, particularly those living in low-lying areas near
the coastline, should prepare in advance.
Atlas of Canada - Natural hazards - Tsunamis
Tsunami facts
- Tsunamis are a series of large waves
caused by events such as submarine
earthquakes,
landslides,
volcanic eruptions,
and less commonly, meteoric impacts. Tsunamis can also occur in large lakes.
- They can occur with little warning in the
ocean and in lakes.
- A tsunami can be triggered by a large,
high energy, but relatively short duration disturbance of the sea floor.
Such waves can travel across the ocean at high speed (800 km/h, the speed of
a jet plane).
- As the tsunami waves approach the
shoreline and water depth shallows, the wave speed slows, but wave height
will increase as wave length decreases. In 20 m of water, wave speed will be
50 km/h.
- Tsunamis can occur as individual or
multiple waves following each other by minutes and even hours.
- Tsunamis can grow to 60 or more metres in
height (the size of a ten-story building).
How to prepare for a tsunami
- Check your house and land for any
potential dangers related to
flooding.
- Identify any vulnerability and repair it.
- Learn how to turn off the gas and
electricity in your house. Local authorities may instruct you to shut these
off.
- Do not store your important documents in
the basement. Keep them at a higher level, protected from flood damage.
- Ensure that your family has an
emergency kit and
plan.
- Ensure the emergency kit is portable, in
a back-pack or suitcase with wheels.
- Your local chapter of
St. John Ambulance
can teach you first aid and
CPR. Your local
Red Cross
can teach you survival techniques in the water through their swimming and
boating courses.
If you have any questions or need to know more
about evacuation procedures, contact your local
emergency management organization,
or police or fire department.
Early warning signs
of a tsunami
- One of the signs of a potential tsunami
is the occurrence of a very large earthquake that lasts for more than 20
seconds. If an area has been shaken by a very large earthquake, one should
be on alert that shorelines located within the radius of the earthquake's
epicentre, may be hit by a tsunami.
- A more immediate and ominous sign of an
approaching tsunami is a rapid and unexpected recession of water levels
below the expected low tide. This can occur minutes before the shoreline is
struck by a tsunami and can be the only sign along coastlines that are
located too far from the earthquake epicentre to have felt the shaking.
- A tsunami may also occur with very little
warning.
- Natural Resources Canada's seismologists
monitor for such events, around the clock. As soon as possible, a tsunami
warning is issued to media and municipalities in regions where a tsunami is
likely to hit.
- The Canadian Coast Guard's Marine
Communications Traffic Services broadcasts tsunami alerts to mariners.
- When you get warning of a tsunami, if
there is time, move to higher ground immediately.
What to do when a
tsunami hits
- Do not go near the shore to watch a
tsunami hit. If you can see it, you are too close to escape.
- Should a tsunami occur and you cannot get
to higher ground, stay inside where you are protected from the water. It's
best to be on the landward side of the house, away from windows.
- Often tsunamis occur in multiple waves
that can occur minutes apart, but also as much as one hour apart.
- Monitor the tsunami's progress and listen
for warnings or instructions from local officials. If you are safe when the
first tsunami hits, stay put until authorities declare all is safe.
- After a tsunami hits, you may encounter
flood waters. Flood waters can be dangerous to walk or drive through. Before
driving anywhere, it is best to listen carefully to rescue officials who
will be coordinating evacuation plans.
- Be aware of risks such as hypothermia
from cold water or drowning from running water. Your local chapter of
St. John Ambulance or
Red Cross
can provide more information on how to prevent these problems.
Know The Risks
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