Contents Volume 14, Number 4 August 2012 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Special features Departments Report from Maine 1 News 14 A culture of preparedness 8 Websites and Apps 20 Interactive tsunami evacuation maps for Pacific Northwest 9 Publications 17 Eyewitness account 10 State offices 1 Wireless Emergency Alert 11 Games 22 WSSPC Awards 13 Classes 22 Google Glass 14 Material added to NTHMP Library 23 Opinion 28 IAQ 26 Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Mgmt. Agency 29 Video reservations 27 Lost & Found Project 12 Regional reports 3 Caribbean TsunamiReady Sites 12 Conferences 21 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ REPORT FROM MAINE Maine Tsunami Preparedness Elizabeth Barton – Natural Hazards Planner for MEMA Since 2009 Maine has been working to become more prepared in the event of a tsunami. To that end Maine Emergency Management Agency received a grant from the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program to investigate the risk and the threat of a tsunami hitting the coast of Maine. In the process of research it was discovered that there has been at least one earthquake generated tsunami (1872) and as many as three other tsunamis that were caused by meteorological events. This lead MEMA to believe that there was an actual threat the next step was to determine what the risk was and what was the most likely source of threat. MEMA contracted with Maine Geological Survey to look at where the mostly likely threat resided and it was determined that an earthquake originating in the Puerto Rican Trench was the most realistic threat. Based on that, Maine Geological Survey began the work to model the impact on Maine‘s coast, enlisting the help of William Knight of WCATWC who did the actual model run with the input of Maine‘s data. In 2011 MEMA hosted two tabletop exercises to test the Tsunami Response plan that was written by consultants hired for that purpose. The exercise was held in the spring not long after the earthquake and tsunami that struck Fukushima, Japan. Perhaps due to the attention generated by this disaster there was a positive response by local communities at the tabletops held. Prior to this Maine residents did not give the threat of a tsunami hitting Maine much credibility. However, when the world turned to look at Japan it caused many to wonder ―could it happen here? ― The answer they got was yes, but it is highly unlikely to be the same level of impact as what occurred in Japan. (continued on page 3) State Offices and agencies of emergency management: Gives mailing addresses, phone and fax numbers, websites. Does not give personnel names or job titles. http://www.fema.gov/about/contact/statedr.shtm TsuInfo Alert is prepared by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources on behalf of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program, a State/Federal Partnership funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is assembled by Lee Walkling, Librarian, and is published bi-monthly by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Earth Resources. This publication is free upon request and is available in print (by surface mail), and at http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Topics/GeologyPublicationsLibrary/Pages/tsuinfo.aspx Participants in the TsuInfo program can request copies of reports listed in this issue from: Washington Geology Library Washington Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources 1111 Washington Street SE, MS 47007 Olympia, WA 98504-7007 360/902-1473 fax: 360/902-1785 e-mail: [email protected] The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of NOAA, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, or other sponsors of TsuInfo Alert. ISSN 1938-5064 TsuInfo Alert, v. 14, no. 4, August 2012 2 (continued from page 1) Also in 2011 Maine Emergency Management MEMA‘s website at: Agency contracted with Maine Department of http://www.maine.gov/mema/mema_library.shtml Transportation to install 130 emergency evacuation A previous article came out in TsunInfo Alert in route signs along coastal routes. This project gen- October 2011. It can be viewed at: erated a lot of discussion in Maine coastal com- http://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/ger_tsuinfo_2011 munities – much of the discussion being disagree- _v13_no5.pdf ♦ ment with the need for the signage. Maine is a very independent state where its residents like to boast their ability to withstand whatever nature throws at them. On the whole Mainers are very resourceful REGIONAL REPORTS and self-sufficient; however that very likely is not the case of the many tourists who come to Maine to ALASKA enjoy its coastline and many lakes. Their safety is just as important to MEMA as the safety of the Scientists kick-off first NOAA-led survey of south- residents of Maine. east Alaska beaches for tsunami debris The excitement of the sign installation has died NOAA Fisheries News Releases down and Mainers may scratch their heads about the June 18, 2012 signs but they are no longer worrying about them. Julie Speegle, 907 586-7032 The tabletop exercises that were held however have Juneau, AK—A team of five NOAA scientists stayed in the minds of one particular county in have kicked off the first NOAA-led survey of south- Maine – Cumberland County. Cumberland County east Alaska beaches for Japan tsunami debris, leaving has perhaps the largest population and is one of the from Ketchikan Friday aboard the charter vessel Sum- major metropolitan areas of the state. It also has a dum. large coastal area and is rightly concerned about Over the 10-day cruise, the team will survey spe- protecting its residents in the event of a tsunami. cific beaches of southeast Alaska from Dixon Entrance Cumberland County has perhaps the most diverse to Cape Spencer, covering approximately 78 kilo- mix of nationalities living within its borders. There- meters of shoreline across 889 kilometers of outside fore it was no surprise when they decided they coast. wanted to be better prepared for this disaster. They ―We doubt that the peak of tsunami debris has ar- decided they needed to translate and update warn- rived, so this is a preliminary assessment to get an idea ing documentation so that the Counties diverse pop- of the scope of what is arriving here right now,‖ said ulation could be better prepared with information on NOAA‘s Jeep Rice from the Auke Bay Lab (ABL) in where to go and what to do in the event of a tsuna- Juneau. ―We are also keeping a sharp lookout to see if mi. Also knowing their geography and low lying there is anything chemically or physically dangerous roadways, they determined they needed a better way that needs immediate action. This scouting trip will to notify locals about road closures and detours due help inform future cleanup efforts.‖ to high water. Their plan is to translate their warning Rice said other locations further north and west in literature into 8 different languages including Braille Alaska will be surveyed later this summer to include a and to purchase two variable message signs that can wide swath of Alaska coastline all the way out to be carried by man power to locations that might not Adak. All human-related marine debris will be enu- be easily accessible by a large vehicle. Their plan merated and cataloged so scientists can assess their will be complete by the early spring in 2013. As spatial and temporal distribution. Maine had completed its original grant plan, the Tsunami debris surveys will be conducted peri- County of Cumberland is working with Maryland odically throughout the next couple years. NOAA‘s Emergency Management agency to fund this proj- Marine Debris Program provided funding for the sur- ect. Maryland received a grant to improve public vey, which will wrap-up June 24 in Juneau. The NOAA outreach with regard to tsunamis along the Eastern Marine Debris Program asks that members of the pub- coastal states. Maine is very appreciative of the op- lic visit their website on the Japanese tsunami marine portunity to move forward with this project in Cum- debris http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/tsunamidebris/ to berland County due to the assistance of the Mary- learn about procedures when they encounter marine land Emergency Management Agency. debris. If one finds tsunami debris, NOAA asks that it As part of the grant from NTHMP, Maine be reported to [email protected]. Emergency Management Agency produced a bro- Although this is the first NOAA survey in chure that was printed and distributed to coastal Alaska specifically for tsunami debris, NOAA has counties in the state. It is also available on been conducting marine debris surveys along the TsuInfo Alert, v. 14, no. 4, August 2012 3 Alaska coast every 5-10 years since standard sur- tional sheets on Japan Tsunami Marine Debris for vey protocols were developed by Ted Merrell at specific information. ABL in the 1970s, meaning the agency has nearly Just because debris is on the beach, does not 40-years of data on marine debris in southeast necessarily mean it came from Japan. The North Alaska. Coast is a natural repository for flotsam and jetsam Auke Bay Lab‘s Jacek Maselko, the chief sci- due to ocean currents. entist for the survey, is leading a team that also in- The Sheriff‘s Office of Emergency Services re- cludes Mark Hoover from ABL, Jason Rolfe from minds the public that large earthquakes and tsuna- the NOAA Marine Debris Division, NOAA con- mis can strike the North Coast at any time, and per- tractor Marty Myers from Juneau and University of sons in low lying areas or visiting our beaches Alaska student Derek Chamberlin.