1. K U A L A L U M P U R N E W S
TSUNAMI
SAFETY
Written by Kamilia Broderick
What is a tsunami?
Tsunamis are a series of ocean waves produced by
The word tsunami comes
earthquakes/underwater landslides/volcanic
from the Japanese word
eruptions.
meaning “Harbour Wave”
Waves that are 100ft+ feet When an oceanic plate hits a continental plate
high can be very destructive. the plates press together, pressure builds;
Tsunamis don’t happen very Eventually the heavier oceanic plate slips under
often, but when they do they the lighter continental one, and causes an
cause many deaths and earthquake. The earthquake lifts part of the
injuries. ocean floor up and drops other parts down.
Where do
tsunamis
occur? Japan Tsunami 2011
Tsunamis can occur in many
places, but four out of every five
tsunamis that happen occur in the
region called the ‘Pacific Ring of
Fire’, where the destruction of The countries located along the
tectonic plates by the process of Pacific Ring of Fire are:
subduction results in frequent
• Canada • Countries in SA
earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions. This region that rings • U.S • Mexico
the Pacific Ocean basis has some • New Zealand • Japan
of the most active plate • Malaysia • Russia
boundaries in the world. If a major
• Philippines • Papa New
earthquake happens here is it will
• Indonesia Guinea
definitely be strong enough to
cause a destructive tsunami.
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2. K U A L A L U M P U R N E W S
BEFORE AND DURING A TSUNAMI
DISASTER
Protecting your home & property
If you live in an area in the world where a tsunami could happen, here are a
few tips that you could use to help protect and prevent severe damage to your
home & property.
- Evaluate your home if it’s near the coast.
- You should have a emergency kit ready
- If you’re really concerned about a tsunami hitting you, you could even have
your home inspected by a engineer to find out ways to divert water away
from the structure
What to do before/during a tsunami hits you?
If you live in a coastal area that could be hit by an earthquake, especially near the Pacific Ocean, the
chances of a tsunami hitting increase. Take these precautions immediately after an earthquake:
- Turn on your radio or TV to see if there are any tsunami warnings.
- Move away from the shoreline and evacuate to high-ground immediately.
- If you’re at a beach and see a wave noticeably receding, do not just stand
there and wander what it is, you must evacuate immediately and RUN in the
opposite direction. Go to higher ground or inland immediately and warn everyone on the way by
shouting clearly and loudly "Tsunami! Head for high ground!"
- If you’re at home; Take only essential items that you can carry including important papers. Go to higher
ground, at least ten metres above sea level, or if possible move at least one kilometer away from all
beaches and the water's edge of harbours. Stay at high ground as tsunamis can last for 8 hours or
longer.
- If you can’t leave the area, take shelter in an upper story of a sturdy brick or concrete multi-story
building
- Tune in to your emergency broadcasters ; Local Radio, commercial radio or any community radio
stations such as 88.9 Capital FM, 93.9 Real Life Real Time, or 89.9 Business FM
Act quickly if you happen to be caught up in the water. If you
did not manage to evacuate in time and yourself caught up in
the tsunami for one reason or another, there a a few tips that
you could try to survive:
- Grab onto something that floats. Use a floating object as a raft
to keep yourself above the water and grab on tightly. Items that
float such as tree trunks, doors, fishing equipment etc. may be
in the water with you.
Tip: Do NOT try to surf a tsunami wave as the waves have a lot of energy and are very
powerful.
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3. K U A L A L U M P U R N E W S
After a tsunami, Looking
for Signs & Emergency Kits
Can animals sense earthquakes and tsunamis?
Just prior to an earthquake or the beginning of a tsunami, people
from different parts around the world have witnessed strange
behavior of animals. In Thailand, elephants were seen running
away from the coastline just prior to the December 26, 2004
tsunami. Birds have stopped singing, cows have begun leaping
and cats and dogs have sought refuge in the strangest of places.
If you see this tsunami
hazard zone sign, that
means you are in an area
of which a tsunami could
occur/tsunami danger
zone.
What to do After Emergency Kit
- Portable radio with spare - Mobile phone
a Tsunami Occurs batteries - Strong boots or shoes
- Torch with spare batteries - Medications
- Help injured or trapped persons. Give first - First Aid kit - Food and special
aid where appropriate. Call for help. Do not - A copy of your emergency requirements for pets
move seriously injured persons unless they plan
are in immediate danger.
- Bottled water
- check that everyone is present and that no- - Enough non-perishable food
one is injured
for three days
- If it is safe to do so, check your house and
property for signs of damage
- If you have evacuated, stay away until
authorities tell you it is safe to return home
- Take care when traveling as roads may still
be dangerous
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4. B I B L I O G R A P H Y
References:
http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Tsunami
http://www.ses.vic.gov.au/prepare/prepare-resources/home-emergency-plan-2011
http://www.secretsofsurvival.com/survival/tsunami.html
http://www.witchhazel.it/tsunami.htm
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Documents/TsunamiBrochure.pdf
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