What is Tsunami?
A tsunami is a large wave or series of waves that is generated by sudden displacement of the seafloor, or any disturbance that shifts a large volume of water away from its normal position. Because tsunamis occur suddenly, often without warning, they are extremely dangerous to coastal communities
What causes tsunami?
A tsunami can be caused by an underwater strong and shallow earthquake, submarine landslide or submarine volcanic eruptions and from onshore volcanoes, or by cone collapse.
What are the effects?
- Destruction and loss of live and property
- Flooding
- Diseases
- Poverty and hunger
- Disruption of communication and road network
- Loss of income and business
- Affects marine life
- Poses health risks to communities’ example, likely to develop water borne diseases like diarrhoea, fever and malaria, typhoid
- Destruction to conserved environment mangroves, traditional fasting places
What are the signs?
- A strong earthquake
- Any unusual change in sea level (drop or rise
- A strong sound
What to do:
- Build homes and building of essential services (such as hospitals, shops, markets, etc) safely on hills or at least 300 to 500m inland away from shore
- Identify escape routes, develop evacuation plans and rehearse the plans
- Plan trees along the shores of the sea
- Make memorials to mark previous events as a reminder to communities
- Awareness and education on tsunami hazards and other cross cutting issues like HIV&AIDS, gender, environment, health and hygiene
- Stop everything you are doing
- Move inland to higher ground; do not wait to be Told
- Follow escape routes; do not wait until you see the waves
- Stay inland until advised to return by authorities.
- Stay away from the shores
- Be aware, keep an ear open for a second or third wave which could be on the way
- Do not return until authorizes says its safe
- Look for survivors
- Raise alarms and assist those injured
- Seek assistance from service providers for medical and psychosocial support.
- Awareness and education on tsunami hazards and other cross cutting issues like HIV&AIDS, gender, environment, health and hygiene
