The PREP Solution, a

Tsunami Safety Plan

Department of Homeland Security Recommendation

By: Dillon Hartley
Table of Contents
Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Tsunami Hazards ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Destruction.......................................................................................................................................... 3
Cost ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Loss of life ........................................................................................................................................... 4
The PREP Solution ................................................................................................................................... 4
Before ................................................................................................................................................. 5
During ............................................................................................................................................. 665
After .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Benefits of The PREP Solution .................................................................................................................. 6
Planning .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Response ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Education ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Preparedness................................................................................................................................... 776
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................... 7

Table of Figures
Figure 1. The aftermath of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami event (Japan Earthquake and Tsunami:
Before and after the Cleanup) ................................................................................................................. 4
Figure 2. Items to include in an emergency preparedness kit (Get Cyclone Ready with WorkPac's
Emergency Kit) ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Abstract
Tsunamis are large ocean waves caused most often by undersea earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
While these waves are near invisible at sea, as they approach land they drastically increase in both
height and destructive power. Individuals living in at- risk coastal areas should be aware of the
devastating force that tsunami can have and know the safety precautions to take before, during, and
after an event. Implementation of The Planning, Response, Education, and Preparedness (or PREP)
Solution is crucial, as It helps to mitigate these natural disasters impact on communities and individuals
living within them.

Tsunami Hazards
A tsunami can be catastrophic for a coastal community. This natural disaster often leaves destruction,
disease, costly damages, loss of life, and environmental damages in its wake. The PREP Solution aims to
mitigate the damage, cost, and loss of life caused by a tsunami.

Destruction
While it is generally thought that the initial wave of a tsunami causes the largest amount of damage, this
is a common misconception. The most destructive power of a tsunami is in the enormous amounts of
water that follow the initial crashing wave. Damage is caused by two primary mechanisms, “the
smashing force of a wall of water traveling at high speed, and the destructive power of a large volume of
water draining off the land and carrying all with it” (Tsunamis: the Effects). These waves are known to
possess the ability to carry away heavy objects such as cars, trees, bridges, boats, and entire buildings.

Cost
The destruction caused by these natural disasters can also be felt in the economic damage caused to
communities and nations affected. For example, Japan’s 2011 earthquake is estimated to have
“destroyed 138,000 buildings and cost $360 billion dollars in economic damage” (Amadeo). This
economic damage is mainly accrued in the short term through the cost of immediate disaster relief and
property damage in affected areas. However, this is only the immediate cost, the proceeding cleanup,
reconstruction, and complete rebuilding of the local economy can be financially taxing on a community
for decades to come.
Figure 1. The aftermath of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami event (Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Before and after the
Cleanup)

Loss of life
The largest and worst effect caused by a tsunami is the cost to human life. It is estimated that “sSince
1850 alone, tsunamis have been responsible for the loss of more than 430,000 lives” (Tsunamis: the
Effects).). Much of this loss of life is due to the very limited warning time between a tsunami being
discovered and making landfall. Some communities have tried to mitigate this lack of warning time by
using danger markers such as the warning stones erected in the town of Aneyoshi, Japan. These stones
read “Remember calmly the calamity of the great tsunamis” and serve to stand as a warning to those
who would build their homes beyond the stones. However, many locals ignored this warning, and on
March 1993, “another deadly tsunami crashed into the same unlucky section of the coast, this time
leaving only 4 villagers alive” (Hamblyn, 2014).

The PREP Solution

The PREP Solution should be implemented in three major time frames around a tsunami event. Before
the tsunami makes landfall, during the event, and immediately following. If correctly implemented the
public and its government should have a solid foundation of knowledge and supplies to help them
mitigate the effects of a tsunami
Before
Tsunami preparation before an event is key mitigating damage caused to a community and preserving
human life. Preparing for a tsunami must be a joint action involving the people and their government
working together for the greatest good. Individuals should know if they are in an area that has the
potential to be affected by a tsunami, and if it is found that they are, it is essential that the people in
these areas know tsunami evacuation routes available to them. Individuals can also pack an emergency
preparedness kit with items such as “water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio,
and more” (Survival Kit Supplies). Governments can help to protect their coastlines by building tsunami
barrier walls which serve to impede or stop a tsunami making landfall. Furthermore, the government
can alert people to potential danger by issuing of a tsunami watch that can help individuals make
informed decisions in an emergency.

Figure 2. Items to include in an emergency preparedness kit (Get Cyclone Ready with WorkPac's Emergency Kit)

The natural disaster kit shown in the image above includes the following items:

 Battery powered radio  A Blanket Formatted Table

 Food  Extra batteries
 Water  Identification
 Emergency medical supplies  A cellphone and charger
 Personal hygiene items  Duct tape Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 +
 Useful tool  A breathing mask Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5"
 Matches  Flashlight Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 +
 Specialty items for babies or the elderly  Map of the area Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5"
During
When faced with a tsunami, if an individual would sense an earthquake, then they should wait until the
shaking stops, then “gather members of [their] household and review [their] evacuation plan, a tsunami
may be coming within minutes” (Tsunami Preparedness). Upon identification of a tsunami, the
government should issue a tsunami warning to alert the local people of the event taking place and give
them time to respond appropriately. This warning should include instruction to seek higher ground that
is further inland, as well as to avoid downed power lines, buildings, and bridges. Individuals should stay
away from affected areas until the government declares it safe. A tsunami is not just one wave but
rather is a series of waves and may continue for many hours.

After
After the event it is important for people to contact friends and family to let them know that they are
safe. Phone calls should be avoided as phone lines will be crowded and need for use by emergency
responders. Text or social media messaging can serve as a good alternative for people to use in this
scenario. Authorities should only let people return once it has been declared safe to do so. Letting
people return prematurely could unnecessarily put more lives at risk, thus causing greater chaos and
destruction. The government should then immediately begin search and rescue effort for individuals
who may have been trapped by the tsunami.

Benefits of The PREP Solution

Planning
By encouraging individuals andencouraging governments to implement the prep solution, these
governments will then encourage their citizens to plan a response to an unpredictable natural disaster
such as a tsunami. If a response has been planned, there is often less hesitation time between learning
of the event and acting. This immediate reaction could save many lives as there is often little time
between a tsunami warning being issued and the tsunami making landfall.

Response
Furthermore, an organized and rapid response is essential to minimizing the damage and loss of life
caused by a tsunami. Governments issuing fast and effective tsunami watches and warnings help to
keep its people informed, and a well-organized after disaster response team can help to save lives that
may be otherwise lost.

Education
Being more aware of the ways that a tsunami form, the warning signs of a tsunami, and what to do in
the event of one helps all people make informed decisions about their safety. Many of the deaths
caused by a tsunami are due to the public not reacting appropriately due to a lack of proper emergency
disaster education.

Preparedness
Lastly the benefits of preparedness can be seen from both the government and its people. The
construction of seawalls that help deflect potential tsunamis can assist in saving lives and billions of
dollars. For individuals, making or buying an emergency preparedness kit is often the difference
between life and death. The resources that these kits offer during a natural disaster such as a tsunami
can be invaluable.

Conclusion
While there is no way to stop the formation tsunamis and their inevitable landfall In affected coastal
areas worldwide, it is however possible to mitigate the damage that they can cause to a community and
its people. The PREP Solution offers improvements in the planning, response, education, and
preparedness of at-risk communities. The adoption and implementation of this solution could save
governments billions of dollars in damages and reconstruction efforts, while also helping the individual
stay protected from danger. The PREP Solution is the best option in order to reduce or stop the
destructive, costly, and deadly power of a tsunami.
Works Cited
“Tsunami Preparedness.” Tsunami Safety Tips | Red Cross, www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-
for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/tsunami.html.

“Tsunamis: the Effects.” Tsunami, www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/pages/tsunami-

effects#.XS_gBZNKgWp.

Amadeo, Kimberly. “How the 2011 Earthquake in Japan Affected the Global Economy.” The Balance, The
Balance, 10 Feb. 2019, www.thebalance.com/japan-s-2011-earthquake-tsunami-and-nuclear-
disaster-3305662.

Hamblyn, Richard. Tsunami. Reaktion Books, 2014.

“Survival Kit Supplies.” What Do You Need In a Survival Kit | American Red Cross, www.redcross.org/get-
help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/survival-kit-supplies.html.

“Get Cyclone Ready with WorkPac's Emergency Kit.” WorkPac Recruitment, 4 Jan. 2016,
www.workpac.com/blog/get-cyclone-ready-with-workpacs-cyclone-emergency-kit/.
“Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: Before and after the Cleanup.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times,
21 Nov. 2016, www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-japan-tsunami-before-after-slider-htmlstory.html.