Are you in the ‘extreme tsunami’ zone? Evacuation plans for an extreme tsunami like the one that Japan experienced in 2011 are much different the current tsunami zones in place today. The City’s Department of Emergency Awareness (DEM) recently released a second set of ‘extreme tsunami’ zone maps. These maps represent an unlikely worst-case scenario and do not replace the current, standard tsunami evacuation maps. Rather, they add a second evacuation zone for a worst case, extreme, once in a thousand years tsunami event.
Evidence of an extreme tsunami event became evident when a sinkhole at Poipu, Kauai was discovered more than 100 yards from the shoreline and about 24 feet above sea level. Newly released scientific and geological information suggests that sometime in the past 500 years, a massive 9.0 earthquake in the eastern Aleutian Trench may have generated a tsunami that far exceeded the inundations known to have occurred during tsunami events throughout recorded history in Hawaii. An event of this magnitude, referred to as an Extreme Tsunami, may occur once every thousand years.
The new tsunami evacuation zone maps show both zones: the current tsunami zone and the NEW ‘extreme tsunami’ zone.
To see if you live in the NEW ‘extreme tsunami’ zone, click here:
View tsunami evacuation zone maps
The Dept. of Emergency Management will be holding workshops designed specific to each coastal community around O’ahu.
Free public workshops will be held for our Leeward Coast communities that will be held by the Dept. of Emergency Management:
Kapolei Hale
12/1/2014 7 p.m.
Conference Rooms A & B
(Lower parking lot available for attendees)
1000 Ulu‘ohi‘a St, Kapolei, HI 96707
‘Ewa Mahikō District Park
12/9/2014 7 p.m. Room #1
91-1145 Renton Rd,
‘Ewa Beach, HI 96706
Wai‘anae District Park
12/16/2014 7 p.m.
Meeting Room
(do not park on grass, use designated stalls)
85-601 Farrington Hwy, Wai‘anae, HI 96792
Nānākuli Beach Park
12/17/2014 7 p.m.
Multi-Purpose Room
89-269 Farrington Hwy,
Wai‘anae, Hawai’i 96792
Language interpretation and disability assistance will be provided by request. Please contact the department by phone at 808-723-8960 or via email at jcummings@honolulu.gov at least three days prior to the outreach workshop that you would like to attend so that we may accommodate your needs.
Representatives from the city’s Department of Emergency Management will be on hand to present the new maps, discuss the implications for Oahu residents, and answer questions.
Remember to be prepared by creating an emergency plan, have a supply kit ready with necessities that include 5-7 days of water and food for your family and be informed.
Tsunami Resource Links:
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