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CDEMA Tsunami Preparedness - Official Tsunami Bulletins
Official Tsunami Bulletins
What You Should Know
 
In the event of a potential tsunami threat in the Caribbean, the Tsunami Warning Center that services our region will issue as appropriate, any of the following messages to national agencies:
 
A Tsunami Information Bulletin/Statement advises of major earthquakes and gives general information about tsunami threats. In most cases, it indicates there is no threat of a destructive tsunami, and is used to prevent unnecessary evacuations as the earthquake may have been felt in coastal areas.
 
A Tsunami Advisory is issued due to the threat of a potential tsunami which may produce strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or near the water. The threat may continue for several hours after the arrival of the initial wave, but significant widespread inundation (flooding) is not expected for areas under an advisory.
 
A Tsunami Watch is the second highest level of alert. Watches are issued based on seismic (earthquake) information without confirmation that a destructive tsunami is underway. It is issued as a means of providing an advance alert to areas that could be impacted by destructive tsunami waves.
 
A Tsunami Warning is the highest level of alert. It is issued where there is imminent threat of a tsunami from a large underwater earthquake or following confirmation that a potentially destructive tsunami is underway.
 
Why Should You Know About Tsunami Bulletins
 
National authorities are responsible for evaluating tsunami warning bulletins that are received from the Tsunami Warning Center and communicating an appropriate warning message to the local communities. This process may take several minutes.
 
The Public is responsible for following the official advice of the national authorities. This advice may be announced through the radio, television, internet or even via text message. Some countries may also choose to use more traditional means of communication such as church bells and sirens. For more information on the communication tools, please contact your local Disaster Management Office 
 
In some instances, there may not be enough time for national authorities to evaluate the bulletin received from the Tsunami Warning Centre and then to get a warning message to coastal and other at-risk communities. So, if you are at the beach or near the ocean and you feel the earth shake, you are strongly encouraged to move immediately to higher ground. DO NOT wait for a tsunami warning to be announced as a tsunami from a local earthquake could strike some areas before a tsunami warning could be announced.
 
In addition, stay away from rivers and streams that lead to the ocean.
 
DO NOT return to the beach or rivers and streams that lead to the ocean until the all clear” has been given by the authorities that it is safe to do so.
 

 

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