Regional Training for South America, PTWS PTWC Enhanced Products, 4-8 March 2013

Regional Training Workshop: Strengthening Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response Standard Operating Procedures and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) New International Tsunami Products

4-8 March 2013
Valparaiso, Chile

Hosted by Chile Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada de Chile

The ITIC and the PTWC, along with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Tsunami Unit, conducted regional training on Strengthening Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and the PTWC New International Tsunami Products, March 4-8, 2013, in Valparaiso. The Training was hosted by the Chile Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada de Chile. The training invited participants from the National Tsunami Warning Centers and National Disaster Management Offices of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru every country in South America with a Pacific coast. The ITIC, a partnership of NOAA and the IOC and operated by the NOAA NWS Pacific Region since 1965, has served as a primary resource assisting countries to build and strengthen their tsunami warning systems. This training supported ITIC’s mission and commitment to strengthen the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.

This 1-week training workshop will cover essential topics involved in end-to-end tsunami warning. In event time, the topics include event monitoring and detection, threat evaluation and warning, alert dissemination, emergency response, evacuation, and public action. An effective tsunami warning system is achieved when all people in vulnerable coastal communities are prepared to respond appropriately and in a timely manner upon recognizing that a potential destructive tsunami may be approaching. Meeting this challenge requires round the-clock monitoring with real-time data streams and rapid alerting, as well as prepared communities, a strong emergency management system, and close and effective cooperation between all stakeholders. Stakeholders must be able to work in coordination and with good understanding of each other’s roles, responsibilities, authorities, procedures, and action during a tsunami event. Planning and preparedness, and practicing in advance of the real event, are important to familiarize agency staff with the steps and decision-making that will need to be carried out without hesitation in a real emergency. 

 Informational Documents