B.C.
TSUNAMI
NOTIFICATION
PROCESS
PL AN
Record of Amendment
This manual is a living document that may require amendment on a regular basis.
Amendment recommendations should be forwarded to the attention of the Seismic Specialist with
the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program (PEP). PEP headquarters will maintain a
master record of amendments. Amendments will be controlled by showing the revision date in the
footer of any revised page, for example:
Revised July 23/08
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 1
Use this chart to indicate when and where revisions have been made to your manual:
Date this
Manual
Updated
Update to
Manual
made by
Revision
made to
Chapter / Page
Date of actual
revision
Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1
Introduction
Purpose
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–1
Scope
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–1
Plan Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–1
Types of Tsunamis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2
Chapter 2
Procedures for the Dissemination
of Tsunami Bulletins for British Columbia
Initial Tsunami Notification Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1
Provincial Dissemination List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–1
Chapter 3
British Columbia Tsunami Bulletins
General
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–1
Content of Initial B.C. Tsunami Bulletin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–1
Zone Descriptions for Coastal British Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–1
Types of B.C. Tsunami Bulletins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–3
Chapter 4
Coordination within British Columbia
Roles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–1
Appendix A
Characteristics of Tsunamis and the Threat to British Columbia . . . . . . i
Appendix B
The Tsunami Warning System for the Pacific . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Appendix C
Locations of Coastal Communities at Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Appendix D
Tsunami Notification Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xv
Appendix E
Tsunami Hazard Mitigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
Appendix F
Glossary of Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi
Appendix G
Glossary of Tsunami Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxiii
Appendix H
Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxv
Appendix I
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxvii
Copyright 2008 Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Government of British Columbia, Victoria, BC, Canada
Foreword
Effective response to a tsunami alert requires timely delivery of
the notification to agencies with roles and responsibilities in
managing such an event.
West Coast and Alaska
Tsunami Warning Center
WCATWC
B.C. Tsunami
Notification
process
The 2008 BC Tsunami Notification Plan includes the most
recent definitions of tsunami notifications from the West Coast and Alaska
Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC) in Palmer, Alaska and represents a
collaborative approach to the tsunami notification and dissemination process.
The Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) would like to thank all of the
members of the Tsunami Integrated Preparedness (TIP) working group for their
input into this Plan. In particular, we would like to thank Public Safety Canada
for co-chairing the working group. The focus and dedication of the TIP
working group, which included more than two dozen local, provincial, federal
and non-profit agencies, led to the clear identification of the notification roles
and responsibilities of key stakeholders and has lead to the enhancement of
public safety for British Columbians.
Approved by the undersigned, this date, 27 of June, 2008
________________________
Cam Filmer
Executive Director
Provincial Emergency Program
Emergency Management BC
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Province of British Columbia
Chapter 1
Introduction
Purpose
this plan’s purpose is to
outline the tsunami
bulletin process
from issuance to
dissemination
The purpose of this Tsunami Notification Process Plan is to
describe the roles and responsibilities of the different levels
of government and the procedures used by federal and
provincial agencies to evaluate and distribute tsunami
bulletins. It covers the process from the issuance of a tsunami bulletin by
the West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre (WCATWC) in Palmer,
Alaska to the dissemination of a tsunami bulletin from the Provincial
Emergency Program to the various local governments, media and key
stakeholders.
The general public must be aware of actions to take in the event that the
Provincial Emergency Notification System (PENS) is activated. An essential
element of tsunami planning is public awareness and education. A
successful public education program requires continuing and coordinated
efforts from all levels of government.
Scope
this plan is all about
notification
– it does not cover
evacuation planning
This is a tsunami notification plan. It does not address the detailed actions
to be taken by local governments, agencies and individuals who receive
tsunami bulletins. Local notification systems and evacuation planning must
be incorporated into local emergency plans. The Provincial Emergency
Program (PEP) can advise on the preparation of these local plans and has
educational material on tsunamis available for distribution.
Plan Organization
The Tsunami Notification Process Plan has four chapters:
• Chapter 1 covers the purpose and scope of this document.
• Chapter 2 reviews B.C.’s procedures for dissemination of tsunami
notifications and outlines the notification, distribution and dissemination
processes.
• Chapter 3 details each of the B.C. tsunami bulletins.
• Chapter 4, which reviews the B.C.’s notification coordination, was
completed with input from each member of the Tsunami Integrated
Preparedness (TIP) Working Group.
Also, there are numerous appendices to support each chapter including
information on tsunami characteristics, the international tsunami warning
system, B.C. tsunami risk area maps, communications planning, exercising,
mitigation, abbreviations and acronyms, tsunami terminology, legislation,
and references for further research and information.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 1 – 1
Types of Tsunamis
A zone of extreme seismic activity circles the Pacific Basin from the
southernmost reaches of Chile to Alaska in the eastern part of the basin,
and from New Zealand through to Japan and the Aleutian Islands in the
western part of the basin. This "Ring of Fire," as it has been named by
scientists, periodically generates earthquakes that produce large ocean
waves called tsunamis that may threaten island and coastal settlements.
Tsunamis are a rare but serious threat. Three main types of tsunamis could
impact B.C.'s coast:
Pacific-wide Tsunami:
A Pacific-wide tsunami originates in a location other than coastal North
America. The impact to British Columbia will depend on the source
distance, magnitude and direction of approach. B.C. arrival times of a
Pacific-wide tsunami will be 6 hours to 18 hours, depending upon the
place of origin and magnitude.
the “Ring of Fire”
the three possible
tsunamis that
threaten
B.C.’s coast
Regional Tsunami:
A regional tsunami originates off coastal North America including the
area from the Aleutian Islands or to southern California, excluding the
Cascadia subduction zone. Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, is
the principle source area for regional tsunamis affecting B.C. The time
to reach the northern B.C. coast can be less than one hour or as many
as 5 hours. In 1964 a regional tsunami impacted the B.C. coast,
causing significant damage to several communities.
Local Tsunami:
A local tsunami will be generated from a large subduction earthquake
along the Cascadia subduction zone. For this event, Zone C (exposed
west coast) would be the most affected area in B.C. There is also
potential for a local tsunami to be generated from earthquakes
occurring in inner waters such as Juan de Fuca Strait, the Strait of
Georgia or Puget Sound, or from submarine slides in areas such as the
Strait of Georgia.
Because travel time for any local tsunami is so short, very little can be
done to provide warnings for the closest B.C. coastal areas. In
designated coastal areas, anyone in coastal locations who feels strong
shaking from an earthquake for more than one minute should assume
that a tsunami has been generated and should immediately move to
high ground.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 1 – 2
local tsunamis
hit fast!
warnings may
not be possible
Chapter 2
Procedures for the Dissemination
of Tsunami Bulletins for
British Columbia
Initial Tsunami Notification Process
Tsunami bulletins for British Columbia are issued by the
WCATWC located in Palmer, Alaska. That information is
transmitted to the Provincial Emergency Program
Headquarters in Victoria. Upon receipt of a tsunami
bulletin, PEP immediately contacts technical experts from the Canadian
Hydrographic Service of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to provide a B.C.specific risk assessment.
Upon request, the WCATWC will distribute tsunami bulletins directly to local
governments, agencies, media and the general public.
On behalf of the Province, PEP issues B.C.-specific tsunami information to
all levels of government, media and key stakeholders. It is likely that the
first bulletin from PEP will be a rebroadcast of the initial bulletin from
WCATWC without any assessment attached. Subsequent notifications will
contain assessment information as it becomes available.
Provincial Dissemination List
PEP disseminates B.C. Tsunami Bulletins to the following agencies. These
agencies may disseminate these bulletins through their individual networks:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
BC Ambulance Service
BC Ferries
BC Parks
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)
Hydrographic Service (CHS),
Department of Fisheries and
Oceans Canada
Department of National
Defence (DND)
“E” Division, Royal Canadian
Mounted Police (RCMP)
Environment Canada
First Nations communities
First Nations Emergency
Services Society (FNESS)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada (INAC)
Industry Canada
Local governments
Media
Ministry of Health
Natural Resources Canada
(NRCan)
Navigation Canada (NAVCAN)
Parks Canada
Public Safety Canada (PSC)
Regional Health Authorities
Utilities
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 2 – 1
To ensure successful notification, PEP uses a variety of dissemination
methods, including telephone, pager, fax, email and web postings.
Additionally, some stakeholders will rebroadcast tsunami information by
other means (i.e., marine radio, amateur radio and weather radio).
Because of the complexity and redundancy of the notification process,
some recipients will receive tsunami notifications a number of different
ways and possibly from one of the agencies listed above. The objective is
that each recipient receives the message at least once.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 2 – 2
dissemination
methods
objective is to
get the
notification out
Chapter 3
British Columbia
Tsunami Bulletins
General
initial WCATWC
bulletin issued to
PEP will most likely be
a fast and straight
re-broadcast to the
agencies
subsequent bulletins
from PEP will contain
B.C. specific
information
Should a tsunami bulletin be issued by WCATWC, it is
likely that the first B.C. Tsunami Bulletin from PEP will be
a rebroadcast of the initial bulletin without any B.C. specific
assessment attached. Subsequent B.C. Tsunami Bulletins will contain
assessment information as it becomes available.
Provincial Emergency Program staff will extract information from WCATWC
bulletins and, in consultation with the Canadian Hydrographic Service, will
generate a B.C. Tsunami Bulletin. This bulletin will be disseminated to local
governments, stakeholder agencies and media in the form of B.C. Tsunami
Bulletins. The first bulletin will be issued as quickly as possible, followed by
sequentially numbered bulletins as further information is received.
Content of Initial B.C. Tsunami Bulletin
If possible, the initial bulletin should contain the following information:
• brief description of the event
• whether or not it is known that a tsunami has been generated, and
• the zone(s) of the B.C. coastline placed in:
– Warning status
– Advisory status
– Watch status
It may also contain the following information:
• actions to be taken in zones placed in:
– Warning status
– Advisory status
– Watch status
•
•
the low-risk
coastal areas
estimated time of arrival and height of the first wave, and
any additional special instructions
Zone Descriptions for Coastal British Columbia
The greatest risk of a tsunami is to the exposed coastal areas of B.C. It is
generally accepted by scientific and technical experts that Victoria, eastern
Vancouver Island, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland are considered low
risk areas for a Pacific-wide tsunami.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 1
It is important to know that WCATWC bulletins refer to B.C. coastal areas
in terms of breakpoints. For information specific to the WCATWC
breakpoints, see Appendix B or visit website:
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/documentation/ops/opsmanual.pdf
To ensure all B.C. communities receive appropriate tsunami messaging, the
Provincial Emergency Program has divided coastal B.C. into five (5) zones.
See Appendix C for detailed maps of each zone. Each designated zone
includes all islands and inlets within the location descriptive.
Zone A:
Beginning at the Alaska/B.C. border near Stewart, B.C., south along the
coastline to the southern tip of Banks Island, including the Queen
Charlotte Islands.
Zone B:
Beginning at the southern tip of Banks Island to the northern tip of
Vancouver Island (the western limit of the eastern boundary of Cape
Scott Provincial Park). This zone has a southern limit of a line running
from the convergence of the Sitka River and Johnstone Strait (in
Robson Bight Provincial Park) on Vancouver Island in the south to the
most eastern point of Broughton Island in the north.
Zone C:
Beginning at the eastern boundary of Cape Scott Provincial Park on the
northern tip of Vancouver Island and running in a south-easterly
direction along the outer coast of Vancouver Island to Sombrio Point
southeast of Port Renfrew.
Zone D:
Beginning at Sombrio Point southeast of Port Renfrew and running in a
northerly direction to the most northerly point of the Saanich Peninsula.
Zone E:
Beginning at the most northerly point of the Saanich Peninsula,
including Brentwood Bay and all the Gulf Islands within the Georgia
Basin. The northerly limit runs from the convergence of the Sitka River
and Johnstone Strait (in Robson Bight Provincial Park) on Vancouver
Island in the south to the most eastern point of Broughton Island.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 2
‘breakpoints’
communities MUST
know their
designated zone . . .
there are five zones
(A–E)
Types of B.C. Tsunami Bulletins
the six types of
tsunami bulletins,
listed high to low:
1) Warning
2) Advisory
3) Watch
4) Information
5) Cancellation
6) All Clear
Once PEP receives a WCATWC bulletin, PEP contacts the Canadian
Hydrographic Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, to
obtain a B.C. specific assessment of the information to determine if B.C.
coastal areas may be threatened. Information is issued to local
governments, First Nations, stakeholder agencies and the media.
PEP issues B.C. Tsunami Bulletins based on threat levels for the 5 zones. It
is critical that communities know and recognize their designated zone.
Definitions of the six types of tsunami bulletins that are issued in B.C. are
provided on the following pages with examples of B.C. specific messages.
From the highest to the lowest threat, the messages are Warning, Advisory,
Watch, Information, Cancellation and All Clear.
WCATWC periodically reviews and updates the messages. PEP will update
this plan accordingly. The message definitions below are current as of
spring 2008. To find the most recent WCATWC tsunami notification
message definitions, check the WCATWC website at:
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/Products/msgdefs.htm
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 3
1
Tsunami
Warning
The highest level of tsunami alert. Warnings are issued by the Tsunami
Warning Centres (TWC) due to the imminent threat of a tsunami from a
large undersea earthquake, or following confirmation that a potentially
destructive tsunami is underway. They may initially be based only on
seismic information as a means of providing the earliest possible alert.
Warnings advise that appropriate actions be taken in response to the
tsunami threat. Such actions could include the evacuation of low-lying
coastal areas and the movement of boats and ships out of harbors to deep
waters. Warnings are updated at least hourly or as conditions warrant to
continue, expand, restrict, or end the Warning.
TSUNAMI WARNING
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NOTICE
FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM
BC BULLETIN NUMBER ______
A LARGE SEISMIC EVENT HAS OCCURRED IN THE PACIFIC BASIN AND A
TSUNAMI WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED.
THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE PLACED IN WARNING STATUS:
1. ZONE A THE NORTH COAST INCLUDING STEWART AND
SOUTHWARD ALONG THE COASTLINE TO THE SOUTHERN TIP OF
BANKS ISLAND, INCLUDING THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
2. ZONE B THE CENTRAL COAST FROM THE SOUTHERN TIP OF
BANKS ISLAND WESTWARD TO THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF
CAPE SCOTT PROVINCIAL PARK ON THE NORTHERN TIP OF
VANCOUVER ISLAND A ND SOUTH THROUGH QUEEN CHARLOTTE
STRAIT TO THE MOST EASTERN POINT OF BROUGHTON ISLAND
3. ZONE C THE EXPOSED WEST COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND
FROM CAPE SCOTT PROVINCIAL PARK ON THE NOTHERN TIP OF
VANCOUVER ISLAND SOUTH ALONG THE WESTERN COAST OF
VANCOUVER IS LAND TO SOMBRIO POINT INCLUDING INLETS
NO WATCH OR WARNING CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR ZONES D or E.
LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS IN THE WARNING ZONES ARE AT RISK OF
BEING IMPACTED BY A TSUNAMI. LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ADVISED TO
TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO EVACUATE A T-RISK AREAS.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AT _____ (time) _____ (date)
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 4
highest bulletin
level ... imminent
threat or
confirmation of
destructive tsunami
underway
2
Tsunami
Advisory
2nd highest
bulletin level ...
tsunami may produce
potentially strong
currents dangerous
to those in
or near water
The second highest level of tsunami alert. Advisories are issued due to the
threat of a tsunami that has the potential to produce strong currents
dangerous to those in or near the water. Significant inundation is not
expected for areas under Advisory but coastal zones prone to damage due
to strong currents may be at risk. Appropriate actions by emergency
management personnel may include closing beaches and evacuating
harbours and marinas. Additionally, local officials may opt to move boats
out of harbors to deep waters, if there is time to safely do so.
TSUNAMI ADVISORY
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM
BC BULLETIN NUMBER ______
THERE IS A POTENTIAL THREAT OF A TSUNAMI THAT COULD PRODUCE
STRONG CURRENTS DANGEROUS TO THOSE IN OR NEAR THE WATER.
SIGNIFICANT INUNDATION I S NOT EXPECTED BUT WAVES UP TO 2
METRES PEAK -TO-TROUGH MAY BE EXPEREINCED IN LOCALIZED AREAS.
NO WATCH OR WARNING IS IN PLACE FOR COASTAL BC.
APPROPRIATE ACTIONS BY LOCAL OFFICIALS MAY INCLUDE CLOSING
BEACHES AND EVACUATING HARBOURS AND MARINAS. LOCAL
OFFICIALS MAY OPT TO MOVE BOATS OUT OF HARBOURS TO DEEP
WATERS, WHEN THERE IS TIME TO DO SO SAFELY.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AT _____ (time) _____ (date)
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 5
3
Tsunami
Watch
The third highest level of tsunami alert. Watches are an advance alert for
emergency management personnel and coastal residents that a Warning
has been issued for another zone or adjacent jurisdiction, and that the
Watch zone may be upgraded to a Warning. There is a potential threat to
a zone contained in a Watch but communities have time to prepare.
Watches are normally based on seismic information, without confirmation
that a destructive tsunami is underway. Emergency management personnel
and coastal residents should prepare to take action in case the Watch is
upgraded. Based on analysis of the event, the Watch will be upgraded to a
Warning or Advisory prior to impact, or will be cancelled.
TSUNAMI WATCH
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NOTICE
FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM
BC BULLETIN NUMBER ______
A LARGE SEISMIC EVENT HAS OCCURRED IN THE PACIFIC BASIN AND A
TSUNAMI WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED.
THE FOLLOWING ZONES ARE PLACED IN WATCH STATUS:
1. ZONE A THE NORTH COAST INCLUDING STEWART AND
SOUTHWARD ALONG THE COASTLINE TO THE SOUTHERN TIP OF
BANKS ISLAND, INCLUDING THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS
2. ZONE C THE EXPOSED WEST COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND FROM
CAPE SCOTT PROVINCIAL PARK ON THE NOTHERN TIP OF
VANCOUVER ISLAND SOUTH ALONG THE WESTERN COAST OF
VANCOUVER ISLAND TO SOMBRIO POINT, INCLUDING INLETS
NO WATCH OR WARNING CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR ZONES B, D or E.
AT THIS TIME IT IS UNKNOWN IF COASTAL BC WILL BE IMPACTED BY A
TSUNAMI. LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ADVISED TO ACTIVATE THEIR
EMERGENCY PLANS AND STANDBY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AT _____ (time) _____ (date)
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 6
3rd highest
bulletin level ...
alerts a Warning
has been issued to
another zone
or adjacent
jurisdiction
4
Information
Statement
a low-level
bulletin ... informs
of an earthquake
occurrence
though
no tsunami
threat to B.C.
Information Statements inform that an earthquake has occurred and that
there is no threat of a destructive tsunami affecting Coastal B.C.
Information Statements are used to prevent unnecessary evacuations when
an earthquake felt in coastal areas has a magnitude that may raise
concern about a possible tsunami.
TSUNAMI INFORMATION
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NOTICE
FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PRO GRAM
THIS IS THE ONLY BULLETIN THAT WILL BE ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT.
A LARGE SEISMIC EVENT HAS OCCURRED IN __________________.
COASTAL BC WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY A POSSIBLE TSUNAMI
GENERATED BY THIS EARTHQUAKE.
NO WATCH OR WARNING EXISTS FOR COASTAL BC.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AT _____ (time) _____ (date)
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 7
5
Tsunami
Cancellation
A Tsunami Cancellation Bulletin cancels any previously issued bulletins
when no tsunami has been generated.
This bulletin will be the last bulletin PEP will issue for this event.
TSUNAMI CANCELLATION
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM
BC BULLETIN NUMBER ______
IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT NO TSUNAMI WAVE WILL IMPACT C OASTAL
BC.
ALL PREVIOUSLY ISSUED TSUNAMI WARNINGS AND WATCHES ARE
CANCELLED.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AT _____ (time) _____ (date) .
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 8
cancels previous
bulletins . . .
no tsunami
generated
6
Tsunami
All Clear
lowest level
bulletin ... informs
no further
tsunami waves
expected
A Tsunami All Clear is issued when coastal B.C. has experienced a tsunami
wave(s) and the threat of further tsunami waves has passed. Local
governments and other agencies may issue an All Clear in accordance with
their own emergency plans. An All Clear is not an instruction for residents
to return to evacuated areas, but is a bulletin informing that no further
tsunami waves are expected.
This will be the last bulletin issued by PEP for an actual tsunami event that
impacts coastal B.C.
TSUNAMI ALL CLEAR
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
FROM THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM
BC BULLETIN NUMBER ______
THE TSUNAMI THREAT TO COASTAL BC IS ENDED AND NO FURTHER WAVES ARE
EXPECTED.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES MAY DECLARE AN ALL CLEAR AT THEIR OWN DISCRETION.
IF COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY A T SUNAMI WAVE, THE LOCAL
AUTHORITY SHOULD BEGIN DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES AND RESTRICT
ACCESS TO THE DAMAGED AREAS UNTIL IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE AREA IS
SAFE.
THIS WILL BE THE LAST BULLETIN ISSUED.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AT _____ (time) _____ (da te)
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 3 – 9
Chapter 4
Coordination within
British Columbia
Roles
Within B.C., numerous agencies and all levels of government
have roles and/or responsibilities in the tsunami alerting and
warning process. Following are specific stakeholder roles:
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Emergency Management BC — Provincial Emergency Program (PEP),
• Receive initial tsunami bulletin from the WCATWC.
•
Contact the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Department of Fisheries
and Oceans Canada, to obtain a B.C.-specific assessment of the
information to determine if B.C. coastal areas may be threatened.
•
Prepare and distribute an initial B.C. Tsunami Bulletin to media, local
governments, federal agencies, First Nations, police, provincial
government ministries, other key stakeholders and Washington State
emergency management authorities.
modes of bulletin
distribution
•
Distribute B.C. Tsunami Bulletins to all stakeholders via the Provincial
Emergency Notification System (PENS). Methods may include, but are
not limited to interactive voice response (IVR) system, telephone, pager,
fax, email, amateur radio and/or a combination of these.
B.C. integrated
response system
•
Concurrently, activate B.C. integrated response system as necessary to
alert appropriate PEP staff, activate Provincial Regional Emergency
Operations Centres (PREOCs) and the Provincial Emergency
Coordination Centre (PECC). Liaise with local governments and
emergency organizations, and keep senior provincial officials informed.
media broadcasts
•
Advise media and request tsunami bulletins and any other prepared
messaging are broadcast to the public through available media outlets.
•
Provide media spokesperson.
•
Continue receiving information from the WCATWC and working with
the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Department of Fisheries and
Oceans Canada to prepare additional B.C. Tsunami Bulletins. Distribute
additional bulletins as new information becomes available.
updates
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 4 – 1
•
Provide ongoing tsunami overview information and updates, information
on the activation of the provincial emergency management structure,
and any additional resources being provided to assist local government.
•
Post all information to the PEP website and update as new information
becomes available.
•
Be prepared with messaging to respond to phone enquiries about
tsunami status.
•
Through the PEP Emergency Coordination Centre, maintain lists of 24/7
contact information for all agencies, media and coastal communities.
all info posted to
PEP website:
www.pep.bc.ca
B.C. Parks
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Local park staff may also receive notification through local governments.
•
Activate an Emergency Coordination Centre
•
Use available resources (i.e., helicopters) to ensure the safety of visitors
and to assist in the evacuation as required.
•
Assist as required in the notification and evacuation of people outside
the park area.
park visitor
safety and
evacuation
Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from the WCATWC and immediately
broadcast the message as per below.
•
Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centre in Prince
Rupert acts as primary link. Comox MCTS Centre acts as secondary link.
•
After receiving a B.C. Tsunami Bulletin from PEP, MCTS will rebroadcast
to MCTS stations, the Regional Marine Information Centre (RMIC), the
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and the CCG Regional
Operations Centre (ROC) via SAR 1709 internal circuit, and to Coast
Guard light stations via Alen circuit.
•
All tsunami-related messages for general marine traffic will be
designated URGENT and broadcast after 10 minutes of receipt at a
centre. All messages will be specific to ships at sea only.
•
Messages are also placed on the Continuous Marine Broadcast (CMB)
ahead of the forecast and weather information:
–
–
–
–
–
VAC Comox will transmit on VHF 16; and CMB and DSC
VAE Tofino will transmit on Navtex 518: 2182kHz; 4125kHz;
VHF 16, CMB and DSC
VAK Victoria will transmit on VHF 16; and CMB and DSC
VAJ Prince Rupert will transmit on 2182kHz; 4125kHz; VHF 16,
CMB and DSC
VAS Vancouver will transmit on VHF 16.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 4 – 2
messages to general
‘at sea’ marine traffic
continuous marine
broadcasting via
Comox, Tofino,
Victoria,
Prince Rupert and
Vancouver
bulletins rebroadcast to
Coast Guard and search
and rescue stations
ocean and tidal
conditions
•
ROC, in conjunction with JRCC, will rebroadcast B.C. Tsunami Bulletins
received from MCTS/RMIC to all CCG vessels and to search and rescue
stations along the B.C. coast until a Cancellation or All Clear has been
broadcast.
•
Between 0630hrs and 1830hrs, ROC will rebroadcast B.C. Tsunami
Bulletins to CCG vessels and stations.
•
Between 1830hrs and 0630hrs, JRCC will rebroadcast B.C. Tsunami
Bulletins to CCG search and rescue stations; RMIC will advise the Duty
ROC Operations Officer who will rebroadcast B.C. Tsunami Bulletins to
CCG vessels.
Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), Fisheries and Oceans Canada
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Apply local and actual ocean and tidal conditions to data contained in
tsunami bulletins to determine if there is a significant threat to coastal
communities, vessels and float planes.
•
Liaise with PEP and provide anticipated wave height information, and
actual wave arrival times and wave heights at B.C. coastal tidal gauges.
Department of National Defence (DND)
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
contingency planning
•
The Commander of Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) will provide a Liaison
Officer to the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC) to
assist in contingency planning and the JTFP Joint Operations Centre
(JOC) will maintain communications and situational awareness with the
PECC.
B.C.-based Canadian
Forces activities
•
The Commander of JTFP will be responsible for informing and directing
the activities of all Canadian Forces bases, stations, assets and
personnel in B.C.
•
The JTFP JOC will advise the Rescue Coordination Centre (Victoria)
which is co-located with JTFP headquarters.
"E" Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Communications
Centre, Vancouver
police / RCMP
activate
emergency
operation plan
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Rebroadcast B.C. Tsunami Bulletins received from PEP to all RCMP
detachments and/or RCMP Operational Communication Centres and
Municipal Police Departments in affected coastal areas.
•
RCMP detachments in affected areas will activate their Emergency
Operations Plan.
•
To avoid duplication of efforts, the RCMP Detachment Emergency
Operation Plan will operate in accordance with local governments
within their jurisdiction, in areas where mutually agreed upon plans are
in place.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 4 – 3
Environment Canada
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
The Pacific Storm Prediction Centre of Environment Canada will, on
instruction from PEP, use Weatheradio to rebroadcast pre-scripted
tsunami messages in both English and French, triggering the automatic
activation of special radio receivers within range of the Weatheradio
signal that have been programmed to respond to tsunami messages.
Weatheradio to
rebroadcast tsunami
messages in
French and English
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Coordinate with First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) and
work with them to support all local activities.
•
Maintain a list of up-to-date emergency contact information and share
it with PEP and other emergency response agencies.
•
Ensure contact information used by PEP in tsunami notifictions
is current.
•
Work with PEP and local governments to provide regular status reports
to Chiefs and Councils, and to the community as a whole.
•
Liaise between the First Nations community, PEP, local governments,
and other emergency response agencies.
•
Work with PEP to provide accurate, relevant reports to assist in future
decision-making.
•
When/if PEP activates a PREOC or when/if a local government activates
an EOC, provide liaison between the PREOC/EOC and affected First
Nation community(s).
ensure action plan
in place and provide
regular
status reports to
tsunami-vulnerable
First Nations
Local Government
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Alert and inform additional local governments as specified in local
plans.
•
Alert populations in the manner specified in local plans. Populations
include outlying businesses and other emergency agencies that fall
within local jurisdictions.
•
First responders, emergency officials and elected officials at the local
level prepare and distribute tsunami updates to the public through their
local media about their specific circumstances and activities (e.g.,
evacuation orders). Local emergency information may include how to
prepare to evacuate, what routes to take, where to go, how to register
whereabouts, etc.
•
Contact local media – radio and television – and request that they
broadcast local information verbatim on a regular basis as it is supplied.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 4 – 4
alert the population and
agencies within local
jurisdiction
ensure orderly
evacuations
•
Work closely with the supporting RCMP detachment and/or municipal
police to ensure orderly evacuations (as necessary) and adequate
coverage of areas and to avoid duplication of effort.
respond to
phone enquiries
•
Be prepared with messaging to respond to phone enquiries about
tsunami status.
•
Activate an emergency operations centre as necessary.
•
Activate reception centres as necessary.
activate emergency
operations
and reception centres
Media: Radio and Television
the broadcast of
cancellation or
all clear bulletins
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Broadcast B.C. Tsunami Bulletins and any other prepared messaging as
received and as requested by PEP or local governments on a regular
basis to affected areas.
•
When provided, broadcast Cancellation or All Clear messages.
Ministry of Health
support health needs
of communities
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Contact the Medical Health Officer, hospital switchboard, Health
Authority Director and Executive, and local managers, and prepare to
activate Disaster Emergency Response Team (DERT) as necessary to
support the health needs of communities. This is based on Vancouver
Island Health Authority procedures. Other regional Health Authorities
throughout B.C. may modify the process to suit their organizational
structures.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
potential
tsunamigenic
earthquakes
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
The Geological Survey of Canada is available on a 24-hour basis to
provide advice on potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes.
Navigation Canada (NAVCAN), Vancouver International Airport
alert float aircraft
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
Will rebroadcast all B.C. Tsunami Bulletins to float aircraft operating in
affected areas along the B.C. coast.
Parks Canada
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
All National Parks on the B.C. coast receive tsunami notifications from
the Parks Canada 24-hour dispatch located in Jasper National Park,
Alberta. The dispatch receives B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 4 – 5
•
Once a B.C. Tsunami Bulletin has been received, the Warden Service
section will use available resources to ensure the safety of its visitors
and to evacuate people as required.
•
In addition to being responsible for the safety of visitors and staff within
a Parks Canada boundary, Parks staff may also assist other agencies in
and outside the park during an emergency.
ensure safety of
park visitors and
evacuate
as required
Public Safety Canada (PSC)
•
Receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP.
•
The Government Operations Centre (GOC) in Ottawa and the Regional
Office (RO) in Victoria receive B.C. Tsunami Bulletins from PEP and
WCATWC, and distribute notices and reports as appropriate to other
federal departments and agencies other than those identified in this
plan.
•
The Federal Coordination Centre in Victoria will open on a 24/7 basis,
coordinate other federal departments and agency responses to the
event and provide a liaison officer to the PECC when it is activated.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
Chapter 4 – 6
federal
departments
and agencies
Appendix A
Characteristics of Tsunamis and the
Threat to British Columbia
Tsunamis and Their Causes
A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by the sudden displacement of
large volumes of water by thrust-type submarine earthquakes, submarine volcanic
eruptions, slumps or coastal landslides. Underwater earthquakes are the most
frequent cause of tsunamis, but not all major coastal or near-coastal earthquakes
produce tsunamis.
At present there is no method to determine if a tsunami has been generated by an
earthquake except to note the magnitude and location of the epicentre, and then
detect the arrival of characteristic tsunami waves at a network of tidal stations and
buoys in the open ocean that respond by a satellite link.
On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake, the fourth largest
earthquake in the world since 1900 (and the largest since 1964), generated a
tsunami that crossed into the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It was recorded in New
Zealand and along the west and east coasts of South and North America and
caused more casualties than any other tsunami in recorded history. In total, more
than 283,000 people were killed, thousands were listed as missing, and more than
1,127,000 were displaced by the earthquake and tsunami in ten countries in South
Asia and East Africa.
Here on the west coast of North America, tsunamis are usually categorized as
local, regional or Pacific-wide, depending on the size of the area affected.
Pacific-wide tsunamis are rare but have great destructive potential because the
waves can be large and impact many coastal areas. For example, a tsunami
on May 22, 1960, spread death and destruction across the Pacific Ocean from
Chile to Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines.
Regional tsunamis, although still rare, are most common. The areas affected are
smaller than those of Pacific-wide tsunamis. The regional tsunami that
originated off the Philippines on August 16, 1976, and killed approximately
8,000 people is an example.
Local tsunamis are often caused by local earthquakes, submarine or coastal
landslides, and volcanic explosions. An example is the tsunami of July 9, 1958,
at Lituya Bay, Alaska, where wave run-up exceeded 525 metres but the
destruction was confined to a very small area.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - i
Characteristics of Tsunamis
Tsunamis travel outward in all directions from the source area. Their speed
depends on the depth of water, and the waves undergo accelerations or
decelerations while passing over the ocean bottom's varying depths. In the deep
and open ocean they can reach speeds of more than 800 kilometres per hour with
the distance between waves being as great as 650 kilometres. The height of the
waves may range from 30 to 60 centimetres, producing only a gentle rise and fall
of the sea surface. These waves will not be noticed by ships or aircraft.
As waves enter the shoaling (shallow) waters along a coastline, their speed
diminishes, their height increases and the waves become closer together. The
shape of the coastline and the ocean floor are important factors in the destruction
caused. A wave may be very small at one point on a coast and much larger at
other points. Sounds and inlets have a funnelling effect that increases the height
of tsunami waves.
There are many indications that a tsunami has been generated. One may be a
recession of water caused by the trough coming before the wave. Conversely, a
rise in water level may be the first event. Finally, under certain conditions the crest
of an on-coming wave may overtake the preceding trough while some distance
offshore, which will cause the wave to proceed shoreward as a bore-a wave with a
churning front.
The force and destructive effects of tsunamis should not be underestimated. At
some locations, the advancing turbulent front will be the most destructive part of
the wave. In other locations, the greatest damage will be caused by the outflow of
water back to the sea between waves. In this situation the wave will gather all
debris in its path and can undermine roads, buildings and other infrastructure.
Ships, unless moved away from shore, may be pushed against breakwaters,
wharves and other craft, or washed ashore and left grounded after the withdrawal
of seawater.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - ii
The Threat to British Columbia
The areas in British Columbia most vulnerable to distant tsunamis are the inlets
along the west coasts of Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands, and
the mainland coast between the southern tip of the Queen Charlotte Islands and
the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
Pacific-wide Tsunamis: The effects on the B.C. coast of a
Pacific-wide tsunami (one that does not originate along the
coasts of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon or
California) may be negligible or severe, depending on the
magnitude and location of the earthquake and the direction
of approach. The time required for a Pacific-wide tsunami to
reach the B.C. coast will vary between approximately 6 to
18 hours, depending on its place of origin.
Regional Tsunamis: As part of the Tsunami Warning System, B.C. is included in
the WCATWC area of responsibility, which is a region extending from the western
tip of the Aleutian Islands to the southern tip of California. Because of this region's
vast coastal area, tsunamis generated within it will impact locations differently. In
some cases only local effects will be experienced.
Regional tsunamis affecting B.C. will mostly be generated by earthquakes located
in Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands. This is due to the direction the wave will
travel and the potential for large earthquakes in this area. The travel time for a
tsunami generated in this region will be from less than one hour to approximately
five hours.
The well-documented tsunami generated in Prince William Sound, Alaska on
March 27, 1964, caused 107 deaths in Alaska and more than $84 million in
damage. Destruction outside Alaska caused an additional 15 deaths and $21
million property damage, including $5 million at Port Alberni, B.C., where the
maximum wave height was 4.1 metres. It is important to note that this example,
and the destruction caused to the B.C. coast, is considered by scientists to be the
worst-case scenario for a regionally produced tsunami.
Local Tsunamis: Local tsunamis may be caused by
earthquakes occurring off the B.C. coast or in inner
waters, such as Juan de Fuca Strait, the Strait of
Georgia, or Puget Sound. These tsunamis would
affect a localized area of British Columbia.
Although extremely rare, the potential also exists for
a local tsunami to be so large that it becomes a
Pacific-wide tsunami (a matter of concern for other
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - iii
nations) and one that introduces the problem of minimal warning time before it
reaches land in British Columbia. The greatest damage to B.C. coastal areas
would result from a large subduction earthquake in the northern portion of the
Cascadia subduction zone that extends approximately 100 kilometres seaward of
the outer coast.
The areas that will be most affected by a Cascadia subduction zone rupture are
along the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is very close to the subduction
zone. Based on worst-case estimates, wave heights of up to 9 metres could occur,
with the first arrivals in one-half hour or less. The Strait of Georgia, sheltered by
Vancouver Island, would be impacted with sea-level changes of approximately 1 to
2 metres. Around the Vancouver area, wave heights are expected to be about 1
metre. However, if a tsunami took place at high tide, there would be flooding in
low-lying areas.
Local tsunamis may also be caused by underwater landslides in areas such as the
Strait of Georgia — for example, the underwater slide that occurred in Kitimaat
Inlet in April 1975. These can occur independently or in association with an
earthquake.
Little can be done to warn of local tsunamis because their travel time is so short. If
a large earthquake occurs (shaking for more than one minute, making it difficult to
stand), people living in coastal areas must assume that a tsunami could be
generated, and react accordingly.
British Columbia Tsunami Damage Pictures
The following photographs were taken on March 27 and 28, 1964, following the
tsunami at Port Alberni, B.C. Residents received enough warning to allow an
evacuation and there were no fatalities.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - iv
Appendix B
The Tsunami Warning System
for the Pacific
General
Following an extremely destructive tsunami that struck Hawaii in 1946, the Pacific
Tsunami Warning System was established. The operational centre for the Pacific
Tsunami Warning System is located at Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning System, which includes
most of the nations bordering the Pacific Ocean,
operates a number of seismic, tidal, communications,
and dissemination facilities that are equipped to:
• detect and locate major earthquakes occurring in
the Pacific Basin
•
determine whether or not tsunamis have been
generated
•
provide timely and effective information and
warnings to minimize tsunami effects
Management of the Pacific Tsunami Warning System is
the responsibility of the US Department of Commerce
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), which funds about 75 per cent
of the detection and reporting equipment and the
personnel to operate them.
The Canadian Hydrographic Service, Fisheries and
Oceans Canada operate tidal gauges that detect wave
arrivals in B.C.
The B.C. Provincial Emergency Program operates the equipment necessary to
receive warnings applicable to British Columbia, and develops procedures to give
people the warning they need to survive a tsunami that originates far from our
shores.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC)
The PTWC, located at Ewa Beach, Hawaii, is the operational centre for the
Tsunami Warning System for the Pacific. It collects and evaluates information
provided by participating countries and issues bulletins about the occurrence of
major earthquakes and possible or confirmed tsunamis.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - v
Earthquake information is provided to the PTWC from a number of seismic stations
located throughout the Pacific. Tsunami information is provided from tidal stations
that register tsunami waves and their heights. Seismic information is received
almost instantly, but tsunami information is slower because it depends on the
arrival of tsunami waves at the tidal stations.
Tsunami warnings issued by the PTWC are in the form of Warning, Advisory and/or
Watch Bulletins, which are issued on the basis of seismic information only. When
an earthquake of sufficient magnitude has occurred in a tsunamigenic area, a
Warning, Advisory and/or Watch Bulletin is issued without waiting for confirmatory
data from tidal stations.
Currently, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is the sole provider of Tsunami
Information Bulletins and Tsunami Warning Advisory and/or Watch Bulletins for the
Pacific Basin other than for Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and
California.
The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC)
When the tsunami associated with the great Alaskan earthquake of 1964 occurred,
PTWC was able to pass warning to the West Coast of North America in time to
initiate action in areas such as Port Alberni, B.C., which received significant wave
damage.
However, recognizing that Alaskan communities would have benefited from faster
warning in that local event, a second warning centre, the Alaska Tsunami Warning
Center (ATWC), was established at Palmer, Alaska. In 1982 the ATWC's area of
responsibility was changed to include the west coast of North America, including
British Columbia's entire coast.
Renamed the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC), the
centre's objective is to detect and locate major earthquakes in the Alaskan region
and along the West Coast of Canada and the United States. WCATWC, regardless
of the location of an earthquake, will provide Tsunami Information, Warning,
Advisory, Watch, Information and Cancellation Bulletins for the area of Alaska,
British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.
The tsunami warning system has remote seismic stations and tide gauge stations in
Alaska and along the West Coast of Canada and the United States. Tide gauges
are located at Bamfield, Winter Harbour and Langara Island, and a number of
seismological stations in Western Canada are operated by the Geological Survey of
Canada's Pacific Geoscience Centre in Sidney, B.C.
Details about the warning system based on WCATWC, and all earthquake/tsunami
messages processed by the WCATWC can be found on their website at
http://wcatwc.gov
When a significant earthquake occurs in any tsunamigenic area between
Kamchatka, Russia and the southern tip of California, the WCATWC will
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - vi
immediately issue the appropriate notification bulletin, placing certain portions of
the coast in Warning, Advisory and/or Watch status. The threshold magnitude for
the issuance of bulletins varies from area to area, and continues to be refined over
time. The length of coastline alerted will vary with the magnitude and location of
a specific earthquake.
Warning Area Breakpoints
The Entire B.C. Coastline: When the coastline from the Cape Flattery, Washington
breakpoint north to the Sitka, Alaska breakpoint has been placed in either
Warning, Advisory and/or Watch status, the area will be described as "The Queen
Charlotte Islands and the coastline from Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island north to
Stewart on the Alaska border."
NOTE: Coastal areas bordered by Juan de Fuca Strait and the Strait of Georgia
will not be included in bulletins. These areas will be affected by local tsunamis
only, and in such circumstances there will be insufficient time to prepare
bulletins.
To assist in identifying areas of the coastline placed in Warning, Advisory or Watch
status, a number of geographical breakpoints have been established, from Attu,
Alaska south to the California-Mexico border as follows:
Attu, AK
Adak, AK
Nikolski, AK
Dutch Harbor, AK
Sand Point, AK
Kodiak, AK
Seward, AK
Cordova, AK
Yakutat, AK
Sitka, AK
Langara Island, BC
Northern Tip Vancouver Island, BC
Cape Flattery, WA
Point Grenville, WA
Clatsop Spit, OR
Cascade Head, OR
Cape Blanco, OR
Oregon-California Border
Cape Mendocino, CA
Point Arena, CA
Point Sur, CA
Point Reyes, CA
Point Conception, CA
California-Mexico Border
Breakpoints will be referred to in WCATWC Tsunami Warning/Watch Bulletins to
clarify the areas being placed in Warning or Watch status. For example:
A Tsunami Warning is issued for the area from Sand Point, AK, along the south
coast of Alaska to Langara Island, B.C.
A Tsunami Watch is issued for the area from Nikolski, AK, to Sand Point, AK,
and for the area along the British Columbia coast from Langara Island, B.C.,
and the Washington coast to Point Grenville, WA.
A Tsunami Warning is issued for the area from Langara Island, B.C., south
along the Washington coast to Point Grenville, WA.
The coastline between two breakpoints will be placed in Warning or Watch
status, but never both.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - vii
Occasionally breakpoints will be changed or updated. For the most up-to-date
information on WCATWC breakpoints, see:
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/documentation/ops/opsmanual.pdf
Dissemination Agencies
To limit the number of agencies that must be contacted, bulletins are formally
issued to only one agency per country, territory, or administrative area, although
the WCATWC also informally issues bulletins to an agency or person who requests
notification.
The Provincial Emergency Program, British Columbia's designated dissemination
agency for B.C. Tsunami Bulletins issued by the WCATWC, is referred to as such in
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Communication Plan for
the Tsunami Warning System.
PEP has the responsibility to ensure that tsunami information is received from the
WCATWC and evaluated by federal technical experts. Based on this evaluation,
PEP provides recommendations on the actions to be taken by local governments in
B.C.'s coastal areas.
Types of WCATWC Messages
See Chapter 3 of this plan or visit the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning
Center Operations Manual at:
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/documentation/ops/opsmanual.pdf
Communication within the WCATWC Area
WCATWC uses a variety of communications methods to distribute tsunami
messages. The PEP Emergency Coordination Centre can receive messages via:
• e-mail
• satellite-(NOAA) Weather Wire system
• by NAWAS phone and facsimile
• the Internet (the latest message is displayed
at http://wcatwc.gov/message.txt)
Messages are also sent via U.S. Department of Defense facilities. The Canadian
Department of Defence can receive this traffic and serves as a backup or alternate
communications route in the event that PEP cannot receive messages.
Examples of other types of messages can be seen on the WCATWC website at
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - viii
Appendix C
Locations of
Coastal Communities at Risk
Maps of B.C. Tsunami Zones
Designated B.C. tsunami zones are shown on the following maps.
It is important that all communities, media and individuals become familiar with
the zone they are in so emergency information can be understood and appropriate
precautions or actions taken.
All Zones
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - ix
Zone A
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - x
Zone B
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xi
Zone C
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xii
Zone D
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xiii
Zone E
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xiv
Appendix D
Tsunami Notification Exercises
General
As with any emergency response system, it is critical to regularly exercise and test
tsunami notification systems to ensure they function well in a real emergency.
All emergency response agencies and all levels of government should conduct
regular exercises to ensure contact information is up-to-date, emergency
responders are familiar with their roles and responsibilities, equipment is in good
working order, and the processes in place will provide critical information to
communities, media and other response agencies.
Exercises do not have to be onerous tasks. They can be as small as an internal
test of procedures and systems to train staff, or they can be expanded to include
other agencies in a tabletop or functional exercise.
PEP conducts tsunami notification exercises in a variety of formats. Many of these
exercises test and validate internal processes and equipment and ensure contact
information is accurate. Others use a more inclusive approach that involves
communities, media and other response agencies and asks them to provide
feedback.
When conducting any type of tsunami notification exercise, it is essential to ensure
that all documentation is clearly identified as "EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE"
and that telephone and/or radio transmissions are prefaced with "THIS IS AN
EXERCISE, NOT A REAL TSUNAMI" before providing scenario details.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xv
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xvi
Appendix E
Tsunami Hazard Mitigation
General
Tsunamis cannot be prevented, but risks presented by this serious but rare natural
hazard can be greatly reduced. Lives can be saved by timely and appropriate
public messaging and emergency evacuations. However, in a near-field earthquake
we may not have an adequate warning period for public messaging, so public
education is a crucial element in ensuring public safety.
There are many aspects of preparation to consider. Where are evacuation safe
havens? What is the safe evacuation route to reach the safe haven? What
education programs are available to educate everyone in the community about
tsunamis? How will property be protected from tsunamis? How will tourists be
educated and notified about the local tsunami risk?
Development and design of a tsunami risk mitigation program or emergency plan
must consider those questions. Failure to do so can result in mass fatalities, loss of
a community's industry and housing, and even total destruction of poorly-sited
communities.
Responsibilities
Every community is different. B.C. has a unique geography, and many
communities are isolated and have limited communication links. Many
communities located on the coast are not vulnerable to tsunami inundation, while
others a few kilometres away are at extreme risk.
Communities are also governed differently — some are locally governed and
administered by a regional district office situated many kilometres away and some
of those areas have emergency services while others do not.
Individuals must know the risks of living close to the ocean, and it is the
responsibility of individuals and governments at all levels to be educators. This
entails properly assessing the risk, area by area, and preparing educational tools
for the public.
Finally, research into the latest technology to enhance tsunami detection,
communications, and warning and alerting systems is ongoing to ensure the most
reliable systems are in place.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xvii
Preparedness is International in Scope
Numerous techniques are being used to decrease tsunami risk in California,
Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and British Columbia. Components of the
preparedness strategy are being undertaken by many agencies and the results are
being shared among the five U.S. states, U.S. federal government agencies,
Canadian federal government agencies, and British Columbia.
Components of a Tsunami Preparedness Strategy
Improved Detection of Tsunamis: The detection of tsunamis is being addressed at
the federal government level. Satellite-linked buoys deployed into the open ocean
by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) can detect
small changes in sea level as tsunami waves pass under them. The Canadian
Hydrographic Service has installed tidal gauges on the B.C. coast that can be read
remotely, in real time, to monitor the arrival of tsunami waves on land. Seismic
sensors are being linked together regionally, irrespective of their ownership, to
provide a greater degree of accuracy in the detection of earthquakes that could be
accompanied by tsunamis.
Tsunami Models and Mapping:
Scientists use historical tsunami evidence and
mathematics to create tsunami models that determine
possible wave heights based on local coastal conditions.
Mapping coastal areas shows where community
members can possibly expect tsunami flooding and
where safe havens/evacuation sites should be located.
Local Preparedness Planning:
Local governments need to have plans in place so
emergency responders and the public know what to do
in the event of a tsunami alert. Tsunami exercises and
public education campaigns are ways to meet this need.
Local Warning and Alerting:
Upon receipt of B.C. Tsunami Bulletins or other reliable information that suggests a
local tsunami is imminent, local emergency officials need to communicate the
threat to the public. This requires having at least two or more means of ensuring
timely warning dissemination to indoor and outdoor populations, based on
population and local resources. Please see the PEP website (www.pep.bc.ca) for
the Community Notification Toolkit that discusses different notification systems and
methods.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xviii
Systems and methods for consideration include:
• Fixed sirens and horns
• Local broadcasting stations
• Vehicle and boat sirens and public address systems
• Telephone notification (dial-down) systems
• Indoor public address systems
• Tone alert activated radios placed in public facilities and workplaces
• Outdoor mobile electronic signs
• Fixed signage with flashing lights and instructions, e.g., "Emergency Info when
Flashing: Proceed Inland and away from Water"
• Door-to-door verbal notification and leafleting
• Marine and local two-way radio
Safety Signage:
Local governments have a responsibility, within their
jurisdictions, to ensure that citizens know how to evacuate to
safe havens. Internationally adopted signage is now posted in
B.C.
Public Awareness and Education:
Public awareness is critical for effective tsunami warning and
alerting. Populations must understand the importance of
tsunami notifications and signage and must be prepared for
emergencies. Every year, coastal B.C.'s tourism industry brings
in thousands of visitors, not all of whom speak English. As
well, B.C. has a diverse population, so consideration should be
given to creating educational materials in many languages.
Information material to enhance public awareness of the tsunami hazard is
available from a variety of agencies and service organizations. Local governments
who have not already developed local materials may want to consider using
existing materials. See Appendix I-References.
Local governments may consider using a variety of methods to provide tsunami
information to the public within their communities. These may include:
• Organized workshops with a number of different groups, such as schools,
hospitals, retirement centres, library, recreational centres, neighbourhood
centres, churches, businesses (restaurants, hotels, bookstores, factories), private
organizations (Red Cross, environmental groups, clubs), or parks (registration
centres or campsites)
•
Distribution of pamphlets and brochures at/through the emergency community
website, email, handouts at workshops, post mail to residents, tourist sites
(visitor centres, hotels, restaurants), transportation sites (airports, ferries,
marinas, cruise ships), business sites (shopping malls, factories), inserts or
articles for local newspapers, or door-to-door delivery by volunteers
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xix
•
Information signage showing evacuation routes, tsunami staging areas or
general information signs placed in inundation areas that attract many people
(shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, workplaces, trail heads, beach access
points)
•
Media materials, such as background material, media kits, and education
videotapes, can be distributed to all coastal jurisdictions and to broadcast
shows on radio and television
•
School materials can be distributed to school districts in all coastal areas
•
Libraries, both school and public, are good locations for education and
awareness materials
•
Emergency Preparedness Week activities could include workshops, evacuation
exercises, and the introduction of new warning systems, such as sirens
See Appendix I-References for a list of materials available to help local planners,
emergency management personnel, and elected officials better understand the
tsunami risk in B.C.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xx
Appendix F
Glossary of Abbreviations
Organizations
Although organizational abbreviations are generally spelled out the first time they
are used in this plan, the following listing is provided for reference. Abbreviations
not used in this plan may be found in other tsunami notifications.
ATWC . . . . .Obsolete name; see WCATWC
CCG . . . . . .Canadian Coast Guard, Canada Department of
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
CHS . . . . . .Canadian Hydrographic Service,
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
CMB . . . . . .Continuous Marine Broadcast
DND . . . . .Department of National Defence
ECC . . . . . .Emergency Coordination Centre,
the 24/7 section of the Emergency Mangement BC, Provincial
Emergency Program
FNESS . . . .First Nations Emergency Services Society
GSC . . . . . .Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada
INAC . . . . .Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
IOC . . . . . .Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (United Nations)
IOS . . . . . .Institute of Ocean Sciences,
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
ITIC . . . . . .International Tsunami Information Center, Honolulu, HI
JOC . . . . . .Joint Operations Centre, Department of National Defence
JRCC . . . . .Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, Canada Coast Guard
JTFP . . . . . .Joint Task Force Pacific, Department of National Defence
MCTS . . . . .Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre,
Canada Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
NAVCAN . .Navigation Canada (air traffic control organization)
NAWAS . . .National Warning System, a 24-hour continuous private line
telephone system used to convey warnings to U.S. federal,
state and local governments
NOAA . . . .National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States
Department of Commerce
NRCAN . . .Natural Resources Canada
NWS . . . . .National Weather Service, a function of NOAA
PEP . . . . . .(British Columbia) Provincial Emergency Program, Emergency
Management BC, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xxi
PGC . . . . . .Pacific Geoscience Centre, Sidney, B.C., Geological Survey of Canada,
Natural Resources Canada
PSC . . . . . .Public Safety Canada
PTWC . . . . .Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
RCMP . . . . .Royal Canadian Mounted Police
ROC . . . . . .Regional Operations Centre, Canadian Coast Guard
RMIC . . . . .Regional Marine Information Centre, Canadian Coast Guard
RSS . . . . . .Really Simple Syndication, a dialect for syndicating news and other
website content
TIP . . . . . . .Tsunami Integrated Preparedness Project Working Group
TWC . . . . . .Tsunami Warning Center
TWS . . . . . .Tsunami Warning System (for the Pacific)
WCATWC . .West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Other Abbreviations
State, provincial and national abbreviations follow international postal and North
Atlantic Treaty Organization convention and are used without periods.
AK . . . . . . .Alaska, USA
BC . . . . . . .British Columbia, Canada
CA . . . . . . .California, USA
CDA . . . . . .Canada
HI . . . . . . .Hawaii, USA
U.S., USA . .United States (of America)
OR . . . . . . .Oregon, USA
UN . . . . . . .United Nations
WA . . . . . . .Washington, USA
Time zones used in British Columbia, as well as others used in tsunami bulletins,
are often abbreviated.
GMT . . . . .Greenwich Mean Time
(also called Coordinated Universal Time in USA)
UTC . . . . . .Coordinated Universal Time
Time + Z . .Abbreviated form of expressing GMT/UTC. Other time zone
abbreviations exist but should not be used (for clarity).
PDT . . . . . .Pacific Daylight Saving Time (coastal B.C. time in summer)
PST . . . . . .Pacific Standard Time (coastal B.C. time in winter)
ADT . . . . . .Alaska Daylight Saving Time (as for B.C.)
AST . . . . . .Alaska Standard Time (as for B.C.)
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xxii
Appendix G
Glossary of Tsunami Terminology
Tsunami Classification
Near-field or local tsunami: A tsunami from a nearby source, generally less than
200 kilometres away.
Regional tsunami: A tsunami capable of destruction in a particular geographic
region, generally within about 1,000 kilometres of its source. Regional
tsunamis occasionally have very limited and localized effects outside the region.
Pacific-wide tsunami: A tsunami capable of widespread destruction, not only in the
immediate region of its generation, but throughout the entire Pacific Basin.
General Tsunami Terms
Breakwater: An offshore structure such as a wall that is used to protect a harbour
or beach from the force of waves.
Estimated time of arrival (ETA): Time of tsunami arrival at a fixed location, as
estimated from modelling the speed and refraction of the tsunami waves as
they travel from the source.
Inundation area: Area flooded with water by the tsunami.
Low tide: The lowest water level reached during a tide cycle.
Rise: The upward change or elevation in sea level associated with a tsunami,
hurricane, tide, or long-term climatic effect.
Sea level: 1) The height of the sea compared to tidal fluctuations, averaged over a
long period of time. Sea level can change over the years.
2) The level of the surface of the sea, especially its position midway between
mean, high and low water.
Tidal wave: The wave motion of the tides. This term should not be used to refer
to a tsunami.
Tide: The rhythmic, alternate rise and fall of the surface (or water level) of the
ocean, and of bodies of water connected with the ocean such as estuaries and
gulfs, occurring twice a day and resulting from the gravitational attraction of
the moon (and, in lesser degrees, of the sun) acting unequally on different
parts of the rotating earth.
Tide gauge: A device for measuring the height (rise and fall) of the tide; an
instrument for automatically making a continuous graphic record of tide height
versus time.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xxiii
Travel time: Time required for the first tsunami wave to propagate from its source
to a given point on a coastline.
Tsunami: Japanese term meaning wave ("nami") in a harbour ("tsu"). A series of
travelling waves of extremely long length and period, usually generated by
disturbances associated with earthquakes occurring below or near the ocean
floor. A tsunami is an ocean wave produced by a submarine earthquake,
landslide, or volcanic eruption. These waves may reach enormous dimensions
and have sufficient energy to travel across entire oceans. They proceed as
ordinary gravity waves with a typical period between 5 and 60 minutes.
Tsunamis become steeper and increase in height as they approach shallow
water, inundating low-lying areas. Where local submarine topography causes
extreme steeping, they may break and cause great damage. The popular
term, tidal wave, is incorrect because tsunamis have no connection with tides.
Tsunami damage: Loss or harm caused by a destructive tsunami. More
specifically, the damage caused directly by tsunamis can be summarized into
the following categories:
1) deaths and injuries;
2) houses destroyed, partly destroyed, inundated or flooded;
3) other property damage and loss;
4) boats washed away, damaged or destroyed;
5) lumber washed away;
6) marine installations destroyed, and;
7) damage to public utilities, such as railroads, roads, electric power plants,
water supply installations, etc.
Indirect secondary tsunami damage can be:
1) fire damage to houses, boats, oil tanks, gas stations and other facilities;
2) environmental pollution caused by drifting materials, oil or other substances;
3) outbreak of disease of epidemic proportions that could be serious in densely
populated areas.
Tsunami effect: The result, consequence, outcome or aftermath
of a tsunami disaster.
Tsunami hazard: Danger to life and property from a tsunami.
Tsunami preparedness or mitigation: Readiness of plans, methods, procedures
and actions taken by government officials and the general public for the
purpose of minimizing potential risk and mitigating the effects of future
tsunamis.
Tsunami risk: Potential loss or injury due to a tsunami.
Tsunamigenic: Having the potential or demonstrated capability to generate a
tsunami, e.g., a tsunamigenic earthquake, a tsunamigenic landslide.
Wave height: The height difference between a tsunami wave peak and the sea
level that would normally have occurred at that time.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xxiv
Appendix H
Legislation
Emergency Program Act, 1996.
Details the roles and responsibilities of the Province, sets out Local Authority
emergency organization, provides information declaring local or provincial
emergencies and the extraordinary powers a declaration provides.
Emergency Program Management Regulation, 1994.
Details the responsibilities and authorities of provincial ministers, ministries,
programs, and government corporations and agencies.
Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation, 1995.
Outlines what must be in a local emergency plan as well as the powers and
responsibilities of a Local Authority.
Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation, 1995.
Details eligibility requirements, payment limits, and payment processes for all DFA
claims, whether for an individual or a local government.
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xxv
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xxvi
Appendix I
References
A Guide to the Emergency Program Act, 2005
www.pep.bcca/management/Guide_to_New_Emergency_Program_Act_2005.pdf
BC Tsunami Warning Methods: A Toolkit for Community Planning www.pep.bc.ca
British Columbia Crisis Communications Strategy for Major Provincial Emergencies,
2003. Available from the Public Affairs Bureau.
British Columbia Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS), 2000
www.pep.bc.ca/BCerms/BCerms.html
British Columbia Emergency Response Management System: Site Support Level
(EOC) Operational Guidelines, 2001
www.pep.bc.ca/BCerms/BCerms_EOC_Level_2_Operational_Guidelines_Manual_20
05-03.pdf
British Columbia Operational Guidelines for Evacuations
www.pep.bc.ca/management/Evacuation_Operational_Guidelines_2005-07.pdf
Central Coordination Group (CCG)/ Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre
(PECC) Standard Operating Procedures, March 1999 (draft). Hardcopy only,
available from PEP headquarters
Community Disaster Recovery Guide
www.pep.bc.ca/local_government/local_government.html
Community Emergency Program Review (CEPR) www.pep.bc.ca/hrva/hrva.html
Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation, 1995
www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/E/EmergencyProgram/124_95.htm
Declaration of a State of Local Emergency
www.pep.bc.ca/local_government/local_government.html
Emergency Program Act, 1996 www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/E/96111_01.htm
Emergency Program Management Regulation, 1994
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICES - xxvii
www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/E/EmergencyProgram/477_94.htm
Emergency Social Services (ESS) Referral Form www.ess.bc.ca/ess/forms.htm
Financial Assistance for Emergency Response and Recovery Costs: A Guide for BC
Local Authorities and First Nations
www.pep.bc.ca/dfa_claims.Financial_Assistance_Guide-_2005_09_01.pdf
Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Analysis (HRVA) www.pep.bc.ca/hrva/hrva.html
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqarchives/poster/2004/20041226.php
http://www.fema.gov/preparedness/community_prepare.shtm
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/
Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation, 1995
http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/E/EmergencyProgram/380_95.htm
Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre (PREOC) Guidelines, 2001
www.pep.bc.ca/BCerms/BCerms_preoc-manual.pdf
Public information and education materials www.pep.bcca
TEAMS: Temporary Emergency Assignment Management System
www.pep.bc.ca/TEAMS/teams.html
B.C. TSUNAMI NOTIFICATION PROCESS PL AN
APPENDICIES - xxviii
PSSG08007
Issued June 2008