'Tsunami on its way, gonna happen any day' (Seattle P-I)

[icymist]

Thursday, February 10, 2005

'Tsunami on its way, gonna happen any day'
Preparedness, resignation at coastal summit

By TOM PAULSON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

LONG BEACH -- Not ready.

That may best describe the basic consensus after a daylong "Coastal Tsunami Summit" in this community recognized as one of the most prepared in the nation for the kind of killer waves that rolled across the Indian Ocean Dec. 26.

Stephanie Fritts, director of emergency management for Pacific County, has been trying for years to convince residents here that they can -- and should -- plan to survive a tsunami. The Indian Ocean tragedy, she said, has gotten everyone's attention and also drawn attention to how much more needs to be done.

<snip>

The evacuation routes and maps initially drawn up for the region are no longer accurate, Fritts said, because some of the private roads designated as escape routes are now gated and locked. They're removing some of the tsunami evacuation route signs to avoid sending people down dead-end roads.

The tsunami hazard map for the Long Beach peninsula, based on an estimated maximum wave height of 30 feet, is being redone. The previous computer simulation didn't work, predicting waves in one area would be hundreds of feet high while predicting no waves in other areas known to be at risk.

Now, with the new evidence of waves that reached 80 to 100 feet in Indonesia, Fritts said she's concerned that some will simply throw up their hands and assume emergency planning is pointless.

More:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/211473_tsunami10.html

[Turbineguy]

1. It's a great place to vacation

with the kids. But if you are at the northern end when a tsunami hits, you are toast.

Maybe it would be better to develop some sort of shelter instead.

[Coventina]

2. ANOTHER REASON TO HATE FUCKING GATED COMMUNITIES!!!

Living in one could result in your death: "Private roads designated as escape routes are now gated and locked."

Fucking morons!!!