Tsunami Standard Operating Procedures For the Turks and Caicos Islands
Objectives Setting the context Existing system in place 1. Tsunami Warning Communications Testing 2. Capacity Building 3. USGS Seismic Station 4. Draft SOP for Caribbean Earthquake and Teletsunami The way forward
Setting the Context Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti. Approximately 40 islands and cays (eight inhabited) Terrain: Low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps Local Population: 31,618 (2012 Population and Housing Census Preliminary Report) Tsunami Wave Susceptibility Map Providenciales, TCI Source: Phase IVa: Preliminary Vulnerability Assessment: Turks and Caicos Islands (2012) Tourist Population (2011): Cruise Arrivals - 655,497 Land based - 354, 223 Tsunami Wave Susceptibility Map Grand Turk, TCI Source: Phase IVa: Preliminary Vulnerability Assessment: Turks and Caicos Islands (2012)
Existing systems in place: Tsunami Communications Testing Monthly tests are carried out by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC). Fax and email communications are tested. An alert/bulletin is sent via fax to 911 ECC and the DDME headquarters in Grand Turk and via emailed to the Director of DDME. The DDME would reply to the alert/bulletin in the form of an email.
Existing systems in place: Capacity Building in the TCI In 2007, a delegation from the TCI participated in a six-day training course on Seismology and Tsunami Warnings at the Seismic Research Unit St Augustine, Trinidad. 2 persons from the TCIG Computer Unit, attended training in Albuquerque on installation and maintenance of seismic station.
Existing systems in place: Capacity Building in the TCI DDME conducted an Evacuation Drill of a Primary School February 2012 to increase tsunami preparedness and promote awareness throughout the TCI Tsunami Table Top Caribe Wave Exercise March 2013 Turks and Caicos fell within the 0.3-1m wave height Involved agencies with disaster management responsibilities Airport Authority (Meteorological Officer) Fire and Rescue Services (Deputy Fire Chief) 911/Police (Manager) Disaster Management (Community Preparedness Manager) Disaster Management (Deputy Director) A quasi-functional testing of communications was also carried out by 911 Police Tested Telecommunications capability to the primary media partners in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Gaps Identified from 2013 Tsunami Exercise Transportation Issues Will private transportation (cars and vans) be used to get to higher location and whether private bus owners would be utilized. No recommendations were made. Engagement of the Tourism Sector It was noted that this sector was important to any discussions on Tsunami Preparedness. Establishment of a Formal Tsunami Warning System There is no formal warning system in the Turks and Caicos Islands Establishment of an Evacuation plan There is no evacuation plan in place in the Turks and Caicos Islands should the need arise.
Recommendations from 2013 Tsunami Exercise The EMWIN system (Emergency Managers Weather Information Network) needs to be included in the Disaster Management network via email. The TCI Airports Authority currently has such a system. However it has only one license All messages to the wider community should come from a competent authority such as Disaster Management. In small communities, house to house runners was recommended as a means of disseminating information. The notification system for emergency warning set up by the Police should be shared with Disaster Management so that it could be duplicated for wider dissemination to communities. An audit to be conducted ascertain warning products that exist that could be utilized in the absence of a formal Tsunami Warning System.
Existing systems in place: USGS Seismic Station June 7, 2007 - the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government signed a memorandum of understanding; establishing an agreement to pursue scientific and technical cooperation, specifically intended for the establishment of a Seismological Station supporting a Caribbean Tsunami Warning Network. December 2007 - the USGA seismic station was installed on the island of Grand Turk. The station is an important component of the Caribbean earthquake and tsunami warning system. The station consist of Streckeisen STS-2 broadband seismometer as well as a Kinemetrics EpiSensor strong motion sensor.
TCI Draft SOP for Caribbean Earthquake and Teletsunami The Draft SOP is the Tsunami Warning Protocol for Turks and Caicos Islands. Its purpose is to provide procedural guidance and action steps to be followed in responding to a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued Tsunami Watch Bulletin or Tsunami Information Statement due to a local/regional seismic event to determine whether the Tsunami Watch Bulletin identifies a Participating State as threatened or a significant felt earthquake is experienced.
Contents Of The Draft SOP Statement outlining its purpose How to judge a felt earthquake in terms of damage to structures Description of the conditions under which a TSUNAMI WATCH/INFORMATION STATEMENT BULLENTIN is issued. SOP Immediate Actions Check list for tsunami warnings Appendices which include a contact list table, warning broadcast messages for media partners and mariners, drill record and drill broadcast messages for media partners and mariners
When is Tsunami Watch/Information Statement Bulletins Issued? The PTWC will issue Tsunami Watch/Information Statement Bulletins under the following conditions: An earthquake occurs with a preliminary 7.1 to 7.8 or greater magnitude in the Caribbean were the depth of the earthquake is equal to or less than 100km. An earthquake occurs with a preliminary 6.0 to 7.0 magnitude in the Caribbean where the depth of the earthquake is equal to or less than 100km.
SOP Immediate Actions Check List 911 ECC receives the message from PWTC and scripted alert messages are sent to Telecoms and all other emergency response agencies including Director - DDME are informed Director, DDME Informs the Governor and DDME Staff DDME Activates Public Alerting DDME Contacts Radio, TV, and Cable Broadcast Station DDME Contact Coast Guard Dispatch 911 ECC Reports to the Director DDME at the NEOC
Urgent Tsunami Warning Broadcast Scripts URGENT TSUNAMI WARNING BROADCAST SCRIPT A TSUNAMI WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. THIS IS AN URGENT TSUNAMI WARNIG FOR 1. ALL COASTAL AREAS OF (insert name of Participating States & Outlying Islands) 2. ALL VULNERABLE COASTAL AREAS OF (insert name of Participating States & Outlying Islands) A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED. IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE ALL BEACHES AND LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS. MOVE INLAND TO HIGHER GROUND URGENT TSUNAMI WARNING MARINERS WARNING SCRIPT A TSUNAMI WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED. THIS IS AN URGENT TSUNAMI WARNING FOR (insert name of Participating States) A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED. DO NOT APPROACH HARBOURS UNTIL THE TSUNAMI ALL CLEAR HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. IF YOU ARE NEAR THE HARBOURS MOVE AWAYFROM LAND TO A LOCATION FURTHER OUT. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Way forward for the TCI Development of a Tsunami Plan Development and formalization of Early Warning Systems Review the existing SOPs for Tsunami preparedness and response Development of an Evacuation Plan Establishment of Upward Evacuation Routes and Points Building capacity of Geographical Information Systems Hazard Mapping Increase Public Awareness and Education
Thank you for listening Ms. Rikardia S. Pardo Hazard Mitigation Officer Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies 1316 Customs Complex, Off Leeward Highway, Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: 649-338-4036 Fax: 649-941-4532 Email: rpardo.ddme@gmail.com; rspardo@gov.tc Visit our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tci.ddme