UN Ocean Decade Safe Oceans Lab Satellite Activity: 100% of at-risk communities recognized Tsunami Ready

Session 1: CEST 12:00-13:00 or Session 2: 19:00-20:00 CEST (same workshop is offered twice to accommodate time zone differences).

REGISTER HERE: https://oceanexpert.org/registerEvent/3420

As part of the 5th Ocean Decade Laboratory (5-7 April) you are invited to join the “100% of at-risk communities recognized as Tsunami Ready” Satellite Activity on 7 April 2022.

This side event will offer a virtual forum with local and national leaders who have successfully implemented the Tsunami Ready recognition process. The speakers will present their first-hand testimonials about the importance of tsunami preparedness to protect lives and achieving a safe ocean​​ and discover emerging experiences in implementing Tsunami Ready.

The online activity will directly engage a gender- and culturally-diverse group of stakeholders from across various ocean regions. They will share a hands-on perspective on early warning services from different angles: science, warning dissemination and communications, and disaster management.

Please note that the satellite activity consists of two sessions to be able to cover as many world regions as possible: 7 April 2022 – Session 1 (Europe/Asia/LAC): 12:00-13:00 CEST; Session 2 (Europe/LAC/South Pacific Islands): 19:00-20:00 CEST

Join us and be part of the change we need!

In December 2004, 227,8991 people lost their lives and around US$10 billion were estimated as overall economic losses in the 14 countries affected by the 9.1-magnitude Indian Ocean earthquake. In response the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO/IOC) along with dozens of partners strengthened its support and catalyzed international cooperation to enable countries to assess their tsunami risk, implement Tsunami Early Warning Systems (EWS) and educate communities at risk about preparedness measures.

Since 2001, that the United States National Weather Service (US NWS) of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been implementing the recognition programme TsunamiReady® in its states, territory and commonwealths. This programme was modelled after the US StormReady recognition programme. The goal was that communities recognized as TsunamiReady® would be better prepared to protect life and property through hazard assessment, mitigation, preparedness, planning and warning coordination.

Since 2015, the UNESCO/IOC started to build its Tsunami Ready Programme based on the experience of USA, first in the Caribbean, where Tsunami Ready Guidelines were developed, which were then approved by the IOC General Assembly. Subsequently, in 2016, UNESCO recognized St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean as Tsunami Ready, and in 2017, the communities of Cedeño in Honduras, Ostional in Costa Rica, and Savaia in Samoa in the Pacific. The programme grew naturally towards a global Tsunami Ready programme, with communities recognized in 11 other countries, and many more to come.

This satellite session will offer a virtual get-together forum for local and national leaders that have gone through the Tsunami Ready recognition process and can proudly attest of their work to protect lives making the Ocean safer. They have not been together before.