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What is the All Hazard

Alert Broadcast System? (AHAB)


3 Key elements to prepare for a tsunami
1. Develop a family disaster plan. Everyone needs to know what
TSUNAMI
It is a pole-mounted voice/tone siren system with an to do on their own to protect themselves in case of disaster. Information & Preparedness
intense blue light that is deployed on our coast. 2. Be familiar with local earthquake and tsunami plans. Know
where to go to survive a tsunami. Identify an evacuation site
For the Pacific Ocean Coast of Washington State
within 15 minutes walking distance of home and/or work.
What does an AHAB Siren sound like? 3. Prepare three-day emergency kits for your home, vehicle, and What is a Tsunami?
work. A tsunami is a series of waves most commonly caused by an
earthquake beneath the sea floor. They can occur at any time of the
TSUNAMI SIREN TEST: day or night. In deep water when a tsunami occurs, tsunamis cause
What should I have in my Emergency Kit? no damage and are hardly noticed. As the tsunami wave approaches
The AHAB is tested the first Monday of each month at
12:00 noon. During the routine test of the system, the siren the shore from the open ocean, the wave slows down and can grow
You should prepare an emergency kit with a three-day supply of as high as 50-60 feet.
will play the Westminster Chimes and a voice message, in
necessary items for each member of your family. The kit should
English, will follow the test chimes:
be adapted to your needs, but keep it light and manageable in
 Voice Test Message: "The following is a test of the siren case you must evacuate on foot. Have it ready to go for
system. It is only a test. This is a test of the siren warning immediate evacuation. Possible supplies include:
system. If this had been a real emergency  Maps showing safe routes to high ground with assembly
you should tune in to your local radio areas.
station or listen to this system for further  Non-perishable food, cooking and
instructions. This was only a test." eating utensils, including can
opener.
A tsunami is not a single wave, but a series of waves that can
TSUNAMI WARNING:  Water and a water purification kit.
travel as fast a as commercial jet plane.
 First-aid kit and prescriptions.
Upon the issuance of a Tsunami Warning, Remember:
the siren will play a wail sound and a voice  Plastic bags for water storage and
 Tsunamis are a series of waves - the first wave is not always the
message, in English, will follow the siren. waste.
largest - tsunami waves can last for hours.
 Dental and personal hygiene items.  Tsunamis can be thunderous walls of water that immediately
 Voice Warning Message: "This is not a
 Sturdy shoes, clothes, sleeping bag, flood inland areas. City streets can become river channels of
test. A tsunami warning has been issued Emergency
and tent. Kit floating debris.
for the coastal areas of Washington. A
 Portable radio, headlamp/flashlight,  Tsunami waves, of any size, can create strong currents that can
tsunami can cause dangerous flooding.
If you are in a low coastal area, you are and extra batteries. cause damage and easily sweep people off their feet.
 Pocket knife, whistle, matches, duct  A person cannot swim, surf, or outrun a tsunami.
at risk and must move to higher ground
or inland now. Do not return until tape, and gloves. Know these natural signs:
directed to do so. Tune into your local  Earthquake ground shaking.
radio station for additional information. For more information contact:  Unusual ocean activity, if the sea level decreases rapidly
This is not a test. A tsunami warning exposing the sea bed, this is a warning sign that a tsunami will
 Your local Emergency Management Office
has been issued for the coastal areas of arrive imminently. Do not go to the sea bed, run to high ground,
Washington move to higher ground or  Washington State Emergency Management Division, immediately.
inland now." www.emd.wa.gov  Loud roaring sounds from the ocean, like an approaching
airplane or train.
What is the difference? How am I warned of a tsunami? How do I know when to evacuate?
These are the types of Tsunami If you feel strong ground shaking, notice a sudden drop or rise
Distant Tsunamis in sea level, or hear a loud roaring sound from the ocean; go to
Distant originate far away from Alert Messages sent from the
high ground immediately.
Washington State and National Tsunami Warning
take more than 3 hours to Center in Palmer, Alaska. You If you are inside and hear a radio/TV broadcast or NOAA
reach our coast. can receive tsunami alerts from a Weather Radio alert; or if you are outside and hear an AHAB
NOAA Weather Radio, radio, TV siren follow the instructions provided.
Example: The greatest or an AHAB siren. The siren will
distant threat is from an only broadcast during a Warning.
earthquake/tsunami off To where do I evacuate? Now what?
the coast of Alaska. The Local officials provide current
1964 Alaska Earthquake/ information to local radio/TV A copy of the tsunami evacuation
Tsunami struck our coast stations such as La Grande map is in the community’s tsunami
within 4 hours causing KDDS 99.3FM. brochure. The map shows tsunami
flooding and damage. hazard areas in yellow. Go to the
(For other notification options
nearest high ground shown in green
contact your local emergency
Note: Distant tsunamis to an assembly area. If there is no
management office.)
allow sufficient time for high ground or not enough time to
Distant Tsunami - Travel Time Map officials to broadcast Many communities have reach high ground, the only solution
Alaska to Washington Coast warnings. telephone warning systems that is to vertically evacuate into the
can be used to provide you with upper levels of multi-story structures.
official information.
What do the evacuation signs mean?
Local
Local Tsunamis What should I do?
originate off our coast
Vehicle evacuation for distant tsunamis:
and take 20-30 minutes, Action: Drop, Cover & Hold On Tsunami evacuation routes were developed to
less than an hour to strike
guide coastal residents and visitors to safer
our coastline.
locations when vehicle evacuation is possible.
Example: Washington Evacuation signs have been placed along main
State is prone to local roads to direct motorists to higher ground. In some
tsunamis from the places, there may be more than one way to reach
Cascadia Subduction safer areas. These routes are marked with multiple
Zone. It has produced signs showing additional options for evacuation.
large earthquakes at least You will need to know the evacuation routes for
6 times in the past 3,500 your area.
years. Once the shaking stops: Run to High Ground Vehicle evacuation may not always be possible. If
an earthquake occurred damage to roads, debris, or
Note: There may be no
downed power lines may make the roads unusable.
time for official warnings,
Cascadia Earthquake move inland or to high Pedestrian evacuation for local tsunamis:
Subduction Zone ground immediately. If you cannot leave in a vehicle, evacuate on foot directly to the
nearest high ground. Avoid lakes and wetlands which are prone
to flooding and liquefaction during aftershocks.

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