World Tsunami Awareness Day - 5 November 2019

The United Nations, through UN Resolution 70/203 adopted on 22 December 2015, has designated November 5 as World Tsunami Awareness Day. The day aligns with the International Day for Disaster Reduction (October 13) and the seven targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 

November 5 is based on an anecdote and example of a good practice known in Japan as “Inamura-no-hi” (the burning of rice sheaves) which took place on the 5th of November 1854. It is based on a historical event that took place during a massive tsunami disaster that resulted from the 1854 Ansei Nankai Earthquake.

Japan proposed this date, because “World Tsunami Awareness Day,” is intended to serve to protect the precious lives of people, and thus it should be associated with an example of “traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices” such as “Inamura-no-hi.”

For 2019, the World Tsunami Awareness Day is promoting Target (d) of the "Sendai Seven Campaign" which focuses on reducing disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services.  An example of #BuildtoLast is the Ocosta Elementary School in Washington, USA.  To escape local tsunamis that hit in less than 15 minutes, students will immediately vertically evacuate  to the roof of the school's gymnasium.

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