Hawaii Tsunami Awareness Month - April 2024

AWARENESS, EDUCATION, ACTION

APRIL is Tsunami Awareness Month in Hawai'i !

   Click each photo for more photos from 1946.

“Tsunamis are life changing events,” said State of Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green.
“It is imperative to know what to do to protect lives and property from tsunamis.
Being Aware, Educated and ready to take Action will save lives.”

“Tsunamis can strike with very little warning and devastate communities,” said James DS. Barros, HI-EMA Administrator. “With Tsunami Awareness Month beginning on the anniversary of the deadly April Fools’ Day tsunami, we’re reminded not only of the damage and sorrow it caused, but also that we need to be prepared for the next one.” 

“Tsunamis can occur anywhere, at any time,” added Dr. Laura Kong, Director of ITIC. “There is no ‘tsunami season.’ Hawai‘i must always be prepared to take action. In our state, 293 people have been killed by tsunamis since 1900. 158 of those lost were from the 1946 disaster alone.”

“Tsunamis generated throughout the Pacific Rim of Fire in recent years from Tonga to Japan have left vast devastation in their wakes,” Dr. Chip McCreery, Director of PTWC, reminded. “We don’t know where or when a big event might strike. Preparing today will help us all to respond more quickly and effectively in a real emergency.”

2024 marks 78 years since the April 1, 1946, Magnitude 8.6, early morning Aleutian Islands earthquake that generated a tsunami that hit Hawai'i about 4.5 hours later, without warning.  By 630 am, waves that would reach 53 feet high on the Big Island, 33 feet on Maui and 54 feet on Moloka`i, 35 feet on Oah`u, and 45 feet on Kaua`i, began arriving.  Altogether, 158 persons lost their lives, and there was $340 million in damage.

By 1948, the US Seismic Sea Wave Warning System was in place and today NOAA's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) provides 24x7 tsunami warnings, advisories, and watches.  During events, the PTWC works closely with the Hawaii State Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and County Emergency Management Agencies (KEMA, DEM, MEMA, HCCD), along with the State and County Tsunami advisors, to assess the tsunami threat and advise the public on whether evacuation actions are needed.

Be Aware, Get Educated, Take Action!
Watch 2024 Hawai'i Tsunami Preparedness
(YouTube, Vimeo)  video for the general public!   
Hawai‘i Dept of Education - Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness Branch, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant

Watch How Does a Tsunami Happen?
Honolulu Department of Emergency Management

Take Action.  Get Tsunami Ready Now!  
Follow these simple but important actions.
Plan Ahead, Be Prepared.   Make sure you and your family know what to do and where to go!

Visit Hawaiʻi Information tsunami info
Visit Hawaiʻi Kids Information for kids tsunami info

Host Tsunamis Live!  Schools can host a fun interactive Kahoot! virtual activity for Grades 2-6. Download flyer. Contact ITIC to schedule (itic.tsunami@noaa.gov).

Sign up for free Emergency alerts from the County you live in:
    Kaua'i County (Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency, KEMA)
    City & County of Honolulu (Dept of Emergency Management, DEM)
    Maui County  (Maui Emergency Management Agency, MEMA)
    Hawai'i County  (Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency, HCCDA) 

Save a link to the Tsunami Evacuation Map so that, during an emergency, you can quickly find your best route to safety.
   City & County of Honolulu
   State of Hawai'i (all Counties)