Service assessment

"On June 14, 2005, an earthquake measuring magnitude 7.2 occurred approximately 90 miles off the northern California coast, prompting NOAA's West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning for the West Coast of the United States. While no tsunami was generated by the earthquake, the event did prove to be, as one emergency manager put it, "an excellent test." Processes and procedures were exercised, and in some cases, problems within the system were noted and are being addressed. Emergency managers received the information in a timely fashion, and many successfully exercised evacuations or other plans to protect life and property. Notification of the public at large, however, was less timely and efficient. Some equipment malfunctions were noted and some procedures require improvement. There was a degree of confusion about what to do when a tsunami warning is received and about the warning itself. While we encourage the public to listen and follow the direction of their emergency managers, citizens also need to understand what to do and to be prepared to respond immediately when a warning is issued. This assessment evaluates the performance of the National Weather Service (NWS) during the event and provides recommendations to improve services in the future. It takes into consideration the affected audiences in the emergency management community as well as the public"--Preface.

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
National Weather Service (NWS)

Pacific Coast (U.S.)