How can tsunamis be prevented

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It provides alerts through three regional watch centers in India, Indonesia and Australia, and a network of 26 national tsunami information centers. In , Banda Aceh again experienced an earthquake, but within eight minutes of it, early warnings were emitted across the region and no casualties were reported.

There are also now tsunami early warning systems in place for the Caribbean and the Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean and connecting seas. The agency hopes to evaluate local tsunami response plans, increase tsunami awareness and improve regional coordination.

At risk countries are also expanding their education programs, specifically targeting children from an early age so they know how to react in case of a tsunami.

Children are taught to shelter in place till the earthquake passes and then go with their classmates to higher ground away from coastal areas to avoid the walls of water the tsunami triggers.

Japan is sharing its expertise, assisting with joint evacuation drills in schools in 18 countries. It is also hosting next week a summit of high school students from 25 mainly island nations next aimed at improving their understanding on tsunami risks and on life-saving measures during such events.

Countries which have experienced earthquakes and tsunamis have also learned that better building codes can save lives and prevent damage. Chile, which is one of South America's most earthquake and tsunami-prone nations, has seen the difference tougher building codes and other measures can make.

Tsunami impacts can vary greatly from one community to the next depending on their local bathymetry and topography. So to prepare for a tsunami, coastal communities should conduct hazard assessments to understand how tsunamis of different sizes and sources location and type might affect them. A hazard assessment includes using computer models and information from past tsunamis to identify and map the areas likely to be flooded during a tsunami and by how much.

Communities can use the resulting tsunami hazard zone maps to determine where people and other important community assets e. Communities that understand their tsunami risk are better prepared to protect the public in the event of a tsunami.