If you live in an area where there is a risk of tsunamis, taking tsunami safety precautions will help to keep you, your family and your community safe. Below is information on what to do before a tsunami, what to do during a tsunami and what to do after a tsunami.
Save The Children has been responding to emergencies such as tsunamis for over 100 years. In a disaster, children are the most vulnerable. We are there to provide immediate life-saving aid to children and their families and we stay for as long as we're needed to help families recover. We also run programs here in Australia and internationally that focus on putting children first and giving them the best possible chance to reach their full potential.
If you live in a tsunami-prone area, tsunami safety precautions will give you and your family the best chance of survival. Below is what to do during a tsunami, what to do after a tsunami and what to do before a tsunami.
What to do before, during and after a Tsunami
Knowing what to do before a tsunami allows you to prepare and plan appropriately so you understand risks, have a clear direction you can take if a tsunami hits and have what you need to survive.
Recommendations on what to do before a tsunami:
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Find out about the risk of tsunamis in your community and identify places in your area prone to flooding
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Familiarise yourself with information about tsunamis and the natural warning signs (e.g. earthquakes, rumbling or roaring sounds, or sudden changes in the behaviour of the ocean)
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Connect with emergency services and local authorities (e.g. through apps or social media) so you have the latest information and stay up to date with tsunami warnings
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Develop an evacuation plan that includes where the nearest high ground is and the safest routes to get there
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Create an emergency kit that is easily accessible
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Ensure your home has an electrical safety switch installed
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Ensure you have the right insurance in place and continually review it
Knowing what tsunami safety precautions to take both during and after a tsunami is key. When people are panicked and in stressful situations, it can be hard to make decisions. And often, you need to act quickly.
What to do during a tsunami:
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Evacuate: Leave and head for higher ground or inland as soon as you see any natural signs of a tsunami or receive an official tsunami warning
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Listen to emergency information & alerts and always follow the instructions from local emergency services or authorities
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If you are in a boat and close to the shore return to land if there is time, secure your vessel and head to the higher ground otherwise, go out to sea and stay there until advised further
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If you are in the water, grab onto something that floats if possible
Knowing what to do after a tsunami is also important to ensure you remain safe. Continue to stay up to date with warnings & alerts, areas to avoid and where shelter locations are. Often after a tsunami phone systems can often be down or are busy. Unless it’s an emergency, use text instead of making calls or communicate briefly via social media to let people know you are safe and where you are located.
Avoid wading in floodwater, which can contain dangerous debris and be aware of the risk of electrocution.
If you or someone else needs medical attention, call emergency services. Stay away from damaged buildings, roads & bridges and only return to your home when you have been given the all-clear from authorities to do so. Document any property damage with photographs and make a list of items that have been damaged or are missing, then contact your insurance company for assistance.
How we are helping children & families impacted by Tsunamis
After a tsunami, we provide immediate life-saving aid to children and their families such as healthcare, food, clean drinking water, shelter and hygiene kits. We also help to create safe places for children to play and continue to learn, ensure children are safe from harm and help to reunite children if they have been separated from their families. The devastation of a tsunami can go on long after it has hit. We stay for as long as we’re needed to help children and their families through the recovery process and help them to rebuild their lives and communities.
Donate today to support victims of Tsunamis
So we can continue providing life-saving aid when tsunamis hit and help children and families recover you can make a single donation today or become a monthly giver. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.