USGS experts to help NMI develop tsunami plan

The Emergency Management Office disclosed Thursday that two members of the U.S. Geological Survey are set to arrive this Monday to conduct presentations on tsunamis and assist EMO in developing its own tsunami preparedness plan.

EMO director Rudolfo Pua said the two, Dr. James Quick and Dr. Chris Waythomas, would conduct presentations for government agencies on Feb. 8 and for private sector agencies on Feb. 9. Both presentations would be conducted at the Governor’s conference room.

Pua said Quick is a volcano hazards coordinator, while Waythomas is a tsunami expert, both from the USGS.

Among those invited to the presentations are the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Saipan Rotary Club, travel and airline agencies, tour agencies, American Red Cross, and the media.

“We don’t have any expert on-island on tsunami, so with the governor’s instruction, I communicated with the USGS asking for assistance,” Pua said. “The presentations will provide us with information concerning our vulnerability to tsunamis and volcanic activities within our surroundings.”

Pua said a presentation on Rota would be conducted on Feb. 10, while a presentation on Tinian would be held the next day.

Pua said Quick would respond to questions regarding the status of the Anatahan volcano as well as health concerns relating to the ashfall currently being blown into inhabited Commonwealth islands.

If time permits, an overflight on Anatahan would be conducted. Pua said a flight with Gov. Juan N. Babauta is also being scheduled.

“Right now we’re trying to schedule the governor to fly up north to get a view of what’s happening on Anatahan, considering what we’ve been experiencing with all these ashes coming here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pua said EMO also intends to include Waythomas’ expertise in the development of its tsunami preparedness plan.

“One of the things we need to look into is the zone for the CNMI. So, if there is a tsunami in an area, we would have an idea how far the water would go into each island. From there, we can provide information to the administration, which would recommend to the Legislature any legislation that is needed,” he said. “We have one in our emergency operation procedure, but we need to revise that.”

Pua also expressed concerns whether hotels have a preparedness plan due to the high number of tourists they host on a daily basis. He said EMO recently conducted a preparedness plan presentation for HANMI.

“If all private sectors and CNMI residents develop a preparedness plan on any disaster, that would minimize property damage and injuries,” he said.

Pua said once a revised plan is in place, affected agencies, such as departments of Public Safety and Public Works, would be informed, and a joint effort in using the plan would be worked out.

Pua said the tsunami experienced in South Asia late last year showed the public the devastation a tsunami may cause.

“Based on history, we get a lot of tsunami warning. People would evacuate from low-lying areas up to the hills and since nothing usually happens, people tend to be very relaxed about the warning, but the [South Asian] tsunami really woke people up and taught them not take tsunami warnings for granted,” he said.

He pointed out that, after last Wednesday’s earthquake, EMO was flooded with calls asking if there is a tsunami alert.

In case of disaster, Pua reminds the public that cooperation would be key in providing safety for everyone. “Cooperation of residents is a must; if not, there’ll be chaos in times of disaster. Preparedness plans call for the cooperation of the people.”