California Tsunami Program: An Overview

1
California Tsunami Program An Overview

• James D. Goltz Ph.D.
• Earthquake and Tsunami Program Manager
• California Office of Emergency Services
• National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program Annual
  Meeting Honolulu, Hawaii
• October 30-November 2, 2007

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Tsunami Exposure in California

• 15 coastal counties, 73 coastal cities
• Three major urban areas on the coast
• Major port facilities (LA, SF, Oakland, San
  Diego)
• Up to 2 million coastal visitors in peak season
• Last damaging tsunami event November 15,
  2006--10 million to Crescent City boat harbor

3
Staffing and Budget

• Staffing
• Earthquake and Tsunami Program Manager (Research
  Specialist III)
• Earthquake and Tsunami Program Specialists 2
  (Research Specialist II)
• Contract w/ CGS and USC
• Budget
• 275,000 per year from NOAA currently
• No state funds available

4
Significant Accomplishments

• Completed coarse grid inundation maps for 90 of
  CA coast (all 15 counties)
• Promoted local tsunami planning by
• Holding planning workshops in 12 CA counties
• Facilitating exercises in 6 counties
• Reviewing 7 completed county tsunami plans
• Convened the CA Tsunami Steering Committee on an
  annual basis
• Developed a public-private partnership to support
  tsunami public education
• Worked with NTHMP on all subcommittees
• Published the Local Planning Guidance on Tsunami
  Response
• Worked with NOAA and FCC to clarify need for
  End-to-End tsunami warning communications tests
• Promoted the use of the CISN Display, a web-based
  earthquake/tsunami notification system

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Impacts of Accomplishments

• Maps have facilitated local tsunami planning
• Tsunami warning and events have focused attention
  on the hazard
• Workshops and exercises have helped focus on plan
  strengths and deficiencies
• Warning system has benefited from state input
• Real-time tools have greatly improved tsunami
  notification capabilities
• Legislation was vetoedimpact of adoption would
  have been more symbolic than substantive
• End-to-End test in Humboldt will be held in March
  2008

6
2008 Program Priorities

• Complete and transfer 2nd generation coastal
  tsunami inundation maps to all CA coastal
  communities
• Promote and assist planning for tsunamis in all
  CA coastal counties w/ workshops, plan review and
  exercises
• Promote public education through development of
  videos, interactive mitigation web portal and
  printed materials
• Enhance warning and notification capabilities
  through promotion of the CISN Display and
  participation in the NTHMP Warning Coordination
  sub-committee
• Conduct Californias first End-to-End tsunami
  exercise in Humboldt County
• Initiate the Crescent City Pilot project
  involving a public education campaign with
  associated pre- and post evaluation of
  effectiveness.

7
End-to-End Tsunami Communications Tests

• California has worked with NWS and CA Coastal
  Counties to remove obstacles
• In March 2008, will carry out an end-to-end test
  in Humboldt County
• Strategic plan calls for
• Test only Humboldt in 2008
• Include all northern CA counties in 2009
• Test all CA in 2010
• Importance of these tests we do not know whether
  TSW codes will work unless we test them.

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Port of Los Angeles
                                                                                                                                                                                    

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City of Santa Barbara
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Planning Assistance to Counties

• Ongoing Planning Assistance via
• Workshops in Each County
• Plan Review
• Exercise Facilitation
• Interpretation of Inundation Maps
• Distribute Planning Guidance Document

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Notification and Warning Technologies
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CA Tsunami Warning 6-14-05
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CISN Display Provided Rapid Notification
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Linked to Tsunami Warning Message
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Hazard Awareness Web Portal
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Hazard Mitigation Awareness Map
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Thank You!