Community Invited to Participate in World Tsunami Awareness Day 2021

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), following a worldwide initiative through the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), invite the community to celebrate “World Tsunami Awareness Day” (WTAD) on Friday, November 5, 2021, to promote a global culture of tsunami awareness. Tsunamis are rare but can affect many people, especially those living in coastal communities across multiple countries.


It is estimated by the year 2030, 50% of the world’s population will live in coastal areas exposed to flooding, storms, and tsunamis. This year, the United Nations (UN) proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the “UN Ocean Decade”), establishing the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme and Scientific Committee to draft a 10-year research, development, and implementation plan for the program. The Tsunami Programme aims to improve tsunami detection and further boost global efforts to strengthen tsunami preparedness by making 100% of at-risk communities Tsunami Ready by 2030.
 

On Tuesday, November 5, 2021, GHS/OCD encourages the community to be part of the global initiative. Use World Tsunami Awareness Day to have discussions with family and friends about how to prepare for a tsunami, recognize the Tsunami Evacuation Route signs and Safe Assembly Area signs in your area and document your WTAD activities by using the following hashtags on social media: #TsunamiDay and #OnlyTogether.
 

“Now, more than ever, it is important to join in and be part of such a large initiative,” said Patrick Leon Guerrero, Office of Civil Defense Acting Administrator. “Our island is exactly the type of community where being Tsunami Ready is not only beneficial, but it’s a necessity to our livelihood. Awareness, education, early warning systems, and detection can save lives.”


Visit the following links for more information on how to prepare for tsunamis:

·   https://www.weather.gov/safety/tsunami

·   http://www.ghs.guam.gov/tsunamis

·    https://www.ready.gov/tsunamis

·    https://www.un.org/en/observances/tsunami-awareness-day

·    https://tsunamiday.undrr.org/

  
For more information, contact GHS/OCD Tsunami Specialist, Denille Calvo at (671) 475-9600 or via email at denille.calvo@ghs.guam.gov.

 
For media inquiries, contact Public Information Officer, Jenna G. Blas at (671) 478-0208 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov.