1. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program
Vickie L. Nadolski
NTHMP Chair and
National Weather Service Western Region Director
Presentation to: The NOAA East-Gulf Coast/ Caribbean Tsunami Conference
Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, D.C.
June 10, 2011

2. NTHMP A Partnership between Federal and State agency representatives designed to reduce the impact of tsunamis on U.S. coastal communities
NOAA
FEMA
USGS
28 coastal states and territories

3. NTHMP History
1995: NTHMP formed by Congressional action which directed NOAA to form and lead a Federal/State working group to address:
The tsunami threat to the west coast, the general lack of tsunami preparedness and hazard assessment, and the need for significant improvement in tsunami detection and forecasting – covered the five “Pacific” states (AK, HI, WA, OR, CA)
2006: Following the 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia NTHMP was expanded to cover all U.S. coastal states and territories 3

4. Bandah Aceh, Indonesia (December 26, 2004)
Source: International Tsunami Information Center 4

5. Tsunami Warning and Education Act (PL 109-424, December 2006)
“To authorize and strengthen the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be carried out by the National Weather Service, and for other purposes.” 5

6. NTHMP Mission: Reduce loss of life and property damage from tsunamis
Vision: Resilient coastal communities that are highly informed and prepared for all tsunami hazards, that loss of life is negligible, and loss of property is minimized should a tsunami strike any U.S. state, commonwealth, or territorial coastline

7. NTHMP Coordination Committee
Authorized to conduct the program as specified in Public Law *
Recommends how funds appropriated for carrying out the program;
Provides recommendations to the NWS on how to improve the TsunamiReady program, particularly through the use of inundation maps and other mitigation practices; and
Ensures all components of the program are integrated with ongoing hazard warning and risk management activities, emergency response plans, and mitigation programs in affected areas, including integrating information to assist in tsunami evacuation route planning.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006, Title VIII, Sec. 805 (b)

8. Coordination Committee Membership
2 Representatives from:
NOAA
USGS
FEMA
Alaska
Hawaii
Oregon
Washington
East Coast
Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Pacific Islands
Puerto Rico and U.S.VI

9. NTHMP Subcommittees
Warning Coordination: improvement of tsunami forecast, warnings and information, seismic data acquisition & processing, and warning communications
Mitigation and Education: improvement of outreach, hazard mitigation planning, evacuation planning, educational programs & material, land-use planning, and the “TsunamiReady” program
Mapping and Modeling: production of tsunami inundation maps, standardized data archives, and improved modeling techniques

10. NTHMP Strategic Plan
Guides the NTHMP in accordance with the Tsunami Warning and Education Act
Sets 5-year strategies, performance measures, and milestones
Takes into account recommendations from:
Independent 5-Year Review of the NTHMP (2007)
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports on U.S. Tsunami Preparedness (2006 and 2010)
National Academies of Science’s Tsunami Report (2010)
National Science and Technology Council Report on Tsunami Risk Reduction for the U.S. (2005)

11. NTHMP Goals Raise awareness among affected populations
Develop integrated tsunami maps and models which can be used to develop improved warning guidance and evacuation maps
Improve tsunami warning systems
Incorporate tsunami planning into local, state and federal multi-hazard programs

12. NTHMP Meeting the Goals
Outreach and education
Must be localized for success
Tsunami Ready program
Partnership between local NWS offices and their Emergency Managers
Establishes basic level of preparedness
Fund available through NOAA Grant Program to address state and federal needs
To cover projects addressing research, modeling, mapping, equipment, educational materials, etc.

13. In conclusion
The NTHMP partners remain committed to the vision - saving lives and property from devastating tsunamis.
Post-tsunami assessments revealed the challenges we still face in predicting tsunamis, developing better models and inundation maps, expanding outreach and education and building more resilient communities.
Our federal, state and local partnerships are the keys to success.

14. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program
For More Information:
National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program
TsunamiReady 14