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

2. 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 • Participated in the review/analysis of tsunami legislation in California

5. 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 vetoed—impact 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 California’s 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.

8. Port of Los Angeles

9. City of Santa Barbara

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

11. Notification and Warning Technologies

12. CA Tsunami Warning: 6-14-05

13. CISN Display: Provided Rapid Notification

14. Linked to Tsunami Warning Message

15. Hazard Awareness “Web Portal”

16. Hazard Mitigation Awareness Map

17. Thank You!