MARAC overview: “Live Code” Tsunami Warning Communication Test SF Bay Region March 23, 2011

1. James Goltz Ph.D., Earthquake and Tsunami Program Manager, Cal EMA Coastal Region Office, Oakland August 10, 2010 Abridged version, Johanna Fenton, MARAC, September 8, 2010 MARAC overview:“Live Code” Tsunami Warning Communication Test SF Bay RegionMarch 23, 2011

2. What is a Tsunami Live Code Test? Non-routine Emergency Alert System (EAS) test • Actual tsunami event codes (TSW) are activated • The message will be announced on EAS designated radio and television stations • As distinct from other tests, there will be a message released through the EAS that “a tsunami warning has been issued…,” Why activate the actual event codes? • We do not know if they will function in a real disaster unless we test them.

3. How are Routine Tsunami Tests Conducted? • There are “required weekly tests” (RWT) and “required monthly tests” (RMT) • Initiated by the local NWS and local EAS broadcasters • Other tests relay information among agencies but do not use “live” event codes • Primarily test the communication of information between federal, state and local agencies; minimal information to the public (“this is a test…,”)

4. Who’s involved in planning? • Cal EMA’s Earthquake and Tsunami Program has lead • Cal EMA Warning Center, Regions, Office of Access and Functional Needs, OPI • NOAA’s NWS at Western Region and CA coastal forecast offices • Operational Areas and Tribal Governments • Local Advocacy Groups (Redwood Coast Tsunami Work Group)

5. Meeting 08/10/10 Op Area Attendees/Contacts: • Greg Morgado, Alameda County Sherriff’s Office • Chris Boyer, Contra Costa County (by phone) • Dan Larkin, Humboldt County (by phone) • Bruce Stahley, Marin County (by phone) • Sidney Reade, Monterey County (by phone) • Babe Franey, San Francisco Dept. of Emergency Management • Jim Asche, San Mateo County • Miguel Grey, Santa Clara County (by phone) • Zach Hamill, Sonoma County Didn’t attend 8/10 meeting but contacted afterwards • Paul Horvat, Santa Cruz County

6. Review of Tsunami Notification Protocol Tsunami Warning Center Cal EMA Warning Center Governor’s Office NWS Eureka Coastal Counties (OAs) EAS Media Public • Redundancy • NOAA weather radio • Radio • TV • Tsunami sirens • Door-to-door • Announcements from aircraft Cities, Special Districts

7. What has been done • 2008: Humboldt County only and EAS only • 2009: Added Del Norte and Mendocino to Humboldt : added activities including siren testing, limited evacuations, reverse 911 calling, CAP flyover • 2010: Three northern-most OAs, added Tribes. All conducted many additional activities

8. How did we prepare? • Sought permission to conduct the test from boards of supervisors and tribal councils • Conducted key public officials briefings early • Carried out an extensive public education campaign on the test • Requested Presidential and state declarations of test week as “Tsunami Awareness and Preparedness Week”

9. Our Plan for Outreach • Local media • Government agencies in the OAs • Non-governmental organizations (e.g.: service, faith-based, professional) • Community residents (public meetings, door hangers, etc.) • Special needs populations • Visitors

10. Methods of Outreach • Focused briefings for selected groups • Printed flyers • Media PSA’s • NWS Website • Caltrans electronic message boards • Invited observers • Existing organizational networks

11. Why such an extensive expansion? • We are committed to this type of testing • Once we move south of Mendocino, we enter the Bay Area media market • It becomes difficult to manage “EAS spillover” into non-participating counties • The outreach to mitigate the effects of spillover would be nearly equal to that required for participating counties • Your constituents may wonder why you are not participating

12. Notes and Next steps Notes • Counties have agreed to participate in the test as an EAS test only during the first year and will refrain from testing tsunami sirens, conducting evacuation drills or other activities that might be construed as indicating that there was an actual tsunami emergency. • Test will be conducted as part of a broader education campaign to enhance tsunami awareness and preparedness Next Steps • CalEMA will hold a meeting with station managers of all major EAS affiliated media in the Bay Area • Regular conference calls with all participants will begin soon

13. Tsunami Live Code TestMarch 23, 2011 Tsunami inundation maps are available at: www.tsunami.ca.gov