Tsunami Forecasting & Preparedness

Congress raised concerns about the possible vulnerability of U.S. coastal areas to tsunamis, and the adequacy of early warnings for coastal areas, after a strong underwater earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on December 26, 2004. The earthquake generated a tsunami that devastated many coastal communities around the Northern Indian Ocean, causing approximately 170,000 known deaths. In December 2005, President Bush released an action plan for expanding the U.S. tsunami detection and early warning network, which was expected to cost millions of dollars and would include building the infrastructure and maintaining its operations. This book examines the forecasting capabilities and preparedness of the United States with respect to a tsunami disaster.