The nature has a number of forces which have the capability of causing massive destruction in a matter of minutes. For example, earth quakes can bring massive destruction and havoc in a matter of few minutes and even seconds. But there is another power of nature that can even cause more damage and that is tsunami. Technically speaking, tsunami is composed of a number of very dangerous and destructive waves which are initiated as a result of earth quakes. What happens is when the layers of the earth move a tsunami is generated. Each year it becomes the cause of thousands of death. But these deaths can be avoided and the government can save thousands of lives by adopting a few measures. These measures if taken in time can save almost everyone’s life. Below is the list of the top 10 mitigation strategies in tsunami.
10. Having the Proper Knowledge
It is the government’s responsibility to give the proper guidance to the people about this disastrous wave or waves. The people should be aware about the potential dangers and the necessary steps about what to do in the time of panic. You should know about the levels of waves under normal conditions and above normal.
9. Basic Geographical Knowledge
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The government should make city wise teams that will inform the people about the elevation knowledge and especially to those individuals who live near the sea. The people should also know these things because these basic things can save their family’s life. The people should be aware that whether their homes and localities are the most exposed to this wave.
8. Advance Preparation
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The best tactic to beat tsunami is to prepare for the worst in advance. If the tsunami warning has been delivered and your own research points out that your home might be at risk, then the best thing to do is leave the home at once and move to an area of high elevation. You should plan in advance about what to do and how to do it so that you do not panic.
7. Community Planning
When the warning is delivered, then the best thing to do is to involve all your community members and the local authorities and start making a plan about evacuating the area in the minimal time so that the rush can avoided. People should work with each other and try to co operate with the governmental officials.
6. Technological Equipment
Warning the people in advance is the government’s responsibility and the government can only do this by having all the specialized equipments which are used in detection earth quakes and wave levels. These devices can indeed save thousands of lives if used properly.
5. Special centers dedicated for these times
The government should establish special centers having knowledgeable individuals and experts whose duty should be to collect the data about tsunami strike and earth quakes. Expert geologists and climatologists should be selected for these purposes. These teams should do 24/7 monitoring of the devices and should collect as much archival data possible as the previous records of tsunami play a vital role in preparing for any future disaster.
4. Construction of strong barriers
Along the sides of the coast lines, very strong barriers should be constructed using the strong materials which have the power to withstand and at least reduce the power of these disastrous waves. These barriers would at least give some time to the people to evacuate and will save many more lives.
3. Residential Strategies
The land management authorities should try to minimize the building of the houses near the sea. Proper monitoring of the houses should be done which are already present in the area. It is also the responsibility of the people to make houses farther away from the sea, as life is more precious than the sea side enjoyment. A simple safety measure which can be taken in this regard is the building of houses above the 4 meter high tide level.
2. Provision of Tsunami preparation kits
Every family at risk because of their location should be given a designated CASUARINA tree with a strong ladder and carved steps for vertical evacuation in the time of the sudden strike of tsunami. The ladders made from this tree withstand even the most powerful attacks of the tsunami waves but it should only used as a last option.
1. Evacuation Routes
The government should establish dedicated routes for evacuation so that people can be moved out of the area in the minimal time. Every year evacuation drills should be practiced by the individuals so that they would know what to do in the time of the havoc and destruction. These drills can indeed save a lot of time in the evacuation process. The people should actively participate in these drills as they would be held monthly or at least yearly.
