Hiking, Camping & Outdoors

Important Survival Tips during a Tsunami

The great tsunami that has greatly devastated countries near the Indian Ocean in the previous year is one of the most disastrous catastrophes in recent history. And tsunamis continue to be great threats for people living near the coasts. Knowing essential survival steps for a tsunami cannot be overemphasized.

A Tsunami can bring great destruction to human communities. In Thailand alone, 5,395 died in last years tsunami with 2,817 people still missing and 6,000 individuals displaced. Over 50,000 children have been greatly affected by the disaster with 1,480 of them losing at least one parent.

Tsunamis, like other natural calamities, cannot be prevented, thus the only hope is preparation and survival. Here are some important survival tips during a Tsunami:

1. Watch for announcements on the radio or TV about emergency information and always be prepared for evacuation when there is an impending danger.

2. If an official warning or even detected signs for a tsunami is announced, leave immediately if you are living near the coast. Go to places with higher elevation that are far from the coastlines. Tsunami warnings are issued when the weather bureau are almost certain about the tsunami threat.

3. Go away from the beach. Never expect to watch a tsunami and survive. If the wave is already visible you are already too close to get away from it.

4. Go back home only when the authorities announce that it is safe to return. Tsunamis are made up of several successions of waves. The danger is not yet over after one wave has struck, the following wave might even be greater, so stay away from the area.

5. Keep up to date with a portable radio for the latest warnings.

6. Try to help persons who are trapped or injured without compromising your own safety. Perform necessary first aid steps. If you do not know what to do, call for help immediately.

7. If you have been injured call attention to yourself so that you may get aid or others may call for help on your behalf.

8. Do not go near any damaged buildings because there might be debris that might fall on you.

9. When you are allowed to go back home, enter with great caution. Watch out for live wires and electrical shorts. Avoid using any electrical appliance to avoid being accidentally electrocuted.

10. Do not drink tap water until authorities have declared it safe. Throw out food that has come into contact with flood waters.

Tsunamis cannot be stopped, but you can prevent yourself from being endangered. Know what to do, and remember it well.