Tsunami Warning Systems as Potential Disaster Mitigaters

Tsunami Warning Systems as Potential Disaster Mitigaters

Large-scale disasters are more possible in today's world than ever before. Due to both natural and man-made phenomena, the latter of which comprises everything from global warming to nuclear weapons, catastrophes are much more prescient. These disasters have been seen in various instances, especially in the Pacific, the most recent of which is the tsunami that hit Japan. Tsunamis are a deadly natural force in themselves, but combine them with the damage to a nuclear power plant and one has a veritable code red catastrophe with which to deal.

One way in which the world has begun to protect itself from such disasters are through various mitigating systems. This is what this paper will discuss. However, with respect to tsunamis, for instance, one must first ask if these systems are truly helpful; in other words, do they work? The official Tsunami Warning System (TWS) is "in the Pacific, and is comprised of 26 participating international members states, and has the functions of monitoring seismological and tidal stations throughout the Pacific Basin to evaluate potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes and disseminating tsunami warning information."

With such a seemingly complex international system in place, the question of does it work is even more important, especially in light of the disaster in Japan. If such a system were to be fully functional, would such catastrophes be avoided? With regards to Japan, one must note that the tsunami was truly quite massive, and came quite quickly -- people did not have time to prepare themselves, their homes, belongings, or protect themselves in the ensuing nuclear disaster that followed.

With this knowledge in mind, thus, one must conclude that the TWS was not successful in this case, and must wonder how risk assessment, and especially risk mitigation in such instances as the tsunami could be made more effective. A clear example is the handling of U.S. domestic security policy post 9-11. This is a clear-cut guideline of how one could handle disaster prevention and mitigation. Though U.S. domestic policies were enacted to secure the borders of the country, they did not necessarily do anything to thwart or prevent threats. In fact, bioterrorism, such as was the case with the Anthrax attacks, was quite prevalent at a time, and can at any time re-erupt. In fact, this is the most dangerous degree of terrorism, below nuclear of course, but lethal nonetheless.