Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, floods, landslides, wildfires, volcanic eruptions—the list of natural hazards that coastal communities may face is long and can be frightening. The one that might not make most coastal resource managers' lists is Hawaii's number one natural disaster killer—tsunamis.
Experts say it is a question of "when," not "if," another tsunami strikes the Hawaiian Islands or elsewhere along our nation's shoreline. It's been almost 30 years since our country has experienced a damaging tsunami, and in that time we have seen major development in our coastal areas.
Depending on when and where the next wave strikes, our country could pay a high price in lost lives and damaged property.
The cover story of this edition of Coastal Services looks at this natural phenomenon and how Hawaii, along with other state and federal partners, has worked to prepare the islands and its people for the inevitable wave that will come. Another region of the country that is vulnerable to tsunamis is the Pacific Northwest. To increase public awareness of this vulnerability, and to address the potential impacts of tsunamis and earthquakes to port and harbor communities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Services Center helped develop the Protecting Our Ports and Harbors Web site, www.csc.noaa.gov/products/tsunamis/index.htm.
Another tool developed by the NOAA Coastal Services Center to help coastal communities prepare for and reduce their vulnerability to hazards is the Community Vulnerability Assessment Tool.
Accessible over the Internet by going to www.csc.noaa.gov/products/nchaz/startup.htm, this CD-ROM contains a methodology that helps local and state governments determine and prioritize their localities' vulnerability to coastal hazards.
The hazard that every coastal community faces is storms. The Coastal Storms Initiative (CSI) is a nationwide effort led by NOAA to lessen the impacts of and help coastal communities plan for, respond to, and recover from coastal storms. For more information on the CSI, go to www.csc.noaa.gov/csi/.
We hope these tools and resources help you ensure that your coastal communities are better prepared when the next disaster strikes.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
