Marine and land based threat
If this warning is issued, you will receive the following notification:
'Warning
for low-lying coastal areas of major land inundation, flooding, dangerous
waves and strong ocean currents'.
Pre-impact
Below are examples of what a tsunami response plan for this level may include:
- confirmation that the tsunami warning is official with your direct lifesaving service supervisor i.e. Director of Lifesaving
- coordination of your local lifesaving service according to your direct supervisor's instructions
- warning any communities in the direct vicinity of the beach using public address systems and/or lifesaving craft (only if directed and is safe to do so)
- evacuation of any public from the immediate sand/beach according to the level of warning using PA system and/or evacuation flag
- pre-deployment of resources to staging areas outside the likely impact area (at this level, staging area may be a few kilometres inland to be pre-determined)
- restriction of access to the likely impact areas by establishing signs i.e. Beach Closed signs and red flag or other as directed (at this level, communicate to the public via PA system and signage and evaluate all lifesaving service personnel and equipment where possible to a 'staging area' inland)
- support operation vessels on standby (at this level, all mobile support operation vessels evacuated to staging area)
- monitoring of likely impact areas (at this level coastal watch cameras and/or aerial surveillance i.e. helicopters only); or
- management of the media (direct all media enquiries to State/Territory
centres).
Impact
Below are examples of what a tsunami response plan for this level may include:
- monitoring of likely impact areas (at this level, from 'staging area' and using technology such as Coastal Watch)
- detection of tsunami impact
- continued warning and evacuation of threatened communities to safe areas (at this level, only to be conducted by aerial capabilities); or
- rescue of persons (at this level, it is highly recommended not to perform a rescue during Impact phase unless via aerial capabilities).
Remember:
The first wave will usually not be the largest.
Post-impact
Post impact can be seen for several hours or even days after initial impact.
Below are examples of what a tsunami response plan for this level may include:
- confirm ability to proceed with post impact procedures with direct Lifesaving Services Supervisor
- reconnaissance of areas likely to have been impacted
- search and rescue of people in the aquatic environment (at this level, primarily the immediate coastal environment. However, it may be tasked as a secondary priority to inland search and rescue)
- treatment of sick or injured people
- re-open beach only when a direct lifesaving service supervisor has informed you and you have the capacity (do not take instructions from media); or
- debrief.
 |