Emergency Dispatch Vol 4 2014
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15<br />
The natural warning<br />
signs of tsunami<br />
In Australia you will most likely receive an official<br />
tsunami warning. However, before a tsunami<br />
arrives you may, but not always, experience some<br />
natural warning signs.<br />
You may:<br />
• FEEL the earth shake. If you are near the<br />
ocean and you feel the ground shake, a strong<br />
earthquake may have occurred and possibly<br />
caused a tsunami. However, you may not feel<br />
the earth shake if the earthquake occurred a long<br />
way away.<br />
English school girl saves<br />
100 lives<br />
In December 2004, 10-year-old English<br />
schoolgirl, Tilly Smith was enjoying a family<br />
holiday on the coast of Thailand. On the<br />
morning of 26 December, her family were<br />
enjoying a walk on the beach when Tilly<br />
noticed the ocean drop dramatically. It then<br />
returned rapidly covered in froth, which she<br />
described as looking like the top of a beer. As<br />
the ocean moved quickly towards the beach,<br />
Tilly knew a tsunami was approaching having<br />
learned about tsunami in a geography lesson<br />
a couple of weeks earlier. She raised the alarm<br />
and the beach was cleared, saving 100 lives.<br />
• SEE the ocean drop. Before a tsunami arrives,<br />
the ocean level may (but not always) drop<br />
dramatically before returning as a wall of water.<br />
If you notice that the water is disappearing, tell<br />
your family and friends and prepare to move to<br />
higher ground.<br />
• HEAR an unusual roaring sound. If you hear a<br />
loud roaring sound from the ocean (a bit like an<br />
aeroplane or a train), tell your family and friends.<br />
This sound may be heard before a tsunami<br />
arrives.<br />
Will tsunami occur in Australia?<br />
While the risk from tsunami is lower in Australia<br />
than other parts of the world, tsunami do have<br />
an effect on our coastline. Even with relatively<br />
small tsunami, there could be strong waves, rips<br />
and currents and unusual sea levels that can be<br />
dangerous.<br />
On 17 July 2006, campers at Steep Point on the<br />
Western Australian coast were lucky to escape<br />
when a tsunami hit their campsite. It was strong<br />
enough to pick up their 4WD vehicle and move it<br />
10 metres up the beach.<br />
They were alerted to the tsunami by a loud roar<br />
from the ocean, which is one of the natural<br />
warning signs of tsunami.
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