Chill It's A Drill! Tsunami Warning System Test

Calendar Date:
Wednesday, March 27, 2013 - 9:45am to 10:15am

The State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in cooperation with the West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center, the National Weather Service and the Alaska Broadcasters Association will conduct a test of the State’s Tsunami Warning System on March 27, 2013. This test commemorates the 49th anniversary of the 1964 Alaska earthquake. Governor Parnell has declared March 24-30th as Tsunami Preparedness Week.

Alaska will use the exercise to conduct a “live code” test of the State’s emergency alert system. At approximately 9:45 am Wednesday, March 27, 2013, the State’s emergency alert and NOAA Weather Radio systems will deliver a test tsunami warning message. While the message will be a “test” message, the codes used to activate the system will be the real codes used in an actual tsunami warning. This verifies that the warning and alert system is programmed correctly. Your cooperation is critical. Please respond to the survey at: http://ready.alaska.gov/survey/

We want to promote awareness. This test provides an excellent opportunity for tsunami and earthquake preparedness activities including:

  • Testing local warning / siren systems
  • Conducting outreach and education on tsunamis and earthquakes
  • Practicing “drop, cover and hold-on” drills and tsunami evacuations
  • Emergency operations center exercises (the West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Center’s exercise manual is available at: http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/.)
  • Enhancement of Alaska’s TsunamiReady program

While not every area of the State is at risk for tsunami, many citizens visit tsunami hazard areas for recreation or business. Likewise, Alaska has a high earthquake hazard and this test recalls the 1964 disaster that touched all of Alaska.
Please use the March test for emergency preparedness and outreach. We would like to know and share your ideas and lessons with others.

We are here to answer any questions in support of your local tsunami / earthquake preparedness efforts. We have earthquake and tsunami outreach materials available.