What good is a tsunami warning system?

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The morning quake measured 3 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 on Tarama, Ishigaki, Yonaguni and several other points in Okinawa, and the evening quake logged 2 on the Japanese scale on Ishigaki and elsewhere, according to the agency.

While the government set up a liaison office at the prime minister's office, the tsunami warning in the morning was lifted at 10 a.m. The second warning was lifted at 7:59 p.m.


I know it's old news, but I haven't heard of this official warning since today browsing older news... What good is this system? Is the only way I would know that there is a tsunami on the way is when it's crashing full force into my house? :scratchchin:

Did anyone else catch this on T.V.?

Source: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9A4K6NG1&show_article=1

[P_chan]

http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html

Great if you're wandering that shaking feeling you just felt was an earthquake or not, and if there are any tsunami warnings following that quake.

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But what if you don't feel the shaking? :scratchchin:

Shouldn't there be some kind of loud speaker warning?

[P_chan]

Well it's usually on the tv whenever there is an earthquake or tsunami warning. Of course that's on Japanese tv, not AFN. If there was ever going to be a tsunami that big I'd imagine that the base would announce something over the giant voice. Not that you could understand it anyways:rolleyes:.

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I'm gaijin living deep southern Okinawa...

I doubt people watch TV 24/7 to catch these warnings though, so the speaker would be most effective. I know in Seaside, OR they use a loud speaker when there is a tsunami drill or warning... Why not here?

In 1771 there was a tsunami that caused 12000 casualties, so this is reasonable to have don't you think?

[P_chan]

Meh, my apartment was five stories up in the air, I didn't feel too threatened. Then again, dwelling on disasters that "could" happen isn't something I do too often. Espeically once it comes to something like a natural disaster, there is nothing I could do if it happened to me anyways so why worry about it?

[Courtney]

Im SO glad I live way up on a hill =)

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I guess you're right being that you live safely on the 5th floor, but some of us live on the ocean front on the first floor... :ohmy:

[P_chan]

Everybody has to die someday but you won't catch me worrying about it. Or worrying that some random natural disaster could strike me dead at any moment.

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Everybody has to die someday but you won't catch me worrying about it. Or worrying that some random natural disaster could strike me dead at any moment.

It's not the threat of death that scares me, it's the threat of waking up alive and realizing you've lost everything.

Sure, you could get it all back, but that would suck.

[Jrocka83]

I believe the coast guard runs warnings along the beach from a helo when there is a tsunami warning.

[Oki0619]

The sound of water rushing through your house is probably the best tsunami warning system Okinawa has to offer.

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The sound of water rushing through your house is probably the best tsunami warning system Okinawa has to offer.

You made my day, because it's true. :thumbup:

[DaveInJapan]

I'm gaijin living deep southern Okinawa...

I doubt people watch TV 24/7 to catch these warnings though, so the speaker would be most effective. I know in Seaside, OR they use a loud speaker when there is a tsunami drill or warning... Why not here?

In 1771 there was a tsunami that caused 12000 casualties, so this is reasonable to have don't you think?

Was that the one which hit Ishigaki island and almost killed everybody living there? Accounts of the size of the wave vary according to researchers, but it is thought that it hit the coast at a height fo between 35m and 80m. Even at the low end of that estimate it's still a terrifying thought.

I think that in this modern day and age we forget that such disasters can happen, however, if you're in a 5 story apartment on the coast when a 35 meter Tsunami hits land you can basically kiss your ass goodbye.

Having an escape plan which doesn't involve your car is a good idea - imagine trying to get away from the coast when everybody else is trying to do the same. Get a bike instead and head for high ground.