Hawaii’s Gov. Neil Abercrombie has declared April as Tsunami Awareness Month, which is fitting, as April 1, 1946 was the date of the disastrous tsunami that primarily struck the town of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii causing 159 fatalities.
Fortunately for most residents and visitors there is a “Disaster Preparedness Guide” available in the Yellow Pages telephone directory that gives directions as to how to respond to such an emergency.
However, for owners of boats moored or stored in our state harbors, those directions merely note that vessels should be removed, or deployed to deep water (at least 200 fathoms).
There are several other steps boat owners should take in preparation for a tsunami, according to Hawaii’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, and they should be planned for long before the event occurs.
Owners of boats stored on trailers inside the “evacuation zones” shown on maps in the phone book should be moved to higher ground once a “warning” has been declared.
Moored boats, however, have the best chance of survival if taken offshore to waters at least 1,200 feet deep – where the tsunami will pass by harmlessly – and stay there until an official “all-clear” announcement is made.
The state’s plan also warns, nevertheless, that although vessels at sea will escape damage, skippers must be aware that their marina may not have, so it’s best to have food, water and fuel aboard for at least 24 hours.
And, on the positive side, it has been shown that the floating docks of a marina may likely withstand the surges generated by a tsunami better without the added weight and drag of the vessels they usually accommodate.
Ultimately, the plan advises, if owners are unable to move their boats out of evacuation zones, they should attempt to remove such valuable items as outboards, radios, and navigation devises before securing their vessels and moving to safety.
Making these plans for action long in advance and sharing the plans with other responsible parties can make deciding what to do much easier when the next tsunami alert is given.
Comments